HIPHOP: Promise Clinic

• Uninsured patients who are eligible for Charity Care
• Adults: Individuals older than 18 years
• Clients of Elijah’s Promise Soup Kitchen

You must satisfy all three of these requirements. To see if you qualify, please call 732-406-9131 or ask Community Outreach Committee members at the Saturday morning blood pressure screenings at Elijah’s Promise Soup Kitchen.

• Attend blood pressure screening at Elijah’s Promise held on Saturday mornings from 10 a.m.–12 p.m. to be screened for eligibility and set up an initial appointment with Community Outreach Committee members.

• If you are unable to be screened, contact Patient Recruitment Coordinator Helen Yang at hhy9@rwjms.rutgers.edu to arrange a different screening time. You may also call the Director of Community Services at 732-545-9002, extension 116.

• We request that you provide some form of contact information (email or phone number) for appointment reminders. It can be yours, that of a family member, or a trusted friend who can easily reach you.

• Continuous primary medical care, including: management of chronic medical conditions (hypertension, diabetes, etc), acute illnesses (sick visits), preventative medicine and social support.
• Physical examinations, medications vouchers for prescription medication, basic laboratory testing and EKGs.
• Referrals to specific specialty care services through the Specialty Care Committee.
• Psychiatry consults through psychiatry residents.
• Unfortunately, we cannot see pregnant women for prenatal care or patients with HIV. We will be happy to refer patients with HIV to providers who specialize in HIV.

• Patient eligibility: Our Patient Recruitment Coordinator Helen Yang can answer these questions for you. Email hhy9@rwjms.rutgers.edu
• Appointments: Schedulers or Communications can confirm or cancel appointments for you. Call 732-406-9131.

Promise Agriculture

Cost: Free
Coverage area: Middlesex County
Hours: Monday–Friday 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
Address: 
52 Tabernacle Way
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
(Garden located across the street from this address.)
Phone: 732-545-9002

Unity Square Community Center–Catholic Charities

Cost: Free
Requirements: Identification
Coverage area: Middlesex County
Hours:
Tuesday (by appointment) 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
Friday 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m.
Saturday 10 a.m.–1 p.m. 
Third Sunday of each month (by appointment)
Address: 
81 Remsen Avenue
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
Phone: 732-545-0329

Harmony Family Success Center

Cost: Free
Coverage: Middlesex County
Hours:
Monday–Tuesday 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
Wednesday 11 a.m.–7 p.m.
Thursday 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
Friday 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
Address: 
255 Livingston Avenue
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
Phone: 732-640-0800

Homeless Prevention Rapid Re-Housing

Cost: Free
Requirements: Must have court eviction notice, currently homeless, current annual household income between $21,150-$39,800.
Coverage: Middlesex County
Hours: Monday–Friday 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
Address: 
26 Safran Avenue
Edison, NJ 08837
Phone: 732-738-1323

Homeless Prevention Rapid Re-Housing

Cost: Free
Requirements: Must have court eviction notice, currently homeless, current annual household income between $21,150-$39,800.
Coverage: Middlesex County
Hours: Monday–Friday 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
Address: 
26 Safran Avenue
Edison, NJ 08837
Phone: 732-738-1323

Rental and Utility Assistance

Cost: Free
Coverage: Middlesex County
Hours: Monday–Friday 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
Address: Will be given to people who seek assistance
Phone: 732-324-8200

Harmony Family Success Center

Cost: Free
Coverage: Middlesex County
Hours:
Monday–Tuesday 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
Wednesday 11 a.m.–7 p.m.
Thursday 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
Friday 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
Address: 
255 Livingston Avenue
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
Phone: 732-640-0800

New Brunswick Free Public Library

Cost: Free
Hours:
Monday–Thursday 10 a.m.–9 p.m.
Friday 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Address:
60 Livingston Avenue
New Brunswick NJ 08901
Phone: 732-745-5108

Elijah’s Promise

Coverage: Middlesex County
Hours: Monday–Friday 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
Address:
211 Livingston Avenue
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
Phone: 732-545-9002

Promise Culinary School

Cost: Reduced cost
Coverage: Middlesex County
Hours: Monday–Friday 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
Address:
211 Livingston Avenue
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
Phone: 732-545-9002

Harmony Family Success Center

Cost: Free
Coverage: Middlesex County
Hours:
Monday–Tuesday 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
Wednesday 11 a.m.–7 p.m.
Thursday 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
Friday 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
Address: 
255 Livingston Avenue
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
Phone: 732-640-0800

Immigration Services Program - Catholic Charities

Cost: Reduced cost; Consultation: $50
Coverage: Middlesex County
Address:
81 Remsen Avenue
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
Phone: 732-545-0329

NJ 2-1-1 Partnership

Middlesex County Homeless Hotline Dial 211. You can also reach 2-1-1 by dialing 877-NJ2114U (877-652-1148)

Unity Square Community Center 

Address: 81 Remsen Ave, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
Hours: 7 p.m.–7 a.m. as long the temperature has reached 32 degrees and below for two consecutive days
Note: No food and people under the influence allowed
Due to the Covid-19 restrictions, these are the only resources available for Middlesex County at this point in time. This list will continue to be updated as more information becomes available.

• Elijah's Promise
• Better World Cafe
• Freedom From Smoking

*Websites not operated by Robert Wood Johnson Medical School

Volunteering as a student-doctor at the HIPHOP Promise Clinic is a valuable opportunity to gain clinical experience during your pre-clinical years, and to experience continuity of care throughout your time at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. In a team of four or more students from years 1–4, you will mentor and be mentored about patient care, evidence-based practice, course work, and how to navigate the world of a medical student.

All medical students can apply to be a student-doctor at the beginning of the fall semester.

An open interest meeting will be held in the fall, and information will be available via email. As a student-doctor, one commits to the HIPHOP Promise Clinic until their graduation from the medical school. Medical students can also apply to be on the HIPHOP Promise Clinic Steering Committee, a team dedicated to clinic operations. Interviews for positions on this committee are held during the fall semester.

To volunteer as a student-doctor, you commit to following duties and more:

• Attend each of your patient’s appointments at the HIPHOP Promise Clinic, except in the event of a serious extenuating circumstance such as illness or emergency.
• Attend patient visits for specialty care, diagnostic tests or procedures, as appropriate.
• Continue to participate as a student-doctor, providing continuity of care to your patient, throughout your time at the Piscataway/New Brunswick campus.
• Follow-up with the patient in a timely manner regarding any concerns, questions, laboratory results, or results of other diagnostic tests in consultation with the faculty preceptor.
• Treat each and every patient with respect, compassion, patience, and appropriate, thoughtful health care regardless of ethnicity, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, nationality, political affiliation, or social standing.
• Work in a professional manner and collaborate cooperatively with your patients, the student-doctor team, physician preceptors and clinic administrators.
• Be aware of your own limitations and reach out to others when you need help.
• Protect patient confidentiality.
• Attend training sessions that will provide you with increased understanding of the issues pertinent to working with a diverse population of indigent, homeless, and uninsured patients in this community, as well as inform you of clinic policies and procedures, and prepare you for your clinical role as a student-doctor.

• Students will visit the clinic when their patients visit the clinic at a federally qualified health center: Eric B. Chandler Health Center.
• Patients are paired with groups of three-to-four student-doctors, each from different years of medical school.
• First- and second-year students perform initial intake services, take vital signs and a detailed patient history.
• Third- and fourth-year students perform physical examinations and basic diagnostics.
• Student-doctor teams assist patients with access to social services, specialty care, or inpatient services.
• Volunteer faculty preceptors supervise students and assists with the management decisions and diagnostic tests.
• Students manage a medication voucher program; medications are free and patient assistance programs are utilized for eligible patients.
• Student will assist patients with beginning their process with Charity Care applications (lab tests, imaging studies, emergency care).
• Health workshops are conducted to address topics such as nutrition and exercise.
• Students manage the operation of the clinic (scheduling patients and faculty, etc.).
• All clinical activities are supervised by Robert Wood Johnson Medical School faculty who volunteer precept at the clinic.

• Attend at least 1 blood pressure screening at Elijah's Promise Soup Kitchen.
• Attend at least 2 teaching workshops at the medical school.
• Attend Promise Clinic orientation.
• Participate in TeamSTEPPS training.
• Attend all scheduled patient appointments.

Communications

• Manage contact with all Promise Clinic patients, including Spanish-speaking patients

• Keep in touch with patients regarding appointments and outpatient care, and work closely with clinic schedulers to arrange new patient appointments and follow-up appointments

• Serve as interpreters for Spanish-speaking patients and recruit others to serve as interpreters through a Student Interpreter Program

Community Outreach

• Collaborate with Elijah’s Promise Community Kitchen, other community-based partners, and other steering committees to facilitate patient recruitment and ensure patient follow- up

• Coordinate weekly blood pressure screenings at Elijah’s Promise Community Kitchen and work to improve the health of the population by developing public health education materials and programs

• Organize clinic-wide interventions to target prevalent diseases by administering and analyzing the annual Patient Demographic Survey and encourage student-doctors to practice preventative medicine

Education

• Make the Promise Clinic a model learning experience for student-doctors

• Maintain student attendance records for patient appointments and teaching sessions

• Act as a liaison between the steering committees and medical school staff regarding student completion of requirements

Fundraising and Finance

• Manage the clinic budget and monitor fundraising income and expenses

• Coordinate fundraising efforts within the community with the goal to reach financial sustainability and continue providing patients with free healthcare

Laboratory

• Manage all lab testing during clinic hours, including blood draws, urine samples, finger stick glucose, and other lab procedures

• Collaborate with the Middlesex County Department of Health to provide mammography, pap smear, and colon cancer screening for patients through the CEED (Cancer Education and Early Detection) Program

Operations

• Oversee all Promise Clinic activities as clinic directors, managers, schedulers, and first-year representatives

• Act as liaisons between steering committees, student-doctors, preceptors, faculty advisors, and clinic staff

• Manage the flow of clinic weekly and collaborate to realize long-term goals for Promise Clinic

Pharmacy

• Provide patients with prescriptions and vouchers to obtain medication from a local pharmacy at no cost to the patient

• Provide onsite assistance to student-doctor teams in reviewing patient medications for potential drug interactions and side effects

• Guide teams in getting their patients into appropriate Patient Assistance Programs (PAPs)

Quality Improvement

• Identify and target areas where patient safety at the greatest risk, which includes overall clinic administration and specific team practices

• Improve the efficiency and production of Promise Clinic by using data from student-doctor visits to implement Best Practices

• Serve as a central source of information for many Promise Clinic projects

Social Needs

• Collaborate with the Rutgers School of Social Work and student-doctors to identify patients’ social needs, including housing insecurity, food insecurity, and unmet educational needs
• Work with community partners to connect patients with local resources to alleviate these pressures with the goal of improving overall health and wellness

Specialty Care

• Work to increase the breadth of specialized medical resources available to Promise Clinic patients and to streamline the process of obtaining care

• Provide student-doctor teams with specialists’ contact information and assist with the Charity Care program onsite

If you can’t remember where something is, or if you need additional help solving a problem, you may utilize two options: the student-doctor resource folder, or if you don't have access on your OneDrive Account, reach out to our Operations team.

• If you need help, please reach out to senior members of your team, Psychiatry residents on-site, student managers, schedulers, or steering committee members as soon as possible.
• The SAFE-T (Suicide Assessment Five-Step Evaluation and Triage) pocket card is available to download for free from the Suicide Prevention Resource Center website.
• If you need help solving a problem, please reach out to senior members of your team, student managers, schedulers or the appropriate steering committee/operations committee member as soon as possible.

If you are having trouble completing Physicianship visit requirements, please contact Marjorie Rowe at mr2021@rwjms.rutgers.edu, at least one week in advance so she can arrange for you to temporarily join a team. A physician preceptor must sign off on your off-site activity attendance record at each appointment if you are receiving Physicianship credit. A senior member of your student team may complete the end-of-year evaluation.

Our physician preceptors are all on a volunteer basis and without their efforts we could not support our patients.

If you are a physician and are interested in volunteering as a Physician Preceptor at the HIPHOP Promise Clinic, please email Julia Fekete, Operations, at jf976@rwjms.rutgers.edu.

A huge congratulations to the Class of 2023 for matching to their residencies!! We are exceptionally proud of our students, especially with the extraordinary circumstances we’ve all lived through for the past year. YOU MADE IT!!

Though the celebration may be more socially distanced than in previous years, know that all of us at Promise Clinic are celebrating with you in spirit. We have been privileged to witness your growth through your four years at Promise Clinic, and we know you’ll walk into the world with confidence, competence, and compassion as newly-minted physicians.

Thank you all for dedicating a part of your four years in medical school to Promise Clinic and the New Brunswick Community. We could not be happier to see you off on this wonderful journey into residency, and we’re excited to see what bright and inspiring change you bring to this world!

Promise Clinic Match List for Student Doctors (SD) and Steering Committee (SComm) Members

Anesthesiology

• Isaboke Hesbon – Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School (SD)
• Aditi Master – Rutgers New Jersey Medical School (SD)
• Michael Otoo – ISMMS Mount Sinai Hospital (SD)

Emergency Medicine

• Kelsey Thompson – Harbor-UCLA Medical Center (SD)

Family Medicine

• Saad Mansuri – Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School (SD)
• Joshua Rowe – Montefiore Medical Center/Einstein (SD & SComm)

General Surgery

• Alexander Cong – University of Hawaii (SD)
• Taylor Corsi – Yale New Haven Hospital (SD)
• Yelizaveta Gribkova – NYP Hospital – Weil Cornell Medical Center (SD)
• Sung Shin Na – Eastern Virginia Medical Center (SD & SComm)

Internal Medicine

• Sarah Abdel-Meguid – Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School (SD)
• Daniel Bisno – Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (SD & SComm)
• Kellianne Costello – Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School (SD)
• Gordon Farley – Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (SD & SComm)
• Thomas Hanlon – ISMMS Mount Sinai Hospital (SD & SComm)
• Christin Hong – UCLA Medical Center (SD)

Neurology

• Gabrielle Mendes – Thomas Jefferson University (SD)
• Olivia Van Osch – University of Virginia (SD)

Obstetrics & Gynecology

• Tiana Acosta – Temple University Hospital (SD & SComm)
• Gabrielle Bleich – Rutgers Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center (SD)
• Ariana Lyons – Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School (SD)

Orthopedic Surgery

• Srikaran Kalahasti – Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School (SD)
• Matthew Weintraub – Mayo Clinic School of Graduate Medical Education (SD)

Pediatrics

• Alexa Altchek – Boston Children’s Hospital (SD)
• Michael Nicolaro – NYP Hospital – Columbia University Medical Center (SD & SComm)

Pediatrics-Primary

• Kayla Moffett – Children’s National Medical Center (SD)

Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation

• Rebecca Howard – ISMMS Mount Sinai Hospital (SD)

Psychiatry

• Amy Matthews – NYP Hospital – Weill Cornell Medical Center/Payne Whitney (SD)
• Olivia Wallden – CMSRU/Cooper University Hospital (SD)

Radiation Oncology

• Tomas Patrich – HCA Healthcare East Florida Division GME/Westside (SD)

Radiology-Diagnostic

• Cavin Qian – Stanford Health Care; MedStar Georgetown University Hospital (SD)

Thoracic Surgery

• Fady Soliman – NYP Hospital – Columbia University Medical Center (SD & SComm)

Vascular Surgery

• Kate Kim – ISMMS Mount Sinai Hospital (SD)