Alyssa Richardson - Poster Presentation at the University of Pennsylvania Medicine (Presenting a paper or poster at a conference)

This summer, I completed my second summer of research at the University of Pennsylvania. I conducted clinical research in Penn Family Care under the mentorship of Dr. Nia Bhadra-Heintz (MD, MS). I worked within the PROUD Clinic (Perinatal Resources for Opioid Use Disorder), which provides wraparound support for pregnant and postpartum patients with OUD, as well as their children. My project was a qualitative evaluation of group-based perinatal care: what’s working, what’s not, and how to improve patient experience and outcomes.

I created my poster myself with the help of feedback from my research team. Over the summer, I interviewed patients, recorded and transcribed sessions, and coded qualitative data to pull out the strongest themes we could translate into practice. This experience at Penn gave me direct clinical exposure talking with clinicians, researchers, and community partners. It also deepened my commitment to women’s health.

Critical evaluation.
Strengths: The project centered patient voice and implementation realities (facilitator consistency, stigma-reduction practices, linkages to resources). The qualitative design fit the early-stage goal of refining the model before scaling. A limitation was small sample size and lack of linked quantitative outcomes; future cycles should track retention, MOUD continuity, postpartum engagement, and birth outcomes to test whether the themes predict measurable change. A one-page provider checklist at the poster would have helped attendees leave with immediate practice steps.

Synthesis.
This work tied my classroom learning on research methods and health equity to real clinic operations. Conducting interviews, transcribing, and coding honed my ability to translate lived experience into service changes. It also clarified how enclave-style support (peer groups, wraparound resources) improves trust and engagement—insight I’ll carry into my transition for medical school and into physician training. 

Impact & application.
Immediate next steps I am taking:

1. Convert key themes into a provider checklist (continuity of facilitators, non-stigmatizing language, structured referrals).

2. Draft a plan to link themes to outcomes (attendance, MOUD adherence, postpartum follow-up).

3. Prepare an abstract submission to an undergrad research conference and outline a short manuscript with my mentors.

Personal takeaways.

Standing beside my poster, answering rapid-fire questions, and staying patient-centered built my confidence. The summer gave me real clinical exposure and further instilled my desire to pursue women’s health. I left with clearer skills, a stronger voice, and a roadmap to keep turning patient narratives into system change.

- Alyssa Richardson C' 2026