We're an awesomely enthusiastic Alternative Breaks group from NYU! We're heading off to volunteer at the Patch Adams Gesundheit Institute in Hillsboro, WV. Follow this blog to keep up to date with what we're doing :)
The Team
Priyanka Chugh, CAS 2013 - Site Leader
Priyanka is soooo excited to be heading back to Gesundheit for her 3rd and final year. As someone who is interested in pursuing medicine and public health, Gesundheit has been completely life changing. She's excited to continue to learn about and embody the ideals/goals of Gesundheit AND to share this magical, wonderland of nature, art, intellect, and beauty with the rest of the group. When not at Gesundheit or dreaming about Gesundheit, Priyanka can be found baking gluten free goodies and nursing her caffeine addiction.
Hannah Pingelton, CAS 2013-Site Leader
After her first Gesundheit! experience last year, Hannah is delighted to be heading back to Hillsboro for a second and final year. An aficionado of the countryside, people, and pups found there, she can't wait to continue to make a difference, as well as introduce the Gesundheit! experience to a new group of peers and gush about all their subsequent feelings. In her spare time, Hannah enjoys social justice endeavors, studying Mesoamerican archaeology, spirited games of Trivial Pursuit, and struggling through Top 40's hits on her ukulele.
Kim Leung, CAS 2013
This is Kim Leung's first AB Trip and he is super excited to be sharing it with everybody on this trip! He is a senior mathematics student but has trouble telling time and has yet to change his watch from daylight savings. Kim loves to see people smile and laugh whether to make someone feel better or just for the heck of it, so what a better to contribute to AB than to support a cause that does just that. This is Kim's second time in West Virginia, the first time almost 4 years ago through a Habitat for Humanity trip and he cannot wait to go back to such a beautiful place.
Jhaviry J. Pagan, College of Nursing 2015
Jhaviry J. Pagan, College of Nursing 2015
Jhaviry is a nursing major and nutrition minor. She decided to to apply for this particular alternative break trip because it dealt with healthcare and healthcare is important to her. She also felt that it would be a good experience to be a part of Dr. Patch Adams' goal of having a free hospital that would provide services to the community of Hillsboro, West Virginia, who would benefit greatly from it. She is excited to get started on making this dream a reality for this community whether it be through helping building, cleaning, gardening, or whatever else is needed.
Alyssa Diaz, College of Nursing 2015
Manjiri Nadkarni, CAS 2014
Alyssa Diaz, College of Nursing 2015
After waiting several months, the time has come for our trip to the Patch Adams Gesundheit! Institute has come, and Alyssa is so excited! She can't wait to arrive at the institute and embrace the beauty around her, delve into the beauty around her, delve in the world of holistic healthcare, and further learn about Patch's vision. It is for these exact reasons that Alyssa applied for this trip; being that her future career is in healthcare this is an extremely important issue to her and she can't wait to learn things that will help her in her career as a health professional. Alyssa is positive that this will be an experience like no other and she can't wait to share it with her group!.
Manjiri Nadkarni, CAS 2014
Manjiri is a junior in CAS, on the pre-med track, majoring in Psychology and minoring in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Studies and Chemistry. This is her first AB trip and she is really excited about it. As a future doctor, she truly believes that healthcare should mean improving the overall quality of life, not just prolonging it. She wants to be a doctor who views and treats her patients as the worthy and interesting individuals they are, not just bodies made up of organs needing repair. She therefore identifies with Dr. Adams' view of holistic healthcare, and is excited to learn more about it, and get involved with it, on this trip. She also loves to travel to new places she otherwise would not get a chance to visit (like WV!), meet and understand new people and cultures, and gather interesting experiences. Oh and she has pteronophobia, in addition to being awfully scared of dogs, including cute puppies. But that has never stopped her from doing something cool like going on this awesome AB trip!.
Lakpa D. Lama, CAS 2015
Lakpa is looking forward to volunteer and be part of history in building Patch Adams Teaching Center and Clinic in West Virginia. She decided to do this trip because she strongly believes that the health of a community is as important as the health of a patient. This is also a great opportunity for her to learn more about holistic medical care, while working with such amazing group members! She also loves shopping, swimming, watching movies, and hanging out with friends! Besides english songs, she also enjoys listening to Bollywood music and K-Pop! And Lakpa is obsessed with Walking Dead series! Super excited! <3
Tinley Chen, CAS 2016
Jessica Arzola, College of Nursing 2016
Jessica is a freshman in the NYU College of Nursing, with a minor in sociology. She is extremely obsessed with her beautiful, loving family, Netflix, travel, culture, and Spotify. She knew she wanted to work in the healthcare field since she was in the first grade, which sounds a bit ridiculous, but true. She longs to interact with patients and be their guardian angel dressed in scrubs, providing the best care possible in order for them to live the best life possible, full of endless breaths. She applied to this trip because it involves a different approach to healthcare, an approach that she hopes to develop as a future nurse. Jessica is looking forward to working with others in order to develop the institute further, and she's especially curious to see what impact this trip will have on her decisions, behaviors, goals, and overall outlook on healthcare.
Amy Tran, Stern 2015
Amy is a sophomore in Stern majoring in Accounting. She is excited to learn more about the Hillsboro community and how Patch Adams' vision of holistic health has shaped Gesundheit! Institute. She is also looking forward to watching the sunrise and stargazing since we don't get to do that in the city! Gesundheit! Institute appealed to Amy because she wanted to continue doing service and this cause was the only one that she supports. Amy is also like a pro at hula-hooping :)
Tinley Chen, CAS 2016
This is Tinley's very first Alternative Breaks trip ever and she's really excited to immerse herself in a whole new community and do anything she can to help. Healthcare is definitely something she has always been passionate about, and the Gesundheit! Institute is an ideal she truly believes in. Tinley is especially eager to bond with her fellow alternative breakers! She can be spotted carrying around large cups of coffee and listening to Justin Timberlake on repeat in a private session of Spotify. She loves bonding with her couch and fat cat but also loves going out in the sun - biking, hiking, or just exploring. She is also always ready to try new things!
Alma Buljina - Professional Staff
Alma is a Residence Hall Assistant Director at Hayden Residence Hall. She got her undergraduate degree in Psychology and her graduate degree in Higher Education Administration, both from NC State University. Alma participated in four Alternative Service Breaks prior to this experience, two with Orphanage Outreach in the Dominican Republic and two to Italy to examine hunger issues/food policy. She has a passion for service and is excited to serve the Hillsboro community! She's especially excited to learn more about the mission and vision of the Gesundheit! Institute. Alma is new to New York City but she loves exploring parks, museums, and hidden food gems. She also started the Clown Nose Club at her Alma Mater, of which she was President (it was listed as one of the "15 Craziest College Clubs" on HerCampus and the Huffington Post)
Jacob Seelbach - Professional Staff
Jacob is a Resource Manager in the Office of Res Life and Housing Services. He works at Weinstein Hall. Jacob graduated from NYU with a BA in Dramatic Literature and History and is currently in the Higher Education Administration graduate program at Steinhardt. He grew up in the unremarkably small town of Ortonville, MI (just outside of Detriot) where he went to High School, participated in student council and lit club, taught Spanish to 4th graders, and rode his bike everywhere. Jacob is so excited to be joining these students on this Alternative Spring Breaks trip. Service was a huge part of his life when he was young, and he is happy to be a part of the next generation and accompany them on their own journey.
