Yale School of Medicine Physician Assistant (PA) Online alumna Nicole Hoff, DMS, MMSC, PA-C, is a recipient of a 2023 PA Foundation IMPACT Grant for a project involving the TOMAGWA HealthCare Ministries (TOMAGWA).
Through the Impact Grant Program, the PA Foundation "seeks to support patient-centered, community-based health projects within the United States and its territories that demonstrate an impact on patient health outcomes."
TOMAGWA is a comprehensive family practice clinic serving the Texas communities of Tomball, Magnolia, and Waller. Last year, they provided more than 250,000 family member visits to individuals who could not afford health care and were without health insurance, Medicare, or Medicaid.
In collaboration with TOMAGWA CEO Timika Simmons and CNO Diana Gayle, Hoff has been awarded a $10,000 grant. This grant is for their significant project: Bringing Trauma-Informed Care to Underserved Women in Four Texas Counties, a crucial initiative to improve healthcare delivery and outcomes in these communities.
The need for trauma-informed care
The PA Foundation's website highlights a significant concern in the current healthcare landscape: "The existing healthcare system frequently neglects the need for trauma-informed care, especially in women's health. In four specific counties in Texas, this oversight significantly affects communities with limited access to healthcare and insurance." This grant aims to change this dynamic, enabling TOMAGWA and the PA Foundation to go beyond treating women's symptoms, focusing instead on the root cause. As the PA Foundation articulates, the goal is "seeking to understand while addressing the impact of trauma on women's health."
As the lead PA, Hoff will also involve PA students, integrating various initiatives from tailored clinical protocols and ACE screenings to group prenatal care sessions, all based on the latest research and best practices. The PA Foundation captures the essence of this initiative: "TOMAGWA envisions a transformed healthcare realm in Texas where women's physical health is inextricably linked with their emotional well-being and where past traumas find understanding, not barriers." This approach aims to revolutionize women's healthcare, emphasizing a holistic understanding of health that connects physical and emotional well-being.
Hoff states, "The successful development of the grant writing and trauma-informed women's care program was a collaborative effort, significantly enhanced by a combination of expertise and dedication. This project was not only a part of my Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA) Student Health Policy Fellowship Project led by Tyler Smith and Catherine Majewski, but also an integral component of my Doctor of Medical Science Degree Capstone Project at Shenandoah University. I am immensely grateful for the unwavering support and valuable insights provided by faculty members Janie McDaniel, Mary Showstark, and Diane Bruessow during my time at Yale, as well as the invaluable guidance and assistance from faculty members Kellie Bodeker and Shea Dempsey at Shenandoah. All of these contributions were instrumental in realizing this endeavor, and I am thankful for the collective effort that made this achievement possible."