Session 3 with Yeshe Mengesha
Yeshe is very experienced and skilled in FQHC operations and understands the healthcare landscape in Santa Clara County. She has over a decade of experience in healthcare. She has worked on projects to implement and oversee the ACEs (Screening for Adverse Childhood Experiences and Trauma) screening, NO HIT ZONE, Integrated Behavior Health, Whole Person Care Program, Health Home Program, and CalAIm (ECM & CS) in the FQHC setting. Yeshe is on the Community Advisory Board of the Perinatal Equity Initiative and the Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health Community Advisory Board, a voting member of the Child Abuse Prevention Council, part of the County SCAN team, and a Black Leadership Kitchen Cabinet member. She received her master's in public health with a concentration in behavioral health from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology.
Dr. Anisa Rangwala
India: no undergraduate (entered medical school directly)
Medical education was not very clinical-based, needed opportunity to apply
3 years of training → independent practice
India was not enough to be a good clinical doctor
Matched w/ Santa Clara Valley Medical Center (county hospital)
Urgent care + primary care physician
Volunteered w/ homeless clinics prior to getting a residency, worked w/ medical students to work in free clinic
Also worked in Palo Alto as research assistant, research at UCSF
Yeshe Mengesha
Director for Healthcare Services @ AACI Health & Wellness
Undergrad w/ Public Health, master’s w/ mental health
Lots of experience in all sorts of fields: risk management, quality improvement, urgent care, pediatrics, insurance, nonprofits, etc. !
Each section of the medical field has a problem → good to experience a bit in every part of the medical field
Community Health Partnership Internship
Emphasizes treating people for the human that they are
The reward: appreciation from the patients
ACIS screening: screening for trauma during childhood that may negatively affect adult experiences (e.g. alcohol issues, chronic illnesses)
Sometimes recognize trauma that patients do not consider as trauma (e.g. peaceful divorce)
Public fundings helped a lot with initiatives
Always provide best healthcare possible for people
Substance abuse initiatives
Prescribe medications for opioid use
Quite complex: need to create policies for prescribers and patients (support in housing, food to recover and avoiding triggers)
Behavior/mental health should be integrated into primary care (physical + mental wellness) → wellness team for the patient
Mentors have played a huge part in initiating passions and motivations
Volunteers and interns taken every year–info is sent!
Self care is important in the medical field
Professionals often become selfless when working in the medical field so it is important to take care of yourself and recharge
Exposed to significant second-hand trauma
Debriefing can be beneficial
