SC Connecticut News

Katrina Dietsche and Jason Weinstein, second-year medical students at Yale School of Medicine, have launched a food pharmacy initiative to combat food insecurity in New Haven. Their project, HAVEN Food Pharmacy, is an extension of the HAVEN Free Clinic, which provides healthcare services to uninsured adults in the area.

Dietsche and Weinstein were inspired by their shared interest in preventative health and previous experiences with similar programs. They began developing the food pharmacy during their first year of medical school by collaborating with local food pantries for guidance. The pharmacy opened on November 2, 2024, and operates every Saturday alongside the clinic.

Patients visiting the clinic are screened for chronic diseases like diabetes and hypertension. If they also face food insecurity, they are referred to the Food Pharmacy where they receive nutrition education and groceries sufficient for 10-15 meals. "When patients attend their clinic visits with their care team, they’re screened for nutritionally-related chronic diseases including diabetes, hypertension, and obesity," Dietsche explains.

The executive team includes Yale public health students Siyun Li and Priya Khimani as dietary advisors; Tomeka Frieson from YSPH as a research associate; Ju Hyun Lee from Yale Graduate School as a research lead; and Shruti Parthasarathy as community liaison. Weinstein acknowledges support from faculty advisors Dr. Angela Kang-Giaimo and Dr. Nate Wood: “We’re fortunate to have the guidance of our faculty advisors... whose expertise has been instrumental to our growth.”

Funding from organizations like the Hellman Foundation supports this effort. "We were made aware of these donors by the YSM Development Office," Dietsche states about securing financial backing through grant proposals.

The initiative aims to reduce both food insecurity rates in New Haven and chronic disease burdens among community members. Research protocols are being designed to assess these outcomes through patient surveys and medical record reviews.

While challenges remain in securing sustainable funding and establishing effective impact measurement frameworks, Weinstein emphasizes a community-engaged research model: “This means the patients who benefit from our food assistance are directly involved in shaping the program."

Future goals include expanding access to healthy groceries for all food-insecure patients at HAVEN Free Clinic and integrating this model into broader healthcare practices at Yale New Haven Hospital.

Reflecting on early successes, Weinstein recalls a patient's relief over providing meals for her child: “A bag of groceries does not solve the world's pain... but it softens it.” This sentiment underscores their commitment to addressing unmet needs through compassion-driven initiatives.