Sarah Jeizan
My AI Training
Bridges Collaborative Care Clinic
Organization Facts
Bridges Collaborative Care Clinic (BCCC) is a 501(c)(3), student-led, interprofessional free clinic providing low-barrier healthcare to underserved populations in the Portland, Oregon metropolitan area.
The clinic provides medical, dental, wound care, and sexual and reproductive health services, with care offered free of charge and without requiring identification or insurance.
Students from medicine, nursing, dentistry, pharmacy, public health, social work, counseling, and other disciplines work together under professional supervision to provide holistic care.
The clinic also serves as an entry point into the healthcare system, helping patients connect with longitudinal primary care, social services, and resources that support stable housing and recovery.
Bridges Collaborative Care Clinic
About the Organization
Bridges Collaborative Care Clinic’s mission is to engage vulnerable populations through low-barrier, participant-centered healthcare while addressing health disparities affecting people experiencing homelessness and other underserved populations.
Its medical services include check-ups, medical advice, prescription refills, wound care, testing, and free medical supplies, while its dental program provides cleanings, examinations, fillings, extractions, and referrals.
The organization also provides sexual and reproductive healthcare, including STI testing and treatment, contraception, pregnancy testing, health education, and connections to additional healthcare and social services.
Through this comprehensive approach, Bridges works to reduce barriers to care while helping patients transition toward consistent healthcare and greater long-term stability.
Bridges Collaborative Care Clinic
Community Involvement
Bridges was developed through collaboration among students from Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), Portland State University, Oregon State University, and Transition Projects Inc., which serves individuals experiencing homelessness.
The clinic also works with Home Forward and Helping Hands to provide basic healthcare services to participants experiencing homelessness and housing instability.
OHSU faculty members serve as clinical preceptors and supervisors, while students gain hands-on experience providing community-based healthcare to underserved populations.
In 2026, Bridges also partnered with OHSU Casey Eye Institute and Transition Projects to establish Bridges to Sight, expanding access to free vision screenings and ophthalmology services.
Bridges Collaborative Care Clinic
Funding Source
Bridges Collaborative Care Clinic is supported through individual donations, grants, fundraising campaigns, sponsorships, and philanthropic contributions that allow its healthcare services to remain free.
Initial funding included the OHSU School of Medicine Bacon Endowment Fund, OHSU School of Medicine health grants, and outside donations.
The clinic also holds annual fundraising events and community campaigns, with proceeds supporting medical, dental, health education, outreach, and care coordination programs.
Bridges continues to receive grant support, including recognition as a 2025 Family Medicine Cares USA grant recipient, helping the organization sustain and expand free healthcare for uninsured and underserved patients.
My AI Proposal
Throughout the AI & Medical Innovation Internship, I worked closely with Bridges Collaborative Care Clinic to understand its operating model, goals, current patient intake system, and growth opportunities. Alongside Dr. Daniel Spar and Dr. Omar Aljawfi, I learned the fundamentals of artificial intelligence and explored how emerging AI technologies can be strategically applied to address real-world medical operational challenges, including patient intake, community awareness campaigns, patient-interface systems, and more.
Throughout the week, my team approached Bridges Collaborative Care Clinic as business consultants, analyzing its existing processes, identifying operational vulnerabilities, and evaluating areas where artificial intelligence could create meaningful value. We considered the organization’s specific needs and researched potential AI applications that could improve efficiency, strengthen operations, support patients, and contribute to long-term growth.
Using our research and analysis, my team developed a comprehensive AI business proposal tailored specifically to Bridges Collaborative Care Clinic. Our recommendations outlined practical strategies for integrating artificial intelligence into the organization while considering implementation, potential risks, and ethical and legal frameworks. The final proposal, shown alongside this description, represents the culmination of our week-long consulting process and demonstrates how AI can be applied strategically to solve real medical challenges.
My AI Proposal Presentation
During the AI & Medical Innovation Internship, I worked with Dr. Daniel Spar and Dr. Omar Aljawfi to learn about the basics of artificial intelligence and the potential medical applications it possesses.
Throughout the week, I worked with a clinic named Bridges Collaborative Care Clinic to develop AI solutions to support their operations and healthcare offerings. I worked with my team to analyze the opportunities for growth as well as their current vulnerabilities.
At the end of the week, I presented my AI proposal to a panel of judges and the LI Grant Committee, and I received grant money to implement the solution to support the clinic, their healthcare services, and the broader health of their community.
Internship Highlights
Throughout my internship, I participated in multiple hands-on labs that allowed me to utilize technology and artificial intelligence to create solutions for optimization in various healthcare settings.
These labs were created to replicate real-world scenarios and enabled me to develop applicable solutions to complex problems. This immersive experience allowed me to develop proficiencies in programming languages, implementing CNNs for image classification in the context of diagnostics, and the use of predictive analytics in healthcare.
Each session required attention to detail and the utilization of my skills in collaboration, critical thinking, and adaptability to learn in a fast-paced setting. This was an invaluable experience that allowed me to translate theoretical knowledge into tangible solutions.
Virtual and augmented reality have transformed healthcare delivery, allowing medical professionals and students to learn and perform select diagnostic and therapeutic procedures in a remote setting.
During this internship, I had the opportunity to learn about the uses of virtual reality in medicine. I also participated in hands-on activities that allowed me to learn about the applications of virtual reality in surgery and radiation oncology planning.
Many people live in areas where access to quality care of specialty services is limited. Virtual reality and technology have been instrumental in bridging this gap. These activities helped broaden our understanding of this complex issue, and this new knowledge will be applied to the solutions we develop for our clinical partners.
During my internship, I gained valuable insight into the world of robotics from Dr. Laura Stegner, a distinguished professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at The George Washington University. She introduced the concepts behind a wide range of technology that facilitates the delivery of more precise, efficient, and minimally invasive patient care.
Dr. Stegner, alongside lectures from MedStar faculty, including Dr. Omar Aljawfi, covered the growing potential of medical innovation and the increasing demand due to the aging patient population. Current applications include surgical robotics, rehabilitation and exoskeleton technology, automation in laboratory settings, and remote care robotics.
Additionally, we researched the logistical and regulatory challenges associated with implementing medical technology and innovation into day-to-day practice. These challenges include the high cost associated with the machinery and the specialized training required for operation.
Understanding the logistical, financial, and medical implications of this technology enabled me to strengthen my critical thinking and problem-solving skills, allowing us to apply this knowledge to our clinical partnership.
During my internship, I had the opportunity to apply my training in AI consulting by working directly with clinics around the United States. Meeting with Bridges Collaborative Care Clinic allowed me to gain a clear understanding of their goals, challenges, and long-term vision, giving me the chance to explore how artificial intelligence could provide meaningful solutions.
Working alongside their leadership, I developed tailored recommendations on how AI tools could streamline operations, improve patient relations, and improve healthcare offerings. This included analyzing areas where automation could reduce inefficiencies, identifying opportunities for predictive analytics, and suggesting ways to incorporate AI-driven patient strategies.
Through this hands-on consulting experience, I not only strengthened my ability to assess patient and clinic needs and translate them into actionable strategies but also learned the importance of aligning AI solutions with each clinic’s unique context. By applying these skills, I was able to deliver practical recommendations that could support Bridges Collaborative Care Clinic in reaching its goals and preparing for long-term success in an increasingly data-driven economy.