Supporting health equity in our communities

Jessica Wadsworth 
Community Outreach Coordinator
Penn State Health

Jessica Wadsworth believes everyone deserves access to quality health care. As Penn State Health’s community outreach coordinator, she works to make that a reality.

“Health care is a basic human need, no matter your age, your background or income,” she says.

Jessica plays a key role in the health system’s efforts to support the community. She helps run the drive-through flu shot clinics, collects school and health supplies for United Way’s “Stuff the Bus” events and organizes food truck fundraisers for the United Way campaign. Behind the scenes, she creates health education materials, coordinates volunteers and much more.

One of the most important tools in her team’s work is the community health needs assessment, conducted every three years by Penn State Health and Penn State College of Medicine. It pinpoints the most critical health needs in the region.

“I feel very proud to give our Community Health team the support they need to be successful because I believe the work they're doing is so tremendous,” Jessica says.

It’s stories like these that drive our purpose.