Kathryn Rickwa

As a fellow with the Office of Gender-Based Violence Prevention, I heavily edited and finalized a set of “Guidelines for Healthcare Providers to Address Gender-Based Violence,” curated by the Santa Clara County Domestic Violence Council Medical Committee. This document provides resources and recommendations for healthcare professionals to identify, treat, and support patients who may be survivors of gender-based violence. I also supported the OGBVP through various projects related to the Annual Domestic Violence Conference in October, such as workshop and speaker development, event accessibility and inclusion, and community outreach. Additionally, I created and collaborated on several social media posts aimed at LGBTQ+ inclusivity, healthy relationships, self-care, and regional survivor support. As an aspiring healthcare and public health professional passionate about women’s and LGBTQ+ health and wellness, conducting these projects has been incredibly rewarding, and I hope to remain active in the work dedicated to ending gender-based violence and empowering survivors with the resources and support they need to heal and thrive.

Santa Clara University