RosalineZhang

Rosaline Zhang was born in Grasse, France, but grew up in the suburbs of Seattle, Washington. During high school, Rosaline found a great passion for community service. She volunteered at a therapeutic riding center and also served as her school’s National Honor Society president.

Rosaline is an undergraduate at the University of Pennsylvania (Penn), Class of 2014.  In spring 2011, she gained her first experience in service-learning when she took a seminar with Dr. Ira Harkavy, Director of the Netter Center for Community Partnerships (Penn’s center for Academically-Based Community Service and community development).

The seminar encouraged students to solve universal problems that are manifested locally in West Philadelphia. Rosaline’s research paper for the class focused on how Penn can better utilize its resources and increase partnerships with the community to address the health and education disparities in West Philadelphia. Rosaline also began working at the Sayre Health Center (SHC), a Federally Qualified Health Center attached to the Sayre High School in West Philadelphia.

Through her research and work at SHC, Rosaline has had the unique opportunity to explore the intersection between health and education, and effective community development program models. 
Rosaline cofounded and codirects a mentoring program for Sayre High School students in SHC’s health professions education program. Sayre students in the program and their Penn mentors are engaged in community outreach, service-learning projects and health careers education.

Rosaline also helped design and launch a preventive health program at SHC. The program utilizes a challenge/incentive model to build a community leadership cohort while simultaneously encouraging participants to adopt healthier lifestyles. The program also seeks to connect community members to a variety of resources from multiple partners (universities, places of worship, local businesses, etc.).
Rosaline is double majoring in Neurobiology and Urban Studies, and plans to attend medical school after completing her undergraduate studies. 

Rosaline’s other interests include running, watching movies, baking and visiting museums.