Tedy's Team Student Advocacy Program

The Tedy’s Team Center of Excellence in Stroke Recovery at the Mass General Brigham University of Health Professions is dedicated to improving the lives of people affected by stroke through research, rehabilitation, and community engagement. One of our core missions is to equip the public with the knowledge and confidence to act quickly in a stroke emergency—because when it comes to stroke, every second counts.

Our Stroke Awareness Advocacy Program is an exciting opportunity for passionate and motivated students to take the lead in advancing community health. As a student advocate, you’ll work in partnership with the Center to develop and deliver a BE FAST-based stroke education initiative tailored to a community or population you care about most.

Advocates receive mentorship and access to resources to help them:

Design a meaningful project that makes a real difference in stroke awareness and prevention.
Build strong community partnerships and assess local learning needs.
Adapt educational materials to match the language, culture, and literacy of the audience.

From creating interactive health fair displays to leading sessions in afterschool programs or translating outreach materials, your work as an advocate will have a direct impact.

Join us to become a changemaker in your community—where advocacy meets action. Applications open each year in January.

Meet Our Current Student Advocates

Danijela Fechushak, DPT 2027

Inspired by her background in adaptive fitness leading exercise programs for stroke survivors and commitment to addressing health disparities, Danijela is developing educational resources for use in community fitness settings. Her project creates engaging, easy-to-use materials that can be distributed at fitness classes to promote BE FAST stroke recognition and emergency response, helping fitness professionals and participants recognize stroke symptoms and take life-saving action.

Gabriella Ferreira, DPT 2027

Gabriella is dedicated to meeting people where they are at through digital outreach. Gabriella’s project builds upon the foundation of previous advocacy work to expand the Center’s social media presence. By creating engaging Instagram content like interviews, interactive Q&As, and community-focused outreach posts, she aims to streamline BE FAST education and foster a more accessible online space for stroke awareness.

Ashley Gesse, DHSc 2027

Drawing on her background in instructional design, multimedia communication, and health education, Ashley is developing engaging educational videos to increase awareness of stroke and the work of the Tedy's Team Center of Excellence in Stroke Recovery. Her project focuses on creating short, accessible videos that promote stroke recognition, emergency preparedness, and practical information for community members, stroke survivors, and care partners, helping make stroke education easy to understand and share.

Clare Naughton, OTD 2028

Inspired by both her clinical experiences and a personal connection to stroke, Clare is passionate about improving stroke awareness through community education. Her project involves developing and delivering an interactive stroke awareness workshop for older adults living in a Charlestown housing community, focusing on recognizing the signs of stroke, responding quickly in an emergency, and empowering participants with practical knowledge to support their health and the health of those around them.

Anastasia Yang, MS-SLP 2027

Inspired by her family's experience with stroke and her passion for improving healthcare communication, Anastasia is working to increase stroke awareness within the Taiwanese community. In collaboration with a Boston-based Taiwanese cultural center, she is developing and delivering a culturally and linguistically appropriate educational session in that teaches participants to recognize the signs of stroke, respond quickly in an emergency, and feel empowered to take action.