Heath Saffer

Compassionate professional skilled in managing medical emergencies and fostering positive relationships with patients and families. Expert in communicating medical terminology clearly and concisely to patients, families and other healthcare professionals. Highly organized and detail-oriented for accurately completing paperwork and documentation.

Interprofessional Palliative Care Program / Student participant

January 2024– Current; Philadelphia, PA

·  Engaged in collaborative case discussions with interdisciplinary teams to develop comprehensive care plans for patients with complex palliative care needs.

·  Facilitated effective communication among healthcare professionals from diverse backgrounds, fostering a patient-centered approach to care.

·  Participated in simulated patient scenarios to enhance skills in symptom management, end-of-life conversations, and advance care planning.

Prevention Point Philadelphia / Student Volunteer

April 2022  – Current; Philadelphia, PA

•  Provided direct support to marginalized communities by distributing harm reduction supplies, including clean needles, syringes, and naloxone, to prevent the spread of infectious diseases and overdoses.

•  Engaged in outreach efforts to educate individuals on safer injection practices, HIV/HCV prevention, and access to addiction treatment and support services.

•  Assisted in organizing and conducting health screenings, such as HIV and Hepatitis C testing, to promote early detection and linkage to care.

Philadelphia Center for Adapted Sports / Student Volunteer

February 2022  – Current; Philadelphia, PA

•  Provided one-on-one assistance and support to individuals with disabilities during adapted sports activities, including wheelchair basketball, adaptive skiing, and hand cycling.

•  Assisted in organizing and facilitating adaptive sports clinics and events to promote inclusion and physical activity for people of all abilities.

•  Supported coaching staff in implementing adaptive sports training programs, focusing on skill development, teamwork, and confidence-building.

Volo Coffeehouse / Barista

September 2021– Current; Philadelphia, PA

·  Provided exceptional customer service by greeting patrons warmly, taking accurate orders, and recommending beverages based on individual preferences.

·  Prepared and served a variety of coffee drinks, teas, and other beverages with precision and consistency, adhering to quality standards and recipes.

·  Operated espresso machines, grinders, and other equipment efficiently, maintaining cleanliness and sanitation to ensure food safety.

Psychedelic Science Society / Community Engagement Manager

September 2021– Current; Philadelphia, PA

•  Co-launched club accessible to all Jefferson Students

•  Focus on community engagement and event planning

Cycle4Life / Campaign Director

Summer 2021; United States

•  Collaborated with a team of 6 to build a campaign around the goal of implementing mental health programs

•  Raised $106,000 to fund 50 high school programs

•  Cycled from coast-to-coast in memory of a friend lost to mental illness

Independent Operator / Private English Tutor

August 2018 – December 2019; København, DK

•  Assist international youth in improving English skills based on the ability of the individual

Studenterhuset / Volunteer Coordinator

September 2018 – June 2019; København, DK

•  Created a community for Students at KU through events and running a Café

Employee of BaseCamp / Resident Assistant

September 2018 – April 2020; København, DK

•  Organized events and assisted in adjusting to life in Denmark for an international dorm of 500+  students

Puget Sound Christian Clinic / Student Volunteer

Summer 2016; Seattle, WA

•  Assisted with medical interviews in a pop-up clinic serving the uninsured of the Puget Sound area of Seattle, WA

Swedish Health System / Student Observer

Summer 2016; Seattle, WA

•  Shadowed a physician of internal medicine focused on ambulatory primary care

Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity / Philanthropy Chair

January 2015 – May 2017; Columbia, South Carolina

•  Organized events to raise money and awareness for the charities of our local community

2008-2017; Washington D.C.

Break a Difference / Volunteer Leader

Spring 2016; New Orleans, Louisiana

Feed the Children / Student Volunteer

2009- 2013; Washington D.C.

• Saffer, H., & Cunningham, A. (2024). Comparing “Meaningful Use” of Health Information Technology in Pennsylvania: Electronic Prescription Rates of Metropolitan and Rural Counties. Population Health Management.
• Baird, J. F., Gaughan, M. E., Saffer, H. M., Sarzynski, M. A., Herter, T. M., Fritz, S. L., ... & Stewart, J. C. (2018). The effect of energy-matched exercise intensity on brain-derived neurotrophic factor and motor learning. Neurobiology of learning and memory, 156, 33-44.

• Comparing “Meaningful Use” of Health Information Technology in Pennsylvania: Electronic Prescription Rates of Metropolitan and Rural Counties. Poster presented at Scholarly Inquiry Poster Day, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, 2023.
• Coast to Coast: The story of Cycle4Life. Independent film screening and Q&A for suicide prevention fundraising at the Angelika theatre, Washington, DC, 2022.
• Applications for Bis-locked Nucleic Acids in Oligonucleotides. Poster presented at the Danish RNA Society annual meeting. Copenhagen, DK, 2019.
• Driving Factors in the Progression of Alcohol Misue in Rural Sri Lanka, Poster presented at Population health management, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, 2019.
• Exercise-Enhanced Performance of a 3-dimensional Target Task. Poster presented at Student Discovery Day, Colubmia, SC, 2017.
• The Effect of Energy-Matched Exercise Intensity on Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor and Motor Learning. Poster presented at Neuroscience, Society for Neuroscience, Washington, DC, 2017.