Sophia Fox & Grace-Anna Perry
October 22, 2025 2026-05-26 14:03
Sophia Fox & Grace-Anna Perry
School: UAB Heersink School of Medicine
Academic Mentor: Dr. Gordon Fisher
Site Mentor: Dr. Matt Spence
Site: Cahaba Medical Care – West End
Sophia and Grace-Anna co-developed and led a community-based Zumba program at Cahaba Medical Care in Birmingham’s West End. They hosted weekly classes open to individuals of all ages, creating an accessible and welcoming space for physical activity, connection, and support. In addition to leading Zumba sessions, they incorporated brief health education discussions on topics such as nutrition, osteoporosis, and overall wellness. They tracked attendance and engagement, fostered relationships with participants, and evaluated outcomes using surveys on attitudes toward exercise alongside physical fitness measures. The program increased access to consistent, free exercise opportunities while building confidence, motivation, and community among participants.
Project Results
- Engaged 53 unique participants over the course of the year
- Maintained an average weekly attendance of ~8 participants per class
- Hosted consistent weekly classes (every Tuesday at 5:30 PM)
- Implemented attendance tracking to monitor engagement and retention
- Delivered brief (~5-minute) health education sessions during most classes
- Created a GroupMe and communication system to support participant connection and retention
- Pre- and post-surveys indicated increased confidence, enjoyment, and motivation toward exercise among participants