Another Year, Another Service Learning Assignment

Last spring, I volunteered at the San Jose Clinic downtown as part of the service-learning assignment for Dr. Larios' medical microbiology class. Going into it, I had no idea just how much I would garner throughout the process.

In the time I spent there, I learned a great deal about the low-income, uninsured aspects of health care. Growing up in a privileged environment catering toward the upper societal echelons of medicine, it was needless to say an eye-opening experience.

The health professionals and patients I encountered at San Jose were by far some of the most grateful and accommodating individuals with the gentlest spirits. Despite being a college student newly thrown into this environment, everyone welcomed me with an open mind toward teaching about what it takes to run an underserved clinic.

I mostly spent my volunteering hours doing triage and vitals, but the patient interaction that comes with such responsibilities taught me invaluable lessons about people and the logistics of health care. It also was a great asset for improving my medical Spanish, just in time for a medical mission trip in El Salvador and a summer internship with a medical oncologist serving primarily Spanish speaking patients this past summer. At the end of Spring 2009, I also partook in San Jose Clinic's annual Art with Heart fundraiser, which was the first time I ever participated in an art auction.

Speaking of my medical mission trip in El Salvador, now that I have seen what completely rural health care is like, it makes me greatly appreciate the modern conveniences even San Jose Clinic has. Compared to the FIMRC clinic in Las Delicias, San Jose is blessed with regard to resources and health professionals on hand. The FIMRC clinic only had one doctor for all the patients in the community while San Jose staffs specialists ranging from cardiologists and dermatologists to dentists and optometrists. That's merely the beginning of where the FIMRC clinic lacks in supplies and services.

I fully intend to continue volunteering at San Jose Clinic this semester and truly look forward to what else I can learn from them. This looks to be quite an exciting and busy end to my college education!