#theVIPexperience Post #97: Clarissa Del Pozzo-Pardo

Growing up as a daughter of immigrant parents my upbringing was different from my peers. My parents immigrated from Bolivia and Argentina to the United States. My sister and I were born in America. We lived in government housing in a predominantly white neighborhood. We represented the less than 1% of Latinos living in that community. My mother struggled to find a job due to her not being able to speak English, while my undocumented father was in between jobs. Due to language barriers, for every hospital visit, every appointment, and every checkup, my mom would pay for them out of pocket; and pay full price them for my sister and me. She had no idea what Medicaid was or even how to benefit from it. Healthcare is extremely important, and my mom would always take any health complaint from my sister and I very seriously. However, for my father it was a different story. Being undocumented, as a family we were so blind to the law, and so scared that he would be deported if he were to go to the doctor. For over 20 years he never saw a doctor, a dentist, or even a nurse. Four years ago, he started feeling ill, and he eventually passed away when he was 56 years old. I’m 100% certain that if he would have seen a doctor, or any health care professional he would have gotten the care he needed, and he would still be alive today. 

Because of this, as a way to cherish my father’s memory, I wanted to be active in an underserved community. I wanted to be able to help those that are not able to speak English and give them resources that could help them have access to healthcare. Crossroad Health Center gave me that opportunity. I see my father in every patient that is confused, uncertain, or scared. I empathize with them because I have been in their shoes. Being a volunteer intern at Crossroad Health Center has given me such hope for the future. I see how the patients interact so openly with the staff, and I see how the staff have a desire to help their patients with such care and attention. As an aspiring PA, I want to be able to help my patients in the same way, giving them resources even outside of healthcare. I am so proud to apart of this internship, and even more so to fulfill a role in the betterment of patient’s lives.