“The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” This quote from Mark Twain resonated with me as I pondered over why I am seeking a career in medicine. From a young age, I had known I wanted a career in medicine, but when others would ask me the infamous “Why” question behind it, I always came back to the generic answer, “Because I want to help people.” I knew, however, that answer was merely scratching the surface and it wasn’t until I joined the Crossroad Volunteer Internship Program that I realized why a career in healthcare was my true calling.
Although my experience of physically working at Crossroad Health Center was unfortunately cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic, I was still surprised to see how much I could learn and continue to serve our patient population. During one of my remote shifts, I was on the phone with a patient for a one-week reminder call. The appointment was for her husband who had lived and grown up in a different country for nearly 20 years. She and her husband were astounded at the simple fact that we follow-up with our patients and remind them of their appointments. She was constantly thanking me and appreciating the work that we all do. She informed me that in their home country, it would take months to get an appointment, let alone a week. After I hung up the phone, I was humbled to witness the significance of everyone’s role at Crossroad.
Working at Crossroad Health Center has taught me to relish in the team-based effort that is quite necessary for patient-centered care. As a VIP, it is my duty to make healthcare as accessible as possible to patients whether that be through scheduling, transportation, or finding an office that accepts a patient’s insurance. As I am nearing the sixth month of being in this program, I have learned exactly what my “why” is. My motivation behind seeking a career in medicine stems from its purpose which is to improve and expand our health care system, a field with the ability to not only diagnose and treat diseases, but also with the expectation to promote health through education. As an aspiring PA, I have learned that Crossroad grants me an opportunity to be a lifetime-learner, where stagnation isn’t even a possibility. Being a VIP has been a transformative experience and I am confident that through the integration of both wellness and education, our healthcare system will grow to become one that serves to protect, preserve, and promote the health of its patients.
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