When I first applied to the program, I honestly did not know what to expect. I only heard that I would be doing something at a desk in a health care setting and since I plan to study medicine, I thought it would be good to participate in. I had no idea what a valuable experience it would become. Not only do I feel that I have gotten a “sneak-peek” into the health care professions, but my eyes have been opened to the struggles of patients of the underserved population of Over-The-Rhine.
Having grown up in a privileged community, I had never known how easy it was for underprivileged patients to get lost in the system or how hard it is for them to get the treatments that they need. It amazes me that as a VIP, someone who is trained to schedule referral appointments and arrange transportation, I still face difficulties. For someone who does not have the resources that the VIPs have, like unlimited phone minutes, access to internet, or time to sit on hold, scheduling referral appointments can seem nearly impossible. As a result, it may take patients a long time to schedule their appointments or they may forget or decide it is not worth the trouble. Because of my experience as a VIP, I have come to understand how essential the program is to the community it serves.
Many of the VIPs, myself included, plan to continue on to professions within the health field, including medicine, physical therapy, public health etc. Working as a Volunteer Intern at Crossroad Health Center allows us students to be reminded of what is at the heart of such occupations: the persistent and compassionate pursuit of a healthy world.
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