AmeriCorps

I was most inspired by the stories the diabetic patients told me. Sometimes a patient would want to talk about their health journey, their achievements, and their struggles. Zufall Health AmeriCorps gave me the real life—and not just textbook—experience for working in public health.

My service year at Zufall Health was beneficial for making connections and learning how a health center operates. And working closely with a doctor helped me preview life after medical school.

“I made oral health education accessible and helped kids and their families understand the connection between oral health and overall health. Plus, my exposure to dental residents will be helpful as I continue on journey toward dental school.”

“I learned how patient-centered care promotes better health outcomes. Patient-centered care prioritizes an individual’s preferences and values and can reduce barriers to care. I had the opportunity to practice patient-centered care leading weekly health education sessions with senior residents of public housing. In turn, I learned a lot about the physical and mental barriers affecting senior populations.”

“During my term, I looked forward to interacting with people in the community. Their appreciation for Zufall Health’s motivated me to serve each day.  I hope to attend medical school and work for a community health center, now that I have furthered my understanding of the challenges impacting underserved communities like Zufall’s.”

“During my senior year of college, I learned more about the barriers to health care that plague specific communities and wanted to help combat them. My AmeriCorps project, focused on providing culturally competent prenatal care to patients in Essex County, New Jersey, regardless of insurance status, felt like a perfect fit for my motivation to expand access for underserved patients.”

“One of the most valuable skills I learned was building the emotional grit necessary to not only remain compassionate with my patients, but still work effectively. Maintaining this emotional balance will be key in my own journey to be a physician and I think it is a wonderful opportunity for anyone interested in pursuing the medical field.”

“My service changed how I think about the medical field. My prior experience was limited to large hospital systems, so it was eye-opening to help health care function on a local, intimate level. I made a personal impact, and I hope to carry these meaningful experiences forward on my journey to become a physician.”