Learning through volunteering
Faculty and students volunteer at Hartville Migrant Clinic, just 15 minutes away from NEOMED. Hudson Rogers, Alexander Keith and Sophie Tayade, second-year College of Medicine students, shared the following article about their experiences at the clinic:
Can you describe your experience volunteering at the Hartville Migrant Clinic?
AK: As a lifelong Hartville resident, I was eager to contribute to my community. During the summer of 2020, I interned at the Hartville Migrant Center, gaining valuable experience in both clinical and community health. I assisted with patient care in the clinic, collected medical histories, and performed vital signs on occasion. Additionally, I volunteered with the children's program, organizing sports activities and building relationships with the migrant community. More recently, as a medical student, I've continued to support the clinic by involving myself with shadowing and deepening my understanding of migrant health disparities.
HR: Never would I have imagined volunteering at a place with such a deep history like the Hartville migrant clinic. It's been amazing to me to hear the stories of families who have been going to the clinic for generations. The impact that the clinic has had not only on the health of these farm workers, but also the impact it has had on other aspects of these families' lives is incredible. Everyone that comes to the clinic is treated like family, and it makes for a very tight-knit community where everyone takes care of each other.
ST: I volunteered during their Tuesday night clinic in August. They had a steady volume of patients, and I ended up working with over 10 patients. They had translators available for check-in and patient visits, including a bilingual provider. It was interesting to hear about the patient’s experiences and the innovative ways the provider was able to address their concerns.
What did you take away from this experience and how does it fit into your career goals?
AK: My experience at the Hartville Migrant Center has been incredibly impactful, shaping my understanding of health care disparities and inspiring my career goals. From language barriers to limited access to care, I was able to witness the challenges faced by the migrant community. This has not only motivated my desire to become a physician who provides quality medical care but also solidified my commitment to advocating for vulnerable populations.
HR: Hearing how certain medical providers saw current adult patients when they were kids and are still providing care for them and their own kids inspires me to cement myself in a community where I too can take care of families for generations. It's great to see the rapport that these providers have with the families and how they talk with each other like old friends. In addition, I have been able to see how being fluent in Spanish as a medical provider helps the Spanish-speaking-only population receive the health care they need. I am still learning Spanish (and English) medical terminology, and volunteering at the clinic has helped me hone this skill for future use.
ST: Focusing on a specific community, with their own culture and language, can really provide detail and context into how all the things we learn about in class, like social determinants of health, actually play out in the real world. It all can seem vague without direct experiences working and learning from patients. This strengthened my goals to be a physician who is out in the community and learning from them to tailor how I provide care in the clinic.
What advice do you have for students interested in similar opportunities?
AK: For those interested in similar opportunities I would recommend connecting with the Hartville Migrant Center via their website and/or email. They are extremely responsive and excited to host medical students, especially from NEOMED. Also, the clinic is near Rootstown, which is an added bonus!
Volunteering at establishments like the Hartville Migrant Clinic offers invaluable experiences for medical students. In addition to practicing hands-on clinical skills, students are able to truly experience and understand health care disparities. While classroom education on these topics is crucial, I firmly believe that medical students must engage in direct patient interaction with underprivileged communities to truly understand the barriers to health care access. By working with diverse patient populations and addressing unique health care challenges, students become well-rounded health care providers dedicated to helping underserved communities.
HR: It's amazing the experiences that a person can gain while working in environments like this. You get to learn about diverse cultures, you get to talk with people from all over the world, and you get to be surrounded by amazing volunteers. I have never left the clinic in a bad mood; it has always boosted my motivation to continue contributing to similar efforts like the Hartville Migrant Clinic.
ST: Even though we are very busy as medical students, and of course studying comes first, this is also a time where we can strengthen our skills and experiences. These skills not only help patients but also clearly communicate what we bring to residency programs. Taking time to be a bit uncomfortable, show up for other communities, and learn as much as we can in this time is a great privilege. There are so many great community-focused organizations in this area, such as Hartville Migrant Clinic, Christine’s Hope (focused on differently abled adults), Asian Services in Action, and Proyecto Raices (focused on the Hispanic community in Akron). I encourage you to get involved with one that resonates with you!