A key requirement of a physician is the ability to connect with a diverse patient population. It is not enough to be intelligent and competent; when a patient is not comfortable with their physician, it can be a serious barrier to care.
During college, I visited nine countries spanning four continents and interacted with many different peoples and cultures. Yet I grew the most in my ability to connect with people with experiences very different from mine in my own back yard. I worked with the uninsured and low-income population during my year of service with the Wallace Medical Concern. One patient came in needing a referral to general surgery. He was recently released from his second incarceration, wore baggy pants, an oversized t-shirt, had long hair slicked back into a ponytail and tattoos from his ankles to his neck. He was looking for a job, but could only find work doing manual labor because of his appearance. With a hernia this was impossible. As we looked for a clinic to manage his hypertension so he could qualify for surgery, he avoided certain areas of town so he wouldn’t fall back into selling drugs. He was compliant and grateful. I was proud to be a partner in his journey to turning his life around.
This year I have served businessmen who all of a sudden found themselves sleeping in their car, sexual minorities fleeing unwelcome homes, and people experiencing homelessness because of mental illness. By maintaining professionalism and providing compassionate care to everyone who walks through our doors, we are able to preserve dignity and show the respect to those typically marginalized in society.
Serving as a Referral Coordinator has taught me other vital aspects of health care—namely the power of listening to patients, the value of collaboration, and the importance of patient education. I discovered that patients were eager to talk to me because there were so few people that would listen. Through their stories of financial struggles and mental health issues, I saw how the practice of medicine has to provide care to the whole person, the physical as well as the psychological and social. I realized that it is more effective to advocate for patients by collaborating with other community health clinics and tapping into community resources that help provide integrated health care. Also surprising is the lack of knowledge our patients have about basic health, self-care, and the health care system. Hearing their stories and talking with them, I have had the opportunity to educate patients on the importance of primary care and how that can help alleviate excessive emergency room visits and unnecessary financial burden on low-income families.
I truly believe I will be a better doctor because of my experience at the Wallace Medical Concern. It has helped me put my ideals into practice. Serving the poor and uninsured sounds like a noble goal, but to sit in a room with a woman in tears because of excruciating back pain and possible cancer having no where to send her is a humbling experience. The struggles of my patients became more real to me this year than I could have imagined. Health truly is a gift that can offer hope in times of hardship.
My experience at Wallace has helped me realize that serving the health care needs of underserved communities is driving my career ambition. I will educate patients on preventative measures that can improve quality of life and reduce costs for individuals and organizations. I will work to break down barriers in the public institutions that inhibit human dignity and the basic human right to health. I desire to serve the underserved and vulnerable, and provide for them comprehensive and compassionate health care. I can best serve these communities as a physician.
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