Educational background: Biology and Psychology double major from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
What is your title and role at your host site?
Mobile Medical Unit Coordinator at Pittsburgh Mercy Family Health Center
Why did you join AmeriCorps/National Health Corps?
I decided to take a year off before continuing with my education so that I could experience, first-hand, the realities and obstacles commonly faced while working to reduce inequities in underserved communities. My year serving with AmeriCorps will be my time to act on these problems and to build a foundation dedicated to service that will carry on into my future education and career.
What are you hoping to gain from your year of service?
I believe that it would be too idealistic of me to jump into medical school with the general goal of becoming a physician who “helps others” without having a working model of how to effectively serve and assist individuals in a medical setting. Serving with the National Health Corps will help me develop a better understanding of the intricacies involved with serving communities in the healthcare field. This experience will allow me to focus my time in medical school and beyond through a service-oriented lens.
What are your plans after AmeriCorps service?
After this year of service, I hope to attend medical school!
Where do you envision yourself in 5 years?
In 5 years I see myself as a primary care physician or pediatrician dedicated to expanding access to health care to diverse, oftentimes overlooked populations.
