Alumni Interview: Gardenia Duran

This month, we were fortunate enough to have caught up with former National Health Corps Florida AmeriCorps member Gardenia Duran. She served during the 2014-2015 program year at the Way Free Medical Clinic. In the interview, she shared with us some the ups and downs of her service experience and gave some valuable advice to current and future AmeriCorps members.

Where are you from and what brought you to AmeriCorps?

My name is Gardenia Roman Duran, and I am from Tacoma, Washington. I became interested in applying to the National Health Corps Florida AmeriCorps program thanks to a friend who had started her term in Baltimore, while I was a senior in college. I was convinced after visiting her site and seeing how the program operated.

Could you describe your former service site and duties there?

My former host site was the Way Free Medical Clinic in Clay County, Florida. I had a variety of duties which included but were not limited to SNAP (food stamp) applications, nutrition classes, translating for Spanish speaking patients, food and clothing pantry referrals, and medical equipment referrals.

What was the best part about your year of service?

My favorite part of serving was the atmosphere of my host site. I felt welcomed as soon as I stepped into the clinic. The staff there treated everyone with respect and dignity, and I continue to feel privileged to have been able to be a part of that environment for our patients. It set the tone for how I should treat clients regardless of what entity I am a part of.

If you could change one thing about your AmeriCorps experience, what would it be?

In all honesty, I would not change a thing about my National Health Corps Florida AmeriCorps experience. Everything was perfect, including the struggle! There was a point where I felt stuck. My car broke down halfway through my service and I could not afford to fix it. Everyone was so helpful during that time, from the members to my host site staff. It goes to show that all moments in life are important. I learned firsthand just how difficult it is to be in Clay County, Florida without transportation and reached a new level of empathy for my clients with similar issues.

How did your year in AmeriCorps shape you and your careers goals?

While in National Health Corps Florida AmeriCorps Program, my site served uninsured patients and connected them to a variety of services. However, there was not a social worker on site at the time. Being that I had just graduated with a Bachelors of Social Work, I used the skills I had learned in school to help serve our patients. At first, I was unsure of how to begin navigating the community resources and was lost on where to start with the clinic patients. As I got deeper into my service term, I learned about social services in the area through the connections I made with local agencies. I was able to bring my knowledge of those connections back to my host site.

My site service taught me that my willingness to work with the community and approaching health in a holistic scope is just as important as my degree in social work. I saw firsthand that a person’s social needs and health needs have to be addressed simultaneously for people to truly become healthier. I want to continue to be a part of the process of addressing all of my patients’ needs and have shaped my career goals to mirror this path.
 

What is your current position and your future hopes and plans?

I currently work for the Oklahoma City County Health Department as a Community Health Worker in Mercy Hospital. It's a hands-on position with a focus on the uninsured population going through Mercy's emergency room. I am currently in the process of applying for Oklahoma University's Masters in Social Work (MSW) program. Ultimately, I hope to earn an MSW and continue my work with Mercy as a social worker.

Are there any thoughts or advice you would like to share with current or future AmeriCorps members?

My only advice to current National Health Corps Florida AmeriCorps members is to stay present while you serve. You may not enjoy what you're doing at your site at the moment, and that is perfectly okay. With that said, every moment is a learning moment. This year is your time to analyze what you do and do not enjoy about the service at your host site. This will help you hone your interests and discover more about your strengths and weaknesses. If you are truly enjoying your service, look for those aspects that bring you joy in your future workplaces. It makes all the difference to those receiving services from you if you are happy in what you're doing. Best of luck as you continue serving!

This blog post was created by our NHC Florida Blog Committee, Alec Kinczewski and Eric Bethea.