Why NHC?

Looking back on when I was a freshman in college, I would never have thought I’d move halfway across the country after graduating and be doing the type of service I had always wanted; but I did. Upon starting college, I had a strong sense that I wanted to go into medicine, community health and become an advocate for those who are marginalized in our society. My career goals were expanded upon from there through a community service learning program I was involved in all four years of college, as well as an internship at a community health center where I found my desire to enter primary care.

As I got closer to my senior year, the thought of a gap between college and medical school become less of an idea and more of a necessity. I could not pass up the opportunity to set aside my textbooks for a year and dedicate myself to the issues in healthcare I am most passionate about. There was no need to look further than the Philadelphia operating site of the National Health Corps as the perfect way to become a more socially conscious individual and an expert on health insurance.

There were multiple reasons why the Philadelphia Health Corps (PHC) was the program I chose. The blog posts detailing what members did was very helpful to get a sense of what I would be doing if I was an AmeriCorps member with PHC. The service described by current members resonated with my goals for what I wanted to achieve during my gap year. I also liked the sense of community the program creates, focusing on creating fun gatherings outside service such as the Corps Support committee that plans hiking trips, potlucks and more events. One of the most enticing aspects of this program was the training and support provided throughout the service year. The professional and personal growth I have already gained from Pre-Service Orientation (PSO) has been extraordinary. We started our service term with a week-long training about cultural competency, the public health situation in Philadelphia, an overview of the Affordable Care Act and much more. The practical communication tools and new knowledge I gained has already impacted how I interact with patients at my service site. For example, we had a training session about Trauma Informed Care where we learned to be aware and respectful of people’s past trauma in order to facilitate more effective, honest communication. One way I have incorporated these lessons into my service has been by asking for permission from patients before inquiring about more personal information. Additionally, I strive to be as transparent with the insurance enrollment process as possible so patients know what to expect. We have completed other trainings since PSO as well as additional workshops in the future given by current AmeriCorps members; we will further develop our skills and knowledge as we continue our service term.

My first impressions of PHC have been beyond what I imagined. The community that the fellow AmeriCorps members cultivate is an excellent environment to grow as we all tackle social issues and complex systems larger than ourselves. The program is also well structured, and we address many different aspects of healthcare and the social service system I would have never known about. During my month spent in Philadelphia thus far, I have enjoyed exploring the city’s many neighborhoods with my fellow AmeriCorps members. PHC has proven to be exactly what I wanted to be involved with during my gap year. I cannot wait to continue the journey I have set out on and see where I end up on the other side.

This post was written by PHC member Dan Wells.
Dan serves at the Family Practice & Counseling Network - Eleventh Street as a Health & Benefits Advocate.