Grace Kim, Class of 2023, BBMB major, The Health Center
As an aspiring physician, my community fellowship with The Health Center has allowed me to get a different lens on the healthcare system. The Health Center (THC) is made up of a team of mental health specialists, a care coordinator, a nurse, and an executive director at three different high school and middle schools in Walla Walla. I can get a unique perspective as a student engagement fellow as I work carefully with both students and the THC team. The students in the Walla Walla community come from very diverse backgrounds, thus each school’s clinic needs to adhere to unique needs based on the demographic of their student population.
Because I work with three different schools, I can see how each clinic site’s demographics really impact the kinds of barriers that prevent students from getting the services they need. My long-term goal is to be able to provide equitable healthcare to everyone, specifically minority communities. Being able to work with students closely has taught me about their daily struggles and ways in which THC can best support them. Lincoln High School is a public, alternative school that provides education to students who are unable to attend a traditional public school for various reasons. In 2009, Walla Walla community leaders identified many at-risk students at Lincoln High School as the highest priority children for supportive intervention in Walla Walla; this is how THC was formed. I learned through my experience that healthcare providers must address the specific needs of the population they are serving to best protect and support their community. THC engages with students to better understand and advocate for their health and wellness.
Providing affordable health care is crucial to meet the needs of any citizen of the United States. However, health care should also include mental health care as well. Most of the students that utilize THC seek services for mental health. As a result, THC places a huge emphasis on making therapy sessions available for as many students as possible. Each clinic site has licensed behavioral health professionals that supports the need of students during the school day. Additionally, they offer low-barrier school-based medical care for students regardless of income. THC makes it its mission to provide equal opportunity to students from diverse backgrounds and circumstances.
My fellowship with The Health Center has allowed me to see many different perspectives. I can carry my experience and learnings as I embark on my journey to the healthcare industry.
Experiences like Grace’s are made possible by the Whitman Community Fellow Program, which allows organizations of the Walla Walla Valley region to apply for the opportunity to create an unpaid, part-time fellowship addressing some of the area’s social, economic and cultural challenges. To learn how you could become involved, contact us at ccec_info@whitman.edu.