I’ve been spending 2 evenings a week at the Ravenswood Family Health Center, a community clinic in East Palo Alto, developing a patient assistance program (PAP) for them. It’s a slow process, introducing a new program to an already-running institution; difficult to get buy-in from the providers and staff, difficult to figure out the logistics, and difficult to manage all the paperwork. But I absolutely love it there. The staff are incredibly friendly and fun, as well as the providers–you really get such an amazing sense of the team effort that they’re creating to help each other out. And they’re not just doing it because it’s their job; they’re doing it because they enjoy it. It’s an outstanding clinic. They do education in the community, homeless outreach, and benefits analysis to help people get some–or any–health insurance.

I’ve gotten to know several of the providers and staff fairly well–Janet and Juan, who tease each other mercilessly (I think mostly because they know I get a kick out of it). Janet manages the front desk and manages the clinic software, and Juan manages the adult medicine clinic. I was speaking with a third-year medical student there, who told me that Juan is actually a doctor–a gastroenterologist–from Honduras. I couldn’t believe it. He takes blood pressures and does basic patient intake here, but he was a licensed physician in Honduras.

I’m almost ashamed to say it, but my respect for Juan increased dramatically after I found that out. Granted, I probably feel like I can relate to him (and him to me) better now that I know he’s gone through medical training, but there was more to it. As if Juan’s position as a clinic manager wasn’t worthy of as much respect. As if he suddenly became a more important person to me. It really bothers me. Not that I was ever looking down upon Juan, or anything. It just amazed me how much a label, an occupation, or a title can affect one’s perceptions of another person.

In related Ravenswood news, I just found out that my grant application for the summer was successful! I’m going to be spending the summer at the clinic developing a software component for the patient assistance program I’m currently running manually. Three more weeks until freedom! Hallelujah!

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