July 1, 2013

A Summer with our Future: Two High School Interns Explore Careers at The Free Clinic

For over six years, The Free Clinic has partnered up with University Circle’s Future Connections program. This program gives rising high school seniors, selected from nine different school districts, the opportunity to participate in a two-placement, eight-week internship, giving them real work experience. The Future Connections program gives students the chance to meet new people that can potentially open doors to career opportunities or sharing their experience and wisdom to help steer these students in the right direction. These students earned their placements; by going through a competitive interviewing process, so they got a true understanding of what it is like to compete in the “business world”.

The Free Clinic chose Alexis Marion (right testing ankle strength in the physical theraphy room) from Shaw High School and Simone Simerton (left taking pictures of volunteers reviewing procedures for HIV testing) from Bedford High School to be interns for four weeks during the summer. Alexis plays basketball at Shaw and has taken a career interest in physical therapy. She will be working with her mentor, Lisa Fair, in the HIV department. Simone has a passion for writing and has taken a career interest in journalism. She will be working with her mentor, Barbra Lewis, in the External Relations Department.  At the end of each placement, the students are expected to complete a project related to their work experience. Alexis’ project will focus on educating teens about HIV and Simone’s project is to detail the history of The Free Clinic by conducting research and interviews.

April 24, 2013

The Free Clinic Honors Volunteers During National Volunteer Week

April 21 through 27 marks National Volunteer Appreciation Week, and The Free Clinic would like to extend its sincerest gratitude to the 600 volunteers annually who donate their time, talent and expertise to The Free Clinic.  Founded by a group of volunteers over 40 years ago, The Free Clinic continues to rely heavily on volunteers to increase its capacity to serve the medically underserved year after year.  Varying from licensed professionals, including doctors, dentists, dental hygienists, pharmacists, and therapists, to lay level volunteers, The Free Clinic's volunteer corps contributes in direct patient care as well as in administrative roles.