951 NW 13th St.3E Boca Raton, FL 33486 (561) 864-0298 info@bicolclinic.org

Volunteer: Kay L. James

Volunteer

Bicol Clinic Foundation, Inc.
Philippines, 2011

My life as a first year medical student quickly turned into a race to fit esoteric packets of information into my brain at least as rapidly and as well as my classmates. By the end of it, I found myself lost in the textbooks and exams, forgetting why I entered medicine in the first place. While I loved school and enjoyed what I was learning, I was very worried that I was losing my identity. I am not exaggerating when I say that BCF saved me from myself both professionally and personally.

BCF provides a safe and supportive - albeit exotic and challenging - environment in which to begin the practical application of my pre-clinical education. The hands-on clinical experience allowed me to begin making connections which I wouldn't have been able to make until my 3rd year or later. The opportunity to work in a diverse team composed of medical students, nursing students, interpreters, nurses, and doctors of varying backgrounds and levels of experiences was good practice for my future, especially giving the changes in the delivery of primary care which emphasize the healthcare team rather than the solo doctor. Moreover, I couldn't have hand-picked better teachers. Dr. Schuster, in particular, is an inspiration. He is an extremely knowledgeable, patient, and approachable physician who leads by example. He provided an excellent role-model who helped me realize that it is possible for Doctors to be well-rounded individuals, and reinvigorated my drive to maintain those important parts of my person that make me unique.

There was the perfect balance between hard work and down time. I felt sufficiently challenged, but not overwhelmed. We had plenty of time to enjoy excursions into the area and to get to know each other and some of the local Filipinos.

When people ask me about the trip, I tell them it was one of the best decisions of my life. It renewed my enthusiasm for medicine and I strongly believe that I will be a stronger healthcare provider from it. I've done my best to describe this experience, but honestly I think it's impossible to do it verbal justice. I didn't know if was possible for any experience to be so consistently and extraordinarily positive. Even after this summer, I know that BCF will continue to be an important part of my life.

Kay L. James
Tulane University
Medical Student

Want To Join Our Team?

BCF has dispatched more than 150 medical students, in addition to dozens of American and foreign physicians and nurses, to provide care to more than 75,000 patients in the Philippines, Nepal and Haiti, many of whom had never before seen a physician. Our team members also volunteer in orphanages and schools to extend health care to other aspects of life. We’d love for you to be Part of the Start!

Join Our Team
The application and all additional requirements MUST BE SUBMITTED BY January 21 , 2020.

My recent trip to the Philippines on a volunteer quest will be one that I value forever. I was lucky enough to have been chosen to take part in working with some American doctors and nurses at the Bicol Clinic Foundation, which is an hour flight from Manila. Here the doctors and nurses provided free services from general medical to minor surgical, to the locals who are unable to afford basic medical care. I was so shocked and truly saddened to realise that the people who lived here did not have access to a doctor or any medicine, for such common illnesses, that we in the first world take for granted. I was able to see first hand the devastating effects on a community without a proper running health care system. Some of the illnesses, conditions and surgeries I saw, I am sure I will never see in my career as a nurse in Sydney, Australia. It was such a fast paced and highly emotional learning environment, which I am so grateful to have been involved with, especially as a student nurse.

One of the main cases that will remain close to me, was that of a little girl named Kay. She was a local girl who lived with her family close by the clinic. She would come play and sing every afternoon with her sisters and friends, which really brightened up our day, especially after those days, which were so difficult and emotionally challenging. Late one afternoon, she came to the clinic in a great deal of pain as she had fallen over and couldn't move her elbow. Her family was very worried because they had no money to take her for an x-ray, which was vital at this point. I knew there was something I had to do, because I wanted Kay to be able to sing and dance her favorite dance called "Waka waka" again! So, Rebecca (a nurse from the US) and I decided we would take Kay and her family into town the next day for a proper x-ray and check-up. I knew that if we didn't do this then there would be a big chance that Kay's arm would heal un-evenly and she would not receive the medical care that she needed. The next we set off to town and after being sent back and forth between 4 different hospitals and clinics, we finally got an x-ray, which showed a fracture just above her elbow. We then paid for her arm to be casted and bought her some medicine. She was so happy and we were pleased to have made such a big difference in this little girl's life.

Overall, I would recommend for any medical or nursing student to take the time to fundraise and volunteer at the Bicol Foundation Clinic, if given the chance. I personally will never forget by experience in the Philippines and reflect back to my time there everyday! The people you will meet in this beautifully tropical setting, will change your life forever. I know my life, was so deeply touched by everyone I met and I now appreciate the simple things in life so much more.

Varsha Sharma
University of Western Sydney
Foundation of Nursing

Varsha Sharma

2011 View Varsha' s testimonial