The Northern Neck – Middlesex Free Health Clinic (NNMFHC) was home to 20 students from two colleges during back-to-back weeks in March.

For the sixth year in a row, students from the College of William & Mary spent their March 5-9 spring break at the NNMFHC through the school’s “Branch Out” program, which focuses on community service. Ten W&M students traveled to Kilmarnock, stayed in the Clinic’s Phyllis Smith dorm at the end of DMV Drive, and spent their days and evenings working at the Clinic’s main facility as well as the Outreach Clinic in Montross.

The following week, March 12-16, it was Slippery Rock University’s turn. In a similar spring break program, the students and a faculty advisor drove from their western Pennsylvania campus to the Clinic to work with staff and gain experience in rural health care issues and processes.

During their week here, the students logged outdated patient charts, conducted specific chart audits, worked in the pharmacy, shadowed Medical Clinic providers, helped with eligibility screenings, took refill requests, made reminder calls, and got to know the Clinic, the area, volunteers, staff and patients.

“We are truly in awe of the passion and positivity that we have seen from the entire staff,” William & Mary Branch Out team members wrote. “As we go back to school, we are all so excited to spread the word about the incredible work being done here.”

According to one of the team leaders, Sarah Walker, “I couldn’t imagine a greater place to spend this week.” Student Chris Kim said “I learned so much from this experience, and I hope I get to come here again next year.”

“Having students on the premises is a joy, and they always bring their own passion and positivity,” said Clinic CEO Jean Nelson. “Both groups, from William & Mary and Slippery Rock, gave a lift to all of us here at the Clinic. They were engaging, curious, and effective in everything they undertook, and their hundreds of hours of work is priceless to our mission.”

Top photo: Ten students from the College of William & Mary spent their March 5-9 spring break working at the Clinic and – among many tasks – helped purge outdated charts.

 

Above: Students from Slippery Rock University in Pennsylvania spent the week of March 11-16 at the Clinic. They are shown with Clinic staff members Wendy Henderson and Angie Rich on the left, and Jean Nelson, James Moody, Jenny Martin and Erinn Headley on the right.