2017 CIIP Program Book 2017 CIIP Program Book | Page 41

Community Partner: Shepherd's Clinic
Intern: Anusha Gollapalli
Site Supervisor: Karen Carter
What is Shepherd’s Clinic?
Shepherd’s Clinic and Joy Wellness Center provides quality integrative health care to those who are
medically uninsured, helping people who are unable to afford commercial health insurance and
who do not qualify for government assistance.
•
•
•
•
Served in the front office in
order to help manage
patient intake and assist
with clinical operations
Handled patient referrals to
surrounding medical centers
Screened new patients,
scheduled appointments,
connected patients with
resources
Facilitated communication
between staff, patients, and
medical providers
"Working at Shepherd’s Clinic over the summer has been an absolute dream! It’s very difficult to express just how
monumental this experience has been for me. Before I started my internship, I stressed that the most important
aspect for me was to make meaningful connections with staff and patients. During the first week, I could not
believe how welcoming and friendly the clinic felt – I had never quite experienced anything like that before. Over
time, I realized that Shepherd’s Clinic attracts people who are warm, kind, and genuine. They care about each and
every person who walks through the clinic doors, whether it be a patient, a doctor, a new staff member, or
maybe the next summer intern. The friendships and relationships I’ve built over my eight weeks here have truly
made this experience so incredibly fulfilling for me, and I cannot stress how grateful I am to the clinic for being
such an incredible place to work. The clinic provides healthcare by serving those who fall between the gap of
being ineligible for government assistance, but also unable to afford commercial insurance. I learned throughout
my time here just how wide that gap can be, and how important the work is that the clinic does. When a patient
meets with a doctor at the clinic, they can be referred to surrounding hospitals in order to receive specialty care,
at no cost to the patient. I handled referrals to surrounding medical facilities and helped facilitate these
appointments, by making sure that patients had correct paperwork and would be able to make their
appointments on time. It drew to attention the gaps in the healthcare system, and I learned a lot about how
difficult the process can be for patients who don’t have the means or the ability to go through this process. The
clinic serves patients that fall the range of nine zip-codes. If we have that many uninsured patients within these
nine zip-codes in Baltimore, imagine how many people across the country are also uninsured, but don’t have
access to places like Shepherd’s and aren’t able to receive medical care. This summer has helped me become
more aware of these questions, and gave me experiences and stories that I will always be able to draw upon as I
embark on my career. As someone who is preparing to enter the medical field one day, I am so grateful I am able
to be a part of this supporting and loving community where I can ask these questions and get answers.
Shepherd’s Clinic is so important, and I can only hope that in the future I will be a part of a healthcare facility as
remarkable as this one. I am inspired, energized, and ready." -Anusha
41