Community Partner : Joy Wellness Center Intern : Romina Rojas Site Supervisor : Tracy Holcomb
What is the Joy Wellness Center ?
At Joy Wellness Center , we offer programming in four areas to respond to these needs : Movement Education , Healing Arts , Stress Reduction , and Nutrition Education . All programs and therapies are designed specifically to create transformative , healthy , life-affirming changes in the lives of our patients .
The opportunity to intern at Joy Wellness Center could not have come at a more perfect time in my life . Though my passions for medicine and healthcare have been developing for a while , it wasn ’ t until this year that I began loving yoga , meditation , and learning about nutrition . As a center for integrative health care , Joy Wellness develops alternative medicine and stress reduction programs for the community like those mentioned above . During my internship , I learned about the inner workings of this unique healthcare facility by assisting with our summer programming . Much of my involvement had to do with program outreach , such as making reminder calls to patients , sending email invitations , and talking about our classes to anyone interested in learning more . After setting up for classes , I got to participate in them as well , which allowed me to experience first-hand the amazing impacts that alternative medicine practices can have on the body and mind . Each week , I looked forward to Thursday afternoon for our Yoga Nidra ( meditation ) class , which always left me so relaxed !
I also got to practice my Spanish as I helped communicate with Spanish-speaking patients and translate commonly used documents . I was extremely glad I could help out in this way as it might allow for the services of Joy Wellness to be accessible to more people in the Latino community . These experiences not only made me feel more connected to my Hispanic heritage , but also served to remind me of a key reason I hope to pursue a career in healthcare . A big motivator for me is the opportunity to provide accessible healthcare to underserved communities , which aligns greatly with the mission of Joy Wellness .
The most memorable part of my internship was hearing how much people look forward to their favorite class and their gratitude towards the center . For many , these programs have become part of their routine as they continue to experience the health benefits . Seeing many of the same faces each week made me realize that these programs have built such a welcoming community for patients , instructors , and administrators . The dedication and love the Joy Wellness community has for wellness and integrative healthcare has inspired me to further pursue and learn about alternative medicine practices beyond my CIIP summer !
Performed administrative tasks , such as handling front desk operations , engaging with community members inperson / over the phone , and operating organization ’ s email account Hosted live Zoom meetings for virtual programs , which included greeting instructors and participants , taking attendance , and assisting with technical difficulties Facilitated communication with Spanish-speaking patients and carried out the Spanish translation of forms , flyers , and other documentation Scheduled patients for private nutrition appointments and ensured timely communication with nutritionists Shadowed clinical workers at COVID-19 vaccination clinics and distributed program flyers / calendars
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