“ Family is about feeling loved and supported , and having people to go to for help and advice — the free clinic has all of that .”
– JINHO JUNG ’ 18 , FLOOR MANAGER AT THE PACIFIC BEACH CLINIC
As the years went on and the sisters grew up , the clinic ’ s social worker helped them both prepare college applications for UC San Diego . Thanks to financial assistance from the Chancellor ’ s Associates Scholarship Program ( CASP ), Carolina graduated in 2021 with a degree in anthropology from UC San Diego ’ s Muir College . Her sister , Dulce , is set to graduate later this year .
“ I want to thank Dr . Rodriguez for being so kind to us , making us so comfortable , and getting us the resources we needed ,” said Carolina Quiñonez ’ 21 . “ My family is so grateful to her and the clinic .”
Community and camaraderie have been cornerstones of the free clinic culture since its early days . The training model has fourth-year medical students coaching firstyears , with physicians overseeing every group . But mentors and mentees feel more like teammates here , and they all sit in those kid-sized chairs .
This dynamic is a refreshing change from the formal hierarchy and structure the students spend most of their time in . The first years of medical school can be intensely challenging , especially for students who are struggling to feel a sense of
Celebrating 25 Years of Exceptional Training & Care
Since its inception in 1997 , the UCSD Student-Run Free Clinic Project has provided respectful , empowering , high-quality health care to San Diego ’ s marginalized communities while inspiring the next generation of health professionals .
LEADERSHIP
Dr . Ellen Beck Founding Director
Dr . Michelle Johnson , MD ’ 03 Director
Dr . Natalie Rodriguez , ‘ 99 , MD ‘ 05 , Associate Director
LOCATIONS
• Pacific Beach
• Downtown San Diego
• Veterans Village of San Diego
• Lemon Grove
• Normal Heights
BY THE NUMBERS ( 2021 )
Medical visits : 4,000 Dental visits : 750
NOT EXACTLY CHILD ' S PLAY : The daycare of a Pacific Beach church is transformed into a fully functioning clinic space providing an invaluable clinical experience for medical students .
Free prescriptions : 32,000 Hours of psychotherapy : 570 COVID-19 vaccinations : 490
TRITONMAG . COM 25