As the plane landed at Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA), I realized that a once-in-a-lifetime experience would begin. Washington, D.C. is a dream city for any political
science student. The excitement could not outweigh the imposter syndrome looming over me, the feeling that I was out of my league and in unfamiliar territory. Being new to such an iconic city was intimidating. Still, as someone who wants to work in the nonprofit or NGO field, I was excited to work with Mary’s Center, a federally qualified community health center, and learn more about a field I am unfamiliar with.
It was refreshing and eye-opening to see such a comprehensive Metro system. Coming from a city with limited public transportation, like Miami, to D.C., where people can transport themselves anywhere, has been easy to adapt to and delightful. It made me reflect on the information I learned from Mary’s Center about the true barriers to health with the Social Determinants of Health (SDOH). Reliable, widespread, affordable public transportation creates more accessible healthcare services. It made me imagine what a difference extending the Metrorail and bus routes in Miami would make. Not only does having this access help people get to their appointments on time, but it also removes barriers like the cost of gas or an Uber that limits those who live paycheck-to-paycheck from receiving crucial preventative care.
Another thing that stuck with me was the citywide conversation about reproductive health. With a highly politicized topic like abortion, the conversation usually steers two very binary ways: pro-life or pro-choice. I have often found that this approach fails to consider what happens outside of pregnancy. Both movements, primarily led by white middle-class women who are not the main demographic affected by abortion restrictions, do not sufficiently address what happens after the child is born. Since the overturning of Roe v Wade in May 2022, the conversation has shifted reproductive health from a health focus to a moral issue because our society views health as a privilege, not a right. Working with Mary’s Center has shown me the impact of providing people with a holistic collection of resources needed to fully support the patient to either continue or end a pregnancy.
With over 60% of the participants at Mary’s Center identifying as Latinx, as a Latina, I have found my time at this health center inspiring and empowering as it serves members of my community. I have always been passionate about making bilingual content more commonplace because it is an overlooked aspect of accessibility. Being able to translate important information into a different language is a skill I brought to the fellowship. Translating information for a broader audience with varying degrees of literacy is a valuable skill I have learned. Coming from a bilingual city, I took for granted having so much information already in Spanish. Language and education also play a role as Social Determinants of Health since patients need to understand the information they receive to make well-informed decisions.
This ties into the importance of education because, in a world where most people receive their news via social media, creating infographics on Canva to advertise available resources is often the best way to reach people. With these graphics, I can ensure patients make better-informed decisions and feel secure about their healthcare outcomes. The reach of social media can improve a potential patient’s awareness of the services available at Mary’s Center and encourage them to go. Imagery is important; representation matters. At Mary’s
Center, clinicians meet patients where they are by having the resources available to take a tailored approach to providing care. I am excited to continue contributing throughout the fellowship to the amazing outreach work from the Marketing and Communications team because it has allowed me to see what is involved in advocating for the underserved and empowering them to live better, healthier, and more stable lives.