How I got involved with MEDLIFE: I first learned of MEDLIFE from a high school friend who worked as a year-long intern. After researching the organization’s mission and work online, I decided that I wanted to become involved.
Tell us a little bit about yourself: I have lived most of my life in sunny Southern California, close to the beach and fresh ahi poke. I graduated in 2015 from Claremont McKenna College and have since been working in Los Angeles at an HIV/AIDS non-profit. After MEDLIFE, I hope to venture out of California by attending graduate school for public health on the East Coast! I enjoy having an active lifestyle: I pole-vaulted competitively for nine years, rock-climb both indoors and outdoors, and hope to become a better salsa dancer. I also like to read and eat sushi. I love meeting new people as well as growing my perspective with new ideas and experiences.
Why did you decide to become an intern?: During my junior year of college, I spent a semester abroad in ValparaÃso, Chile, where I studied social justice and community development with the SIT program. I fell in love with Chile: I found a close friend in my host sister, was enchanted by the bohemian and colorful city, and was drawn to the country’s legacy of social movements and youth activism. The following summer, I completed an internship in Córdoba, Argentina, where I taught sexual health workshops to a group of young girls. Through my experiences in Latin America as well as my undergraduate studies in International Relations, I became interested in identifying the political, economic, and social structures that give rise to health inequalities worldwide. After I graduated, I sought work experience that would develop my interest in the intersection of health and human rights, as well as provide me with insight into field of public health from the perspective of a non-profit organization. The MEDLIFE internship was the perfect opportunity to gain insight into the real issues faced by low-income communities and analyze the steps taken to address them.
What was your first impression of Lima?: Lima is a large and vibrant Latin American city, bustling with people and very loose traffic laws. We were quickly exposed to Lima’s high socioeconomic inequality, demonstrated by the stark contrast between our environmentally-friendly San Borja and the expanse of shantytowns in Pamplona Alta, where residents lack access to water and stable infrastructure.
What are your goals for this internship?: Through the internship at MEDLIFE, I hope to gain a valuable on-the-ground perspective on poverty and the realities of working in the field of human rights. I hope my work with MEDLIFE will have a measurable impact for the low-income communities of Lima. I also hope to take initiative through an independent project that will be helpful to MEDLIFE.
How I got involved with MEDLIFE: I discovered MEDLIFE during my freshman year at FSU. While I majored in languages, my goal was actually to use my skills as a linguist and my knowledge of different cultures to work with Hispanic populations as a physician. I saw a flyer advertising our campus chapter’s trip to Esmeraldas, Ecuador, and saw the perfect opportunity to work towards that dream. Best decision I ever made.
Tell us a little bit about yourself: I’m a Navy brat, so I was basically born to be a traveler. From a very young age, my parents taught me to love and appreciate different languages and cultures, and that has led me to where I am today. I’ve ridden an elephant, been to almost every country in Europe, and my family once lived in Sicily, Italy, for three years! As a result, I am fluent in Italian (so don’t take me to Olive Garden, unless you want me to correct the menu). I have worked with Hispanic migrant populations in Florida for the past two years, and loved every second. I am currently applying to medical school, and hope to be able to return and serve those same communities as a physician. I am incredibly passionate about culturally competent medicine, and I’m so excited to see where that passion takes me next! Fun facts: I almost majored in musical theater, I LOVE chocolate, and I once wore a Harry Potter uniform to school for a solid year (and am still very proud of it).
Why did you decide to become an intern?: My first mobile clinic experience really changed my view of the world, as well as my academic path. I chose my language major thinking “Oh, it will be useful to also speak Spanish as a doctor, given the rising Hispanic population in the U.S.” When I left Ecuador, though, that major took on a whole new dimension. I threw myself into Hispanic cultural studies, and began pursuing classes in sociology, eager to try and understand where the problems I observed during my time in Esmeraldas had originated. MEDLIFE gave me a whole new way to approach medicine, and inspired me to try to change the world around me for the better. I had a gap year before medical school, and realized that there was nothing I would rather do than return to South America and work for the organization that inspired my path…and here I am!
What was your first impression of Lima?: My first thought was literally: “Oh, thank goodness, the Florida heat is gone.” Seriously, though, it was crazy how different the weather was. I went from constant sun and ridiculous heat and humidity to cool temperatures and pretty regular cloud cover. The way people drive in Lima, however, is so much like the crazy bustle of Italian roadways that it felt just like home.
What are your goals for this internship?: I am excited to improve my Spanish even more, and I want to leave this internship with a deeper understanding of sociological and infrastructural factors that play into poverty, and how these trickle down to affect underserved populations’ health. I plan on taking the knowledge I gain here and applying it to migrant healthcare in the U.S.–while I love Peru, and I love MEDLIFE, there are many communities of underserved individuals back home, and I am determined to improve their experience and get them the help they so desperately need.
How I got involved with MEDLIFE: My dear friend from another volunteer trip found out about MEDLIFE and decided to start a chapter at Vanderbilt. She popped the question (asked me to be her Vice President) and of course I said yes! I subsequently went on a mobile clinic to Cuzco during the summer before my junior year and also was an SAB member. I was the Co-President during my senior year and went on another amazing mobile clinic to Esmeraldas before graduation.
Tell us a little bit about yourself: I was born and raised in Texas and come from an ample family of seven younger brothers, two parents, and a dog. After college I served for a year with AmeriCorps in San Francisco at a community clinic acting primarily as a health coach for overweight pediatric patients and their families. I love dance of all styles, starting books and not finishing them, cult classic films, attempting to meditate, meeting new people, and volunteering. I identify as a pathological extrovert and live to eat rather than eat to live. As for my life goals, I hope to eventually become a primary care Pediatrician, serve with the Peace Corps, work with Doctors Without Borders, and maybe teach dance classes.
Why did you decide to become an intern?: Since I devoted so much time to MEDLIFE in college, I decided that the internship was the natural next step; for me, there is little point to joining an organization if you cannot learn, grow, and deepen your involvement with it. The ability to live abroad is also extremely important to me; I place a lot of value on travel and broadening my global perspective. Most importantly, the experiences that I had on MEDLIFE mobile clinics in college radically changed my view of the world as well as my career path. I whole-heartedly believe that they made me a better and more well-rounded person. If I can help give that experience to even one college student via involvement with my chapters, it will be a successful year for me.
What was your first impression of Lima?: Lima was different than I was expecting! It’s a a very large and bustling city, which is great because there are endless resources to tap into and corners of the city to explore. Life never seems to stop here and it’s easy to thrive off the collective energy of everyone around you. The weather when you first arrive is a little grey, but I would say it’s cozy rather than dreary. From Zumba classes at a nearby park to wonderfully cheap food, there’s always something to do.
What are your goals for this internship?: From my year with AmeriCorps, I was able to learn a great deal about domestic health disparities. Through the MEDLIFE Volunteer Affairs Internship, I hope to learn more about the healthcare inequalities that run rampant in Latin America and on an international scale and more importantly, how someone like me can help start closing the gap. It has already become apparent to me that MEDLIFE and the communities we serve have many needs, be it funding for a new staircase, access to clean water, or medications. I hope to be able to foster thoughtful discourse with my chapters in the U.S in order to encourage and inspire them to affect change both locally and globally.
Name: Marissa Reinhart
How I got involved with MEDLIFE: I found MEDLIFE by searching for volunteer organizations on campus my freshman year. I attended a few meetings, one of which talked about their next mobile clinic trip to Moshi, Tanzania, and I was hooked. Participating in that mobile clinic was life-changing and led me to participate in this internship.
Tell us a little bit about yourself: I’m a small town girl with big dreams. I hope to work with many people and communities to better others’ as well as my own life. I’m also passionate about the environment and love to be outdoors! Traveling and meeting new people from different cultures makes me the happiest.
Why Did You Decide To Become An Intern? I just graduated in May and wanted to take time off before heading to grad school to travel and practice my Spanish. MEDLIFE was the perfect option for me because it is directly related to the issues I care about most. I love MEDLIFE’s model and how they operate as an NGO, so it was a great fit for me!
What was your first impression of Lima?: That it is a huge city with lots of traffic, probably because I got here during rush hour. However, along with a large city comes tons of things to do and explore which I love. Also, food here is amazing!
What are your goals for this internship?: To learn more about how NGOs operate, especially in the scope of public health. I would like to expand my knowledge of the challenges patients and communities face every day and how these challenges became a prominent reality. It is important to me to learn about the infrastructure that leads to major social injustices and how MEDLIFE goes about solving those issues in order to translate those solutions into future experiences.
How I got involved with MEDLIFE: There was not a chapter on my campus my first year at the University. I heard someone talking about a new organization on campus in one of my classes that focused on giving health care to those in need. After asking for more details, I attended a few meetings and joined the organization the following semester. After seeing the impact the mobile clinic had on the members who went that semester, I decided to go the following year. After spending a week in Lima, myself, I had a further understanding of what MEDLIFE stood for. I understood the importance of the efforts made by members on campus who fundraised for the organization to help it grow and help communities in need. I remained an active member of the organization during my last year at the University through fundraising and informing others about MEDLIFE.
Tell us a little bit about yourself: I was born and raised in Nebraska (Go Big Red) and moved with my family to Maryland after graduating in May 2015. I enjoy hiking, coffee/tea, puns, and reading – my favorite books being Harry Potter. I also enjoy traveling, meeting new people, and medical science; I am aspiring to become a doctor and find a career that integrates these interests.
Why did you decide to become an intern?: I first became interested in interning with MEDLIFE after discussing the position with the intern who led my mobile clinic in March 2014. The conversation began as a form of distraction while I passed her heavy buckets of cement to build the staircase but quickly turned into something I saw for my own future. Through her descriptions, I saw the unique way that MEDLIFE cares for those who have limited or no access to healthcare. I wanted to be a part of an organization that sees its patients as unique and deserving individuals and leaves a lasting impact on the surrounding communities.
What was your first impression of Lima?: Being from a suburb in the Midwest, I first saw Lima as slightly overwhelming and confusing. As I explored the city, I was shocked by the vast differences between the districts of the city. Some districts are extravagant while others are lacking in basic needs such as water and electricity. In San Borja, specifically, the varying cultural influences are evident in the shops, buildings, and food selections. The people take pride of their beautiful and vibrant city; the parks are welcoming, the landscaping intricate, and the people welcoming.
What are your goals for this internship?: I want to cultivate an encouraging environment for students who are in MEDLIFE. I hope to support the campus chapters and enable them to grow therefore helping MEDLIFE to expand and reach more communities in need. My goal is to ultimately learn all I can about MEDLIFE and the people we are aiding so that I can spread the knowledge and further develop the organization.
Tell us a little bit about yourself: I grew up in South Dakota, and decided to go to the University of Nebraska- Lincoln for my undergraduate degree (Go Big Red!). Although Nebraska has fueled my love for football I grew up playing soccer and continue to be an avid Argentina and Barcelona fan. I am an adrenaline- junkie of sorts and love most sports. I also love to cook and look forward to experiencing Peruvian cuisine, especially churos! If I’m not eating, you can usually find me reading, running or watching Grey’s Anatomy.
Why did you decide to become an intern?: I have a great respect for the goals and missions of MEDLIFE. There is a great need to help people around the world, but I believe there is a greater need for people to be empowered. MEDLIFE goes above and beyond every day to ensure that the people we encounter are treated with respect, dignity and equality. The deep conections MEDLIFE workers have with members of the communities they help is astonishing and creates pathways for effective medical care, follow-up care and continued community improvements. MEDLIFE listens to and understands how to attain what the poor need. They empower these people to work together to achieve their goals, which is exactly the model I wish to use with future patients as a physician.
What was your first impression of Lima?: Honestly, Lima is completely overwhelming. Coming from the Midwest, where most places are a small town or have a similar feel, moving to a big city was a lot to take in. Everyday is a new experience, whether it’s seeing a unique place, exploring exotic foods you can’t pronounce yet or engaging in cultural activities… I can’t wait to see what’s all out here!
What are your goals for this internship?: I am dedicated to the things that I’m passionate about, which includes improving public health and conditions for the poor communities here- and a huge goal for me is simply getting more people to be passionate about this as well. I want to take advantage of the time I have here, working beyond 8-5 and going out into the communities as much as possible to meet the people and understand their struggles in order to further MEDLIFE as an organization.