5th Week

This week, I once again went around the clinic asking people to fill out surveys. This time, the survey was an annual survey that San Jose Clinic carries out in order to gain more insight into patient satisfaction and how they clinic can approve. Because I am not fluent in Spanish, I could only ask English-speaking patients to participate in the survey...and this was a lot harder than in seemed! I was only able to find 3 English-speaking patients in an hour, definitely showing once again why Spanish is such an important language in Houston. Many of the questions asked if the patients were satisfied with their visit, was the staff nice, was it hard to find the clinic, would you recommend the clinic to others, and questions of that nature. The patients I talked to were very satisfied with their visit, with most of them being patients at San Jose Clinic for over 5 years.

Being at San Jose Clinic for many months now, I have been able to observe the reward the volunteering doctors receive. To be able to help save someone's life or help improve their quality of living must be a great, irreplaceable feeling. When I get asked during my dental school interviews where I see myself in 10 years, I always make sure to include that I want to be volunteering at an underserved clinic in the Houston area. I want to be able to help those in need and it would be great if I was able to do it through caring for their health.