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Reagan was scrolling through Instagram when an ad for a Remote Area Medical (RAM®) clinic in Anchorage caught her eye. A pre-med student at the University of Alaska Anchorage, she decided to volunteer.
“I was just kind of, like, inspired [to volunteer] because it sounded really interesting to be able to provide medical care for people who don’t have access. Just because it’s an ongoing problem, that’s progressively getting worse…” Reagan said.
Reagan hoped to work in healthcare. At the clinic, she could explore that goal while helping people in her community receive care.
A New View of Healthcare
Reagan is a senior at UAA. She hasn’t decided exactly what comes after graduation, but she knows she wants to help people through healthcare. Volunteering at the Anchorage clinic introduced her to a field she hadn’t considered: dentistry.
As a runner on the dental floor, Reagan saw a side of healthcare she hadn’t experienced before. Until then, she had never considered working in dentistry.
She networked with healthcare students and professionals, allowing her to see what other paths she could take in the healthcare industry.
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The clinic also gave Reagan a chance to connect with her community. As an interpreter, she used a skill she rarely gets to practice in daily life.
Helping Patients Feel Understood
Interpreters help patients and providers understand one another. That communication helps patients explain what they need and feel more comfortable during their visit.
Reagan is minoring in Spanish at UAA but rarely gets to use it. At the clinic, she could use her Spanish to help patients communicate with their care providers.
“I’ve also had a lot of opportunities to translate today, which has been really fun,” Reagan said. “So that was like my favorite part, actually.”
Reagan interpreted as patients moved through dental triage, X-rays, and treatment. She helped them understand what was happening and communicate with their care teams.
An Invitation to Future Healthcare Professionals
Reagan encourages other students interested in healthcare to volunteer. They can serve their communities and discover a field they might never have considered.
“I think every aspect of what’s happening today is good for someone who’s interested, at all, in the medical field. It’s really good experience, overall,” said Reagan.
Why Reagan Wants to Practice in Alaska
Reagan hopes to become a physician or physician assistant. Alaska offers paths for students pursuing medicine and physician assistant careers, though parts of their training may take them out of state. Reagan hasn’t decided which path she’ll take. What she does know is that she wants to come home and care for Alaskans.
Alaska’s distances can make both healthcare training and patient care more complicated. Reagan has seen how far some people travel to reach a provider.
Reagan works as a medical assistant for a dermatologist in Anchorage. Her job has shown her how difficult it can be for people outside the city to reach specialty care.
“If you have a skin cancer on your face, the only way to get it taken care of is if you come all the way down to Anchorage,” Reagan said.
For people in remote communities, reaching care may mean a long drive or a even a flight to Anchorage. Travel adds another barrier, both time and money, when they need treatment.
Returning Home After Residency
Whatever path she chooses, Reagan wants to practice in Alaska. She knows that reaching care can be difficult for people who live far from a hospital or clinic.
Reagan introduced her classmate and fellow volunteer, Teagan, who comes from a small village roughly four hours from the nearest hospital. Reagan explained that living so far from a hospital is not unusual in Alaska. Seeing how difficult it can be for people to reach even basic care is one reason she wants to return to practice in Alaska after completing her training.
Not only does she want to return to Alaska to make care more accessible to her neighbors, but it’s her home, where her family is, and in her opinion, the most beautiful place to live.
“I don’t like any other state as much as I like this place,” Reagan said.
It Started With an Instagram Ad
Reagan hopes to volunteer at another RAM clinic. She enjoyed meeting people in her community and helping them receive care. And it all started with an ad she saw while scrolling through Instagram.
If you would like to join volunteers, like Reagan at a RAM Clinic, sign up here!
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