My journey towards a career in medicine has been exciting, eye-opening and filled with unpredicted surprises. I always have enjoyed the sciences, and the idea of pursuing a career in medicine always has been at the back of my mind. However, what may have started out as a test drive in a new car has become a cross country adventure, putting medicine in the forefront of my goals and aspirations.  The highlights of my trip, thus far, have been my experiences working at the Whitman-Walker HIV/AIDS Clinic of The Elizabeth Taylor Medical Center in Washington, DC. 
	
It was after spending a summer participating in the Student Medical Education Program (SMEP) at the University of Virginia that I decided that I wanted to volunteer at an HIV/AIDS clinic. After doing some research, I chose to apply to The Whitman-Walker Clinic. What attracted me most to this opportunity was the clinic’s status as a non-profit health organization, established by and for the gay and lesbian community of the Washington, D.C. area and committed to the care of those infected and affected by HIV and AIDS. 

My first nine months at the clinic have been an amazing experience and I feel so fortunate to have the opportunity to work there. The most unique part about working at The Elizabeth Taylor Medical Center is the population we serve. Our patients are those against whom many other health care providers discriminate,, mostly because of inadequate health insurance but also, even more sadly, because of sexual preference. Most of the clinic patients are lesbians, bisexuals and transgender females. The clinic’s reputation for delivering quality health care service is so well known that the clinic constantly is busy. This means that volunteers, such as me, have an endless and diverse array of tasks in which they can be directly involved in patient care. The duties I perform include setting up patient rooms, checking patients in and out, interviewing patients to obtain their medical history and taking their vital signs. I also shadow various physicians and other health care professionals as they perform their duties; these include orthopedic surgeons, cardiologists, cardiac surgeons and emergency room specialists.  I work alongside health care providers in all stages of their careers, from clinical and non-clinical interns to nurses and physicians nearing retirement.  From every one of them, I learn so much, but especially about how to be compassionate, understanding, non-judgmental and professional.

Perhaps those I learn the most from are the patients themselves.  Taking vital signs and interviewing patients, and hence being one of the first care providers many patients see, one of my most important functions is to establish a quick and trusting relationship with those who come to seek our services. Not only do I want to represent the clinic well, I also want patients to feel comfortable telling me about themselves and their medical history, and at ease allowing me to be present during their physical examination. Sometimes this is a challenge.  Oftentimes, patients are scared because of previous experiences, or embarrassed because of their current stage in sexual identity changes. The Elizabeth Taylor Medical Center provides a safe and caring environment for such patients. Ultimately, our patients really do come to feel comfortable during their visits, and we often are thanked sincerely for the sensitivity and professionalism we show. I never realized how many people are turned away or discriminated against by medical facilities because of their sexual preference or gender. 

	Another thing I have learned is that Medicine constantly is changing and improving. To remain abreast, one never can stop learning. This certainly holds true at the Whitman-Walker Clinic, where educating patients on personal health issues and options for disease treatment and prevention is among the highest priorities. Even as a volunteer, I have tried to become as knowledgeable as possible in order to help patients to the best of my ability.  I constantly am asking questions of very patient physician assistants and doctors so I can learn more about the viruses, diseases, medical procedures and treatments I see. I have learned about such a diverse array of health issues, from standard yearly pap smears and the removal of genital warts to the ravages of addiction, abuse and AIDS. I love going to work at the clinic. So often the resilience and courage of patients in dire conditions amazes me. Each day working there, my motivation to become a physician is strengthened. I want to serve these people. I look forward to when I can do even more for them.  That is what drives me along this road, this winding, changing and challenging road towards a career in Medicine.

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