Making a Difference: The Free Clinic Extraordinary Volunteers

Abigail Buckholz

I volunteer at The Free Clinic because I really value helping underserved patient populations and contributing where there is a need. Also, wanting to be a doctor and see patients, I felt that The Free Clinic was great for getting experience in the field that I wanted to go into. I always loved shadowing even before medical school, but The Free Clinic is like a step-up from shadowing. I also like the teaching aspect of the clinic, because I am in a position to mentor students. Overall, I feel it has given me, from the beginning of medical school, a taste of what residency is going to be like. 
 
Nothing can beat the time when I was able to diagnose a problem and had to send a patient directly to the emergency room. If the team had not diagnosed the person, I honestly believe that person could have died shortly thereafter. This first experience of putting my medical training to such good use will stay with me.
 
I have learned how to practice medicine at The Free Clinic. I haven't had any other experience that has given me the freedom to figure out patient care and not just following instructions. The experience has given me confidence that I can be a practicing physician.

Abigail Buckholz, is a fourth-year medical student from Carlsbad, New Mexico. She earned her Bachelor of Science in biological sciences: neuroscience, and a Bachelor of Arts in psychology, with minors in music and chemistry. She plans to compete a double residency in psychiatry and internal medicine or family medicine.

Related Stories

TTUHSC Names New Regional Dean for the School of Nursing

Louise Rice, DNP, RN, has been named regional dean of the TTUHSC School of Nursing on the Amarillo campus.

A Call for Change: Addressing the Invisible Workload of School-Based SLPs

Tobias Kroll, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, an Associate Professor in the Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences, discusses the workloads and expectations of school-based SLPs.

Noise-Induced Hearing Loss in Rural Adolescents

Leigh Ann Reel, Au.D., Ph.D., CCC-A, discussed the causes and prevention strategies for noise-induced hearing loss, particularly for adolescents in rural areas.

Recent Stories

Education

TTUHSC MAT Students Receive Coveted NFL Internships

Jill Manners, ScD, LAT, ATC, PT, NREMT, COMT, FNAP, is giving us a closer look into the NFL internship opportunities that some of the MAT students are experiencing over the summer.

Research

Collaborative Team Earns Five-Year Renewal Grant from NINDS to Continue Stroke Research

Due to this high level of productivity and potential to create new medications for stroke injury, NINDS recently awarded a new $3 million competitive renewal that extends the grant for an additional five years.

Education

Keep Pushing: PA Alumni Gives Back

Jemimah Omavuezi, DMS, MPAS, PA-C, used her own story as inspiration to create the Omavuezi Scholarship for others.