Over the course of this semester, I participated in multiple service-learning opportunities of different natures. Since we are currently facing a pandemic, it was quite difficult to be able to stay on course with one learning activity, therefore, my list of hours looks different than they would during a normal school year. This semester, I partook in a CECE online event, a breast cancer awareness walk, training for a high school mentorship (this did not work out; therefore it was only a training), and finally, a volunteer shift at a local medical supply facility. Here, I will go more into detail on what these activities were like, as well as their importance within the community.

            The first activity that I attended was a CECE program known as “telehealth lessons learned: what now?” This activity was on October fourth and ran for an hour and a half. What this activity did was create a discussion on the pros and cons of our modern use of telehealth. This focus was primarily based on the impact that COVID-19 had on communities throughout the past two years. During this time, people are mostly required to meet in appointments through a video call. This change in health care has made a huge impact on communities. For example, some communities cannot afford electronics. Therefore, they will not be able to obtain proper healthcare until facilities can allow visitations again. On another level, the appointments can feel less intimate for patients, as they are not in a private room with their physician. Not only that, but the physician cannot see their patient in person for diagnoses, so there is a risk for errors in healthcare.

            Although there are many negative aspects to this new system, there are some benefits as well. For example, patients can receive care from nearly anywhere. The importance of this presentation was to get students thinking about how challenging this new technology can be for patients. After engaging in this presentation, I would encourage all health-care professionals to make it possible for their patients to have access to them at all times. I think it is important to make telehealth sessions a choice rather than the only option, because it simply is not preferred for some people. Once the pandemic has ended, I hope those changes are made in the future. It was a good decision to join this session, because it will give me another perspective towards providing care in the near future. Therefore, I would take responsibility for a collaborative practice.

            The next activity was a mentorship training that was provided from a local high school. This training took place on September twenty seventh and lasted for one hour. Unfortunately, after doing all of the online training and paperwork for this program, I never heard back from the school. I reached out to the head of my service-learning activities, and they assured me that the school would contact me again. However, that was not the case, so I was unable to perform the full activity. It was stated that any training from the activities counts as service-learning hours, so I am documenting this here. The high school population is vulnerable because students come from multiple backgrounds. Some students have difficult home lives that can get in the way of their learning. Therefore, I wanted to give my time to these students to help them have ease in their lives. I was instructed that I would be providing tutoring for the students as well as companionship, in giving advice about my experiences in college. Another vulnerability for these students is that they are preparing for their next steps in life. My advice for them could make a large impact on how they view college and could really help them push themselves towards success. Overall, I would be using communication in order to make a positive impact in another individual’s life.

            Next, I walked in a breast cancer awareness walk that took place in Portland, ME. This event took place on October eighteenth and lasted for around 3 hours. What I learned at this charity walk was that there are a lot of road blocks that can alter the quality of healthcare for the individuals who are diagnosed with cancer. The economic factor takes a large toll on that individual, as well as their family. Not only that, but transportation can be a large issue as well. Some hospitals that provide care are many hours away, and the patient could struggle with getting rides to their appointments every day. What this program does is help people with those struggles by providing them with the proper aids that they need in order to get the healthcare that they deserve. This is an example of interprofessional teamwork, as it is a collaboration of individuals who chose to gather donations, as well as set an example in walking to help support the communities that struggle with breast cancer.

            Lastly, I had training and did volunteer work for a local medical supply facility that is in Portland, ME. This activity consisted of a one-hour online training, as well as a three-hour volunteer session that took place on October twenty sixth. The training The purpose of this facility is to prevent wasting of medical supplies, and to ship supplies that were saved from waste to countries that are in dire need of medical help. This is helpful to the planet, as well as helpful to communities that are not as fortunate in healthcare, as we are here in the United States. Overall, I think this work was a combination of ethical work, as well as teamwork in order to make a positive impact on the community.

            In conclusion, my service-learning opportunities helped prepare me for what differences I should look out for in the healthcare field. I will make sure to look at all perspectives in order to create positive impacts in my community, and to especially provide care to those who face determinants of health. Therefore, was crucial for my student career, and will be very beneficial for me in the future.