Counting...

I began volunteering at the San Jose clinic last Spring, and spent much of my time there helping the clinic staff with housekeeping tasks that needed to be taken care of following their big move from the old building to the new one on Fannin. I also helped with the big "thank-you" project, in which I made cards for all those who helped make the clinic's annual "Art with Heart" fundraiser a great success!

Over the summer, I began using my pharmacy technician certification to help out in the clinic's pharmacy. I found myself counting what seemed like an endless number of pills, filling one prescription bottle after another, from the time I stepped into the pharmacy at 9:00am until I left the pharmacy, shortly after 1:00pm. Despite the incredibly fast pace working environment of the pharmacy, I enjoyed having the opportunity to be in the pharmacy, because I had the chance to interact more directly with the patients. Many of the patients that come to the pharmacy are Hispanic, non-English speaking patients, and I was amazed at my pharmacist (who is a middle aged Vietnamese woman), and her ability to fluently communicate with the patients in Spanish. Since the summer, I am proud to say that I have been able to pick up a few Spanish phrases, in order to answer some basic questions that patients may have. :)

For this semester's service learning project, I will continue to volunteer at the San Jose Clinic's pharmacy. I look forward to continuing to provide aide to those in our community who are in most need of our help, and to also learn more about patient care and the clinical environment through this experience.