After loading up all the newly minted first year scholars into the van
with the second years, we were on our way to Boston Immersion Trip 2013! First
stop: Lawrence, MA.
Our visit to the Greater Lawrence Family Health Center is one the Urban Health
Scholars look forward to each year, due to a strong DMS connection -- many of
our alumni have gone onto the Family Medicine Residency Program at GLFHC. The
fact that several of them, including Dr. Andrew Smith ('04) and Dr. Jon Raser
('06) have remained in Lawrence over the years and stayed on to become
attendings is a testament to the vibrance of the community and the compelling
nature of meeting the needs of an underserved population. Upon our arrival, Dr.
Smith was generous enough to speak to us about the role GLFHC plays in Lawrence,
a city in which more than 51% of residents live below the poverty line and
nearly 60% of the population is Latino. One thing is for certain if you don't
know Spanish going in, you'll certainly be fluent (in at least medical Spanish)
by the end of residency at GLFHC. Dr. Smith then took us on a tour of the
facility, which is literally in the backyard of the Lawrence General Hospital,
one of the busiest ER's in the state of Massachusetts. Something we talked
about with Dr. Smith, and one we would soon learn would be a recurring theme
throughout our Boston trip, was how different his work would be in a state
other than MA, and without Mass Health. Health care policy in Massachusetts allows almost all residents to be eligible for health insurance, including immigrants, and creates strong support for health centers providing medicine to the underserved. This unique political climate provides a much more stable revenue stream to GLFHC than they would receive in other states in the country.
After our tour, we were fortunate enough to be joined by another alumnus Dr.
Jennifer Bentwood, as well as Dr. Raser, who shared their hilarious, shocking,
and poignant stories about all the communication mishaps, awkward translations,
and highs and lows of serving a predominantly Dominican patient population over
dinner. We are so grateful and inspired by all 3 alumni physicians who were so
evidently passionate and dedicated to the community they serve!
