Babineau, MD '06, along with many classmates, were eager to put their budding clinical skills to ing with health care delivery teams and develop a program of- fering continuity of care. The students met with Yvette Molina, longtime director of community services at Elijah's Promise, to discuss a proposed survey of the clients' access to health care. Having seen many well-intentioned student volunteers come and go over the years, she responded, "What are the real ben- efits of this survey, not for the students but for our clients? What's in it for them?" ment. "I was amazed and delighted to see their work," she says. lacked regular access to health care. The findings helped frame planning for a new free clinic, designed to meet the specific needs of the clients of Elijah's Promise. launch and has guided its continuing success. "Working together, the partners would sit around a table to determine "Elijah's Promise knew its clients and their needs. We learned that the clients didn't just need health care, they also needed Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, was serving as asso- ciate dean for community health at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. "I'll always have a warm spot in my heart for John and Manny and the work they did," says Dr. Rodgers. "But at the time, I was the constant voice of caution: `You have to line up faculty preceptors and ensure there will always be enough. And you have to make this sustainable. If others don't have your energy, it will all fall apart, and you will disappoint community expectations, especially the care recipients.' But student doctor and manager Sanjay Jumani. Butler, and Caroline Na, consult with a patient. |