This summer, we hosted four exceptional public health scholars. These talented students brought their unique skills, voice and passion to our Clinic. Each invested six weeks in a project that allowed them to learn from our staff and connect with our community.

Makeda: Growing Community Connections

During the first week of her public health internship, Makeda MacFarlane had a bright idea. As she helped a patient carry bags of fresh produce from our free food market to their car, MacFarlane noticed the empty planters around the Clinic’s playground. She saw an opportunity to start a community garden. “I wanted to show people that it doesn’t take a lot of space to grow your own food,” says MacFarlane. “All you need is a little soil, a little water and some sun.”

MacFarlane worked with our health education and outreach departments to organize the Clinic’s first-ever Garden Together Day as a part of National Health Center Week. Patients and community members joined MacFarlane and her fellow public health scholars to paint new planters and plant fresh herbs.

“Makeda’s idea became a pilot for a new gardening program,” says Kristina Nava, community outreach coordinator. “Our patients will benefit from her work for a long time.”

Luis: Compassion in Action

Luis Arenas was thrilled when he learned he would be working with our health education department. Arenas, a public health student at California State University Northridge, has spent the past three years studying the importance of health literacy. But seeing the impact of health education firsthand was an entirely different experience.

“I was blown away by the empathy the clinic’s health educators showed their clients,” Arenas says. “It lit a fire in me.” Energized by the daily acts of kindness he observed, Arenas created flyers and posters geared toward educating the Latinx community about diabetes management, hypertension and sun safety.

“Our patients really responded well to the materials Luis made,” says Dalila Lopez, the Clinic’s director of health education. “I think Luis is going to use his passion to do great things.”

Alyssa: Unlocking the Power of Data

UC Davis graduate Alyssa Cana, who studied neurobiology, physiology and behavior, took on the challenge of sorting through years’ worth of patient information to create a dashboard that makes it easier for our staff to track patient progress and care .

Cana embraced her ambitious project without hesitation. “I came to the Clinic to use my skills to help others,” Cana says. “And I know organized data can unlock really powerful changes in people’s lives.”

Throughout her internship, Cana honed in on specific trends within the patient data to identify geographically underserved areas and patterns in our patients’ mental health needs. The resource she created significantly enhances our ability to understand and address the unique needs of the communities we serve.

“Thanks to Alyssa’s work, our team can deliver highly tailored care,” says Ari Peterson, program manager for behavioral health. “We were very lucky to have her.”

Cana is eager to apply the skills she gained at the Clinic to her home in Northern California. “There’s a lot of need in my community,” Cana says. “Thanks to my time with Venice Family Clinic, I feel ready to make a difference.”

Blandina: From Passion to Purpose

Blandina Mendez’s passion for supporting her family and friends evolved over time into a passion for community advocacy.

“I was raised in Koreatown,” Mendez says. “I grew up seeing people living without the resources they deserved, and I think that’s why I’ve always been driven to give back.” Mendez spent the summer working with our food program, dedicating herself to feeding her community. She diligently called more than 75 patients who had been identified as food insecure at recent medical appointments to connect them with food resources.

Her diligence impressed Patty Reyes, our food program manager. “Blandina’s dedication was outstanding. We are all excited to see what she does next.”

As she enters her senior year at UC Santa Cruz, Mendez is already looking forward to pursuing a master’s in public health. “Because of my time with the Clinic, I’ve never felt more clear on what I want to do with my life,” Mendez says. “I’m going to help people any way I can.”