Now that the chapter of my internship experience with Ounce of Care has officially ended, I believe that it’s time to reflect upon my time as an intern in Washington, DC.
Ounce of Care is a care coordination service that brings supportive health-related resources to residents of affordable housing communities across the country. However, Ounce is much more than a care coordination service. The Ounce team deeply cares about all their residents by expressing compassion and ensuring that everyone gets the best possible service regardless of their demographic. They’re advocates for each resident that takes the advantage of reaching out to Ounce.
My personal experience working with Ounce has opened my eyes to systemic challenges low income residents consistently face. Watching Ounce mitigate these social and economic barriers by connecting them with assistance programs and healthcare professionals truly makes a difference in these communities. Despite hardships, residents continue to demonstrate positivity. My memorable interactions with residents on-site are overwhelmingly inspirational with residents only showing me kindness and inclusivity. Directly interacting with primarily senior residents and working closely with the Community Leads have taught me valuable skills that go beyond the classroom. I’ve learned how to better advocate and educate others on health-related topics by creating education materials and useable health logs for residents to keep track of their blood pressure, blood glucose, and medications. This knowledge will become useful as I pursue a MPH. Getting to know the DC community has been a privilege. I’m rooting for Ounce of Care as they expand to different cities. Additionally, I’m thankful to my other fellow interns Jaquelyne Bardales and Oluwatobiloba (Tobi) Souza for being incredibly supportive and kind throughout the summer.
Although my time as an intern has now ended, I’m excited to announce I have reached part-time employment status with Ounce as a supportive research assistant. This opportunity is extremely valuable as I continue to navigate the community health field. I am incredibly grateful for this experience given to me by Ounce. I’d personally like to thank Dylan Owens, MPH, Rachel Munsie, and Ounce of Care for this amazing opportunity. I’m excited to see where this position takes me.
