By Samuel Salib
Over the summer, I’ve learned a lot about healthcare access, and my perspective has definitely shifted since the beginning. I used to think the main issues were just things like transportation or insurance, but now I see how much deeper it goes and that there are many layers involving cultural barriers, systemic distrust, and lack of continuity in care that really affect how people interact with the healthcare system. Since I started the Global Scholars program, I’ve become more reflective about how my own background shapes the way I approach these issues. Since then, I have felt more connected to this community project not just because of its academic value, but because I genuinely care about making a difference to to help ensure that everyone, no matter their background, meets the highest standard of professional and compassionate care they deserve. My environment has changed a lot too. Being in more direct and community-centered spaces, and meeting people with different experiences has really helped shape the direction of my Capstone and how I want it to reflect real needs. Moving forward, I’m focusing on building meaningful relationships and figuring out how to include the voices of the people actually affected. I’m also thinking about how I can become more involved beyond just this summer, whether through more volunteering, future research, or bringing this focus into my long-term career plans.
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