Behind the Scenes: Interning at ADROP

By Camille Vasconcellos & Citlali Velazquez Ortiz

Over the past two months, ADROP has been hosting an intern from the Philadelphia Area Social Justice Internship (PASJI) program at Villanova University. Citlali, our intern from PASJI, has been supporting our team by completing research and administrative tasks, working under supervision of nursing staff from Villanova at Unity Clinic, and supporting the daily operations that make ADROP what it is today.

While ADROP has been a pillar of the community for over 20 years, a common barrier we experience is sustainably providing services for folks when needs continue to grow. Citlali played an important role in supporting our team by completing administrative tasks that are vital to the health of the organization. We are grateful for our partnership with Villanova’s PASJI program for connecting us with Citlali.

Reflections from Citlali:

“I feel like I’ve learned so much in just two months. When I first decided to apply for an internship at ADROP, I was both nervous and excited. I knew it would be a great opportunity to gain experience supporting a free clinic and a nonprofit organization, but I also knew it would be challenging since I’m not from the area. When I found out I had been accepted as an intern, I was excited to become part of such a welcoming team and meaningful organization. Although I was especially interested in ADROP’s free clinic, I was also eager to learn more about the other programs the organization offers.

Unity Clinic is ADROP’s free medical clinic, which operates on Tuesdays from 5:00–8:00 p.m. under the leadership of Clinic Manager, Patty. The clinic helps community members who are uninsured, and the majority of the people supporting the clinic are volunteers. Being able to participate in this clinic has allowed me to see firsthand the amazing impact this organization has on the community. As a Villanova nursing student, I had the opportunity to work alongside Villanova registered nurses, which helped me further develop my skills in taking vital signs, interacting with patients, and administering vaccinations. I also had the chance to shadow nurse practitioners as they assessed patients, giving me greater insight into how the clinic operates. As my time here comes to an end, I’m grateful for how welcoming everyone has been. I also appreciate the dedication of the nurse practitioners, registered nurses, pre-medical and nursing student volunteers, and interpreters who show up each Tuesday to support the clinic.

Lastly, I would like to thank John and Camille, whose dedication and leadership make ADROP such an incredible organization. Although my internship is coming to an end, I plan to continue volunteering and supporting ADROP in any way I can. This opportunity has truly been amazing!” 

-Citlali Velazquez Ortiz

If you are interested in getting involved at ADROP’s Unity Clinic, please fill out a volunteer form here: A.D.R.O.P. Unity Clinic Volunteer Form

If you are an organization looking to refer a client or partner with us, please reach out to Camille at Camille.vasco@augustinian.org 

Connect with us on social media: @adropphilly

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