W

e all come from different origins, different places, different backgrounds.  Some of us grew up in the city, while others flew thousands of miles to be here.  No matter what our background, we all came together to "get things done."  That's exactly what we did--we gave over 4,000 dental screenings, performed hundreds of HIV counseling sessions, presented at conferences, and logged thousands of hours with patients. 

Read on to find out more about us and what we do!

		Zachary Borus
		Haight Ashbury Free Clinic
		Zach grew up in West Hartford, CN and graduated from Bowdoin College in Brunswick, ME.  Before coming to AmeriCorps, Zach completed an honors thesis in South Africa and then traveled in Chile, New Zealand, Australia, and Japan to work on organic farms.  This year Zach has worked as an HIV counselor, a medical assistant, and outreach worker at Haight Ashbury Food Program.  Zach will be attending medical school at the University of Rochester in the fall.
		"I've grown enormously from my time here and consider it an incredible opportunity."
		Tira Chaicha
		St. Anthony Foundation Free Medical Clinic
		Originally from San Antonio, Texas, Tira moved out to San Francisco for her AmeriCorps service. She is a returning HealthCorps member, spending her first year at Glide Health Services and this year at St. Anthony Free Medical Clinic. Tira will be returning to Texas for medical school this fall.
		"I feel really lucky to be in such a diverse environment where it feels like I can get a taste of the whole world in one city."
		Karen Finch
		Women's Community Clinic
		Jill Freeto
		Glide Free Clinic
		Jill grew up in Napa, CA, an hour north of San Francisco. She stayed local to the Bay Area and went to Santa Clara University for college. Jill studied Biology and Art History and performed research on beetles in Bishop, a town in the Eastern Sierra.  She also studied abroad in Florence, Italy. Jill have been living in San Francisco for about 2 years and will be attending Albert Einstein Medical School in the fall.
		"This year I've really learned not to make assumptions. The way a person may look or even act on the outside can truly say very little about what is going on for them on the inside. My year with AmeriCorps has taught me how much there is to learn from this seemingly simple, yet powerful concept."
		Vino Goonewardena
		New Generation Health Center
		After growing up in northern California, Vino attended the UC San Diego, but was lured back home by the theater, music, and culture that pervade the dynamic city of San Francisco. Serving her term at New Generation Health Center, Vino works with at-risk youth as a counselor, empowering youth through positive sexual health and healthy living. She also leads several youth presentations in San Francisco schools and professional conferences. Vino will be attending UC Berkeley in the fall for a Master's in public health.
		“Searching for a way to make a mark on the world since I was old enough to see the big picture, this experience has been the first time when I have truly felt that I have made a tangible difference.”
		Stephanie Hanna
		Street Outreach Services
		Onyx Huang
		Street Outreach Services
		Janice Kim
		Women's Community Clinic
		A native San Franciscan, Janice works at The Women's Community Clinic where she does a little of everything, from scheduling phone calls to HIV test counseling and volunteer supervision to changing light bulbs. She and her counterpart, Karen, have engaged in special projects such as presenting a workshop on "Taking Control of Your Health" for the Young Women's Health Conference and organizing a stress-reduction seminar for Women's Health Month.   This is her second year with the Women's Community Clinic.  She also has a dog named Joe.
		Tana Le
		Tom Waddell Health Center
		Tana Le was born in Vietnam. She received a bachelor's from the UofMN and is a graduate of MMEP-HCEM from CWRU. Tana spent her first year of HealthCorps as a health & wellness education coodinator/facilitator in Peekskill, NY. She now works with API HIV patients and co-develops Family T.A.P.S—a pilot smoking cessation & support program for homeless African American families. Tana is on the Community HealthCorps Member Council and hopes to introduce the HealthCorps program to MN prior to attending med school in 2005.
		"I've met people who have made a lasting impact on my life—I'm a better person because of my patients and colleagues."
		Huong Nguyen
		Silver Ave Health Center /St. Anthony Free Medical clinic
		Becky Osborn
		Adolescent Health Working Group
		Becky Osborn was born in Gloucester, MA, went to high school in Philadelphia, and attended Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio. Currently, she works as the outreach coordinator at the Adolescent Health Working Group, developing curriculum and conducting workshops with low-income teens and health professionals. She plans on attending a PhD program in clinical psychology in the near future. She enjoys long runs, swimming in the San Francisco Bay, and writing children's books.
		Stephany Rodriguez
		Tom Waddell Health Center
		Stephany Rodriguez was born in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico and moved to the El Paso, Texas where she went to high school.  She graduated from Stanford University with a degree in Human Biology an a concentration in International Health and Cross-cultural Medicine.  Currently, she works at Tom Waddell Health Center where she does street outreach, coordinates a diabetes group for Latinos, enrolls patients in primary care, and works as a medical assistant. She heads back to Texas in August to attend Southwestern Medical School. She plans on going into family practice.  She plays violin, guitar, and vocals for a "Rock en Espanol" band in the bay area and is also often out on the soccer fields.
		Janelle Tate
		Haight Asbury Free Medical Clinic
		Although Janelle Tate is a native San Franciscan, she studied in the South where she received a Bachelor's degree at Tuskegee University and a MPA in Health Administration at Auburn University . Currently, she works at the Haight Ashbury Clinic where her day to day activities include XXX. In life she hopes to continue to grow closer to God, provide service to her community, and live a peaceful and happy life.
		"This year I have learned that I can continue to work (even with little pay) as long as I love what I am doing..."
		Jasmine Wong
		St. Anthony Foundation Free Medical Clinic
		Jasmine is originally from the Bay Area, went to college at Washington University in St. Louis, and is going to medical school in Washington, DC this fall.  She works at St. Anthony Free Medical Clinic as a medical assistant, an HIV test counselor, a smoking cessation counselor, the Indigent Drug Program coordinator, a health educator, and as part of the front office staff.
		"My decision to spend a year doing AmeriCorps and work at St. Anthony is one of the best decisions I have ever made.  The entire staff at St. Anthony is AMAZING and they have shown me what it means to truly serve others with respect and dignity."
		Emily Harvey
		Lyon-Martin Health Services
		Tamika Vaughn
		Lyon-Martin Health Services

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