Volunteering at the Berkeley Free Clinic
Being a part of the Berkeley Free Clinic Dental section is one of the biggest honors and learning experiences I had in my pre-dental career. I started my sophomore year at Cal (last year), and I’ve been a part of the BFCD for about a year now. I wasn’t officially voted in until March, but I had been shadowing since September until COVID-19 forced the clinic to shut down.
Coming in with a former background of shadowing and interning for a private dental practice in high school and as pointed out by other BFCD members with experience in private practice, the BFCD is much different. It was one of the most humbling experiences to shift my initial thought before joining any org from, “What will this organization offer me?” to “What can I offer to this organization and the patient demographic?”
BFCD is a free clinic, and therefore, many of our supplies are donated. Some equipment are years old, while some are of the latest models from donations. The staff is primarily composed of student volunteers and provider volunteers. Our shifts begin at around 5 PM and we often don’t end until 10 to 11 PM. The patient demographic are generally low income folks, who are accepted on a lottery basis, looking for free healthcare services. Most of the BFCD funding comes from grants that the funding committee and coordinator writes themselves.
From the BFCD, I’ve strengthened my understanding of respect for autonomy, demystification, and patient advocacy. I understand the value of quick office flow. There is never a spare moment I’m standing idle; there is always something to do, whether it be packing bags, stepping in to chairside assist, running the autoclave, restocking gloves, setting up strays, or calling patients. From the various providers I’ve worked under, I’ve learned that they all have different preferences for tools or methods of completing a procedure. I’ve learned the importance of staying versatile and really knowing my tools - as to not mess up in front of them. There are so many dedicated and passionate individuals in the BFCD; they’ve further strengthened my love for dentistry and the value of serving others in healthcare.
I wish I could best put in words how valuable my experience was from the BFCD. For now, if anyone has any questions about the BFCD, I’m happy to answer them!
Written by: Thanh Tieu
