A family-focused medical clinic like no other

Berna Ilchi and Ini Adeboye are second-year medical students at the Cumming School of Medicine who applied to volunteer with the Calgary Student Run Clinic (SRC). They both thought the experience would offer them a chance to give back and would also enhance their clinical skills prior to entering clerkship where they’ll be graded on their interactions with patients. 

What they didn’t anticipate is that this volunteer opportunity would open their minds and touch their hearts in very unexpected ways.

“Multiple patients’ cry. They thank me for listening and validating how they are feeling,” says Adeboye, part of the Class of 2026. “I see how taking time to validate and reassure people makes them feel better and I’m seeing, for some, it’s their first opportunity to be heard in a long time.”

The SRC recently expanded to a new location at Inn From the Cold. Visits often involve the entire family including parents, grandparents and children.

“Some family members have very simple concerns, like a cold. Others have complex health issues aggravated by social factors,” says Ilchi, BSc'22, and also part of the Cumming Class of 2026. “I’ve come to understand the importance of continuity of care, which these families don’t have. You can see how detrimental that can be to their health.” 

Along with enhancing important skills like active listening and obtaining patient histories, the students are also learning about the barriers to health care many people face, like transportation, child care and language. The team often needs to use interpreters over the phone for clients that have difficulties speaking English. “We often have refugee families coming to the clinic and we’ve had to learn the nuances of communicating through interpreters,” says Adeboye. 

Adds Ilchi: “At the Inn, I’ve really come to appreciate the child-minding service they offer, so we can meet with the mom or dad in private. So many of the patients we see don’t have the resources or family and friends who could babysit while they come to an appointment.”

All appointments are overseen by a physician. Students say they have really appreciated the opportunity to work with physicians from a variety of disciplines.

“A couple of weeks ago, I was able to work with a rheumatologist (while) other students have been teamed with an endocrinologist. Those experiences are very different than working with a family physician,” says Ilchi. “The chance to learn from different physicians makes us much more knowledgeable and better equipped in the future.” 

The program is recruiting physicians interested in helping shape the next generation of doctors and in giving back. The SRC was created by the MD Class of 2011. Since then, the non-profit organization, aimed at vulnerable inner-city populations, has expanded to three locations and recently received charitable status. Students oversee all aspects of clinic operations, serving as board and staff members. Duties include operating the reception area, booking appointments, providing education workshops to clients and managing fundraisers.

There are still tickets available to the SRC’s Health Equity Dinner on Nov. 12 at 6 p.m.: Student Run Clinic (SRC) Dinner and Silent Auction 2024 - University of Calgary

Donations to the SRC can be made here: Online Donation Page - SRC