About Clinic

Background

Since the year 2000, we have been visiting our student-run free clinic in Chapultepec, Ensenada, Mexico. Ensenada is a popular tourist area in Mexico.

The building we borrow is owned by El Sistema Nacional para el Desarrollo Integral de la Familia (National Agency for Family Development) or “DIF” as they are commonly known. We utilize this building approximately 12 days a year. On days that we are not at this location, Maria Elena, teaches workshops, cooking classes, sowing classes, Early Child Development, and other classes to her community.

A pharmacy of donated medicines, supplies for vitals, a working bathroom, a waiting room, a dentist chair, 2 exam rooms, a storage room, a filing cabinet for our records, and a piano available to us.

Location

The clinic is located next to a public park, a Centro de Salud, and an old police station in a fairly close-knit community. Most of the community rely on the government for 100% of their income. Subsidized food is available every 2 months but for families who run out of food sooner, they seek assistance from their friends, family, and neighbors. This community faces food insecurity, which creates medical and dental problems, and socio-economic injustices, which further burden the community’s ability to buy food or other resources. Through Flying Samaritans at UCSD, we seek to alleviate these injustices and illuminate these issues so they may be addressed and prevented.

what we do there

We provide free consultations and medications to our patients. We also provide public health presentations, donations, and English lessons to the members of the community.

How to Attend

Providers

Medical and dental providers are able to attend to any of the clinic dates. If interested please contact our physician recruiter at: ucsdflyingsams.pro.recruiter@gmail.com

Volunteers

General member volunteers are welcome to apply to attend any of the clinic dates. However, volunteers are selected based on clinic points (For more information, please read the “Clinic Points” section) and must pay their $40 membership fee as well as buy a official Flying Samaritans t-shirt/scrubs. Volunteer drivers don’t pay a fee.

Signups and information are available in our meetings, newsletters, and socials.

Upcoming Clinic Trip Dates

2024 Upcoming clinic trips

26th October - Medical and Dental Clinic at Ensenada, MX

* Clinics are subject to change depending on updates for the current situation.

Clinic Day Checklist

Passport booklet/passport card, Sentri/Global Entry, Green Card
Active Flying Samaritans membership ($40/year)
$40 clinic day fee
Water & snacks
Cash for post-clinic tacos
Flying Sams shirt
Closed toed shoes

Typical Clinic Day Schedule

5:15 AM Meet at the predetermined parking lot (near UCSD grad housing)

2.5 hour drive to Ensenada

8:30 AM Arrive at Clinic

Patient Histories and Vitals
Public Health Presentation
Donations
Medical Consult
Dental Consult
Labs: HbA1c, Hb 201, Lipid Panel, Glucose, Pregnancy, Urinalysis
Pharmacy

2:00 PM Food!

3:00 PM Head home

6:00-10:00 PM Arrive at UCSD

Missed Clinic Policy

Once selected for your prioritized trip, it is your responsibility to respond to the Clinic Coordinator in the time frame indicated stating your ability to attend both the trip and the predesignated pre-clinic meeting. If your availability has changed and you are no longer able to attend, please notify the Clinic Coordinator for your trip. Although we cannot guarantee you a spot on another trip during the quarter, you will be placed on an informal waitlist and may be chosen for another trip should another volunteer drop, or if more volunteers are needed.

If you are unable to make the pre-clinic meeting, you must attempt to reschedule the meeting with the Clinic Coordinator at another time. The pre-clinic meeting is mandatory and crucial for your attendance prior to the trip, as you will learn all the vital information about the trip, as well as your car assignments, volunteer roles, and a skills workshop pertaining to those roles.

If you are unable to make your assigned clinic trip, please notify the Clinic Coordinator as soon as possible. In order to avoid a penalty, you must notify the Clinic Coordinator 72 hours prior to your trip. This time period allows the opportunity for arrangements to be made to find a replacement to fill your spot. The penalties for dropping your trip within the 72-hour period will include not being selected for any more trips in that quarter and/or not being selected as an active or committee member in the following quarter. In the case of emergencies, such as health issues or family emergencies, the outcome will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis.