AIMC Berkeley Supporting Free Integrated Medical Care for the Uninsured

By Briahn Kelly-Brennan, LAc DiplAc — June 29, 2006

COTATI, CA — Since January, AIMC Berkeley interns Jody James and Anne Bernard have been using their acupuncture, moxabustion, nutrition, herb, cupping and other skills to treat uninsured clients at the Jewish Community Free Clinic in Cotati, California (map). Lori Zarr and Erin M. since joined the clinic as AIMC Berkeley paired interns in May this year.

Drawing on Jewish traditions of tzedakah (charity) and tikkun olam (repairing the world), the clinic offers free medical care for anyone in need, without regard to ethnicity, race or religion. Currently, approximately 60% of clinic clients are Spanish-speaking immigrants.

In addition to being close to her home, Anne says her favorite part of working at the clinic is “friendly people and working with the Spanish-speaking community, and offering the services for free”. Each of the students has risen to the common free-clinic challenges of limited space and little money. Collectively, the students have redesigned the clinic forms, recruited a local source for at-cost and no-cost granulated herbs (The Center for Traditional Health Arts), solicited donations to make herbs available to clients at no cost if needed, and helped design the treatment rooms in the soon-to-be built new clinic building.

The students have also worked hard to maintain excellent professional relationships with the clinic staff. The continuity in client care allows the students to develop their case management skills, and creates a deep personal bond. “I like the appreciative patients” says Jody, “ It is a good opportunity to do seva [service] and healing work”. The AIMC Berkeley/JCFC partnership gives uninsured clients access to high quality care and students a good clinical experience.