Free Clinic Project (FCP) of Lestonnac is a non-profit, student-run organization at UC Irvine that works to provide quality patient centered health care to the underserved community within Orange County. FCP seeks to educate future healthcare professionals and increase awareness of health care disparities via our continual research.
Goals
We are an undergraduate volunteer organization at UC Irvine dedicated to community outreach, patient education, and clinical service. Through collaboration, compassion, and advocacy, we strive to make healthcare more equitable, sustainable, and accessible across Orange County. Our goals are to:
- Foster a positive environment within the organization.
- Increase health education within UCI, Orange County (OC) community, and student organization.
- Advocate for health equity by providing resources and information to the greater OC community.
- Address a multitude of intersections such as social, economic, ethnic, gender, etc. when providing service to foster a more sustainable and equitable healthcare system.
- Collaborate with UCI and non-UCI organizations, researchers, and programs to study and improve efficacy and efficiency of sustainable healthcare delivery to the OC community.
CLINICAL VOLUNTEERING
Our undergraduate members support operations at Lestonnac Free Clinic in Los Alamitos by assisting providers and medical assistants with delivering free health-care. The Free Clinic Project also collaborates with local organizations and community centers to run heath fairs providing free blood glucose, blood pressure, and health screenings to underserved communities throughout Orange County.
OUTREACH & SERVICE
Throughout the year, FCP actively engages with communities across Orange County to combat food insecurity and health disparities by volunteering at local soup kitchens, community fairs, and school events.
EDUCATION & WORKSHOPS
FCP hosts workshops to promote health literacy and education, particularly within Vietnamese and Spanish-speaking communities. Members also gain hands-on experience through clinical and emergency skills workshops, including suturing, Stop the Bleed, ultrasound, and vitals screening training.
MENTORSHIP & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Our mentorship programs allow members to network and build connections with fellow pre-health students, alumni, and healthcare professionals.
RESEARCH & ADVOCACY
Our research team collaborates with community organizations and clinics to study health disparities and cultural intersections to promote a more equitable healthcare system.
SOCIAL & FUNDRAISING
FCP hosts numerous socials, fundraising events, and team-building activities throughout the year to foster a positive environment within our organization and sustain our service initiatives.
History
Former undergraduate president Wei Kuo brought his idea to life: a free clinic created to serve the underserved community. With the help of the original board members and the Chair of Public Health, Dr. Ogunseitan, the idea became a reality. Free Clinic Project gained attention from the school and was endorsed by UCI’s student body council, ASUCI.
In the Fall of 2014, the first Medical Student Board was created, and is still operating with medical students from the University of California, Irvine Medical School and Western University of Health Sciences. The first location opened in Garden Grove in the winter of 2014.
In August of 2016, The Free Clinic Project of Lestonnac at UCI received non-profit status.
The clinic previously operated as the An Lành Free Clinic of Lestonnac in Garden Grove, as a satellite clinic of Lestonnac Free Clinic. Currently, the Free Clinic Project operates in the Lestonnac Free Clinic located in Los Alamitos as volunteer undergraduate students.