Rachael M. Wojnowicz
Senior Analyst, Health Care
U.S. Government Accountability Office
“My current job focuses on monitoring and evaluation of federally-funded health care programs, which involves lots of
qualitative and quantitative analysis. It is easy to get lost in statistics or policy manuals, so my AmeriCorps experience and
interaction with patients on Medicaid and Medicare helps serve as a reminder that there are real people behind the numbers
and facts I'm analyzing.”
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Rachael
What was your role(s) when you were in Community HealthCorps?
“I worked as a project assistant at Soundview Community Health Center in the Bronx. I helped implement two national,
federally-funded initiatives aimed at improving health care in the underserved community. The Diabetes Collaborative
provided a comprehensive, evidence-based approach to disease management that focused on patient self-management,
clinical decision support, and partnerships with state and community organizations. For this project, I maintained and tracked
clinical data in a new electronic database; helped set up a diabetes support and exercise group; and worked closely with the
case manager to help patients monitor their diet, exercise, and blood sugar. The other project, Advanced Access, focused on
reducing long wait times for appointments. For this project, I analyzed supply (provider) and demand (patient) data to help
redesign the scheduling system for pediatric care. ”
How do you use your Community HealthCorps experience in your current position?
“My current job focuses on monitoring and evaluation of federally-funded health care programs, which involves lots of
qualitative and quantitative analysis. It is easy to get lost in statistics or policy manuals, so my AmeriCorps experience and
interaction with patients on Medicaid and Medicare helps serve as a reminder that there are real people behind the numbers
and facts I'm analyzing.”
How did being in Community HealthCorps influence your decision to remain in the health field?
“Working in the Bronx, I saw the "health field" not just in a purely clinical way, but as a set of interweaving factors that
worked together to affect the health of an underprivileged community. For example, I saw how applicants who did not speak
English or had little education had difficulty filling out complicated Medicaid applications. I heard patients complain that their
insurance companies would not cover the cost of glucose strips for their blood sugar tests. Even as a self-proclaimed healthfanatic, I was not able to eat well in a neighborhood with little more than fast food restaurants and hot dog stands. Further,
taking a vow of poverty and being on food stamps gave me just a small glimpse into how stressful it can be to live paycheckto-paycheck. My curiosity in the different factors contributing to health inequality is what ultimately inspired me to get a
Master's degree in health policy.”
What was your greatest memory from being in Community HealthCorps?
“Definitely one of the greatest parts of AmeriCorps was the other volunteers I met through the program. (I am actually
attending a wedding for one of the volunteers at the end of the month!) My fondest memory of the actual position was the
going away party that Soundview Health Center hosted for me. The whole thing was a complete surprise! All the people I
had the opportunity to work with -- doctors, medical assistants, the case manager, another AmeriCorps volunteer, and even
some of the patients I worked with through the diabetes support group -- showed up to bid me farewell. I was so touched by
their thoughtfulness, and it was so gratifying to end my year of service surrounded by so many amazing people who were
making a difference in their community. ”
If you could provide a message for those who are interested in the health field and are currently in the Community
HealthCorps program, what would it be?
“There are so many different sides to working in the "health field." There's health education, health promotion, epidemiology,
HIV/AIDs work, environmental health, global health, health policy, hospital administration, program evaluation, etc. Some of
these opportunities are more conducive to hands-on work with people in the community, such as health promotion and
education, whereas others lend themselves more to work that is "behind-the-scenes" such as health policy. My advice would
be to use your time in the Community HealthCorps program to explore as many different facets of the "health field" as
possible to figure out what interests you most and hopefully hone your skills in the area you'd ultimately like to work in. ”