Hello! My name is Vaidehi More, and I am a senior at The Ohio State University pursuing dual degrees in Biology and Public Policy on the pre-med track. Through my experiences volunteering at free clinics throughout Columbus, including Columbus Free Clinic, I have developed a deeper passion for serving underserved communities and working to address the gaps that exist in healthcare access.

What has stayed with me most is the way these clinics come together around their patients. Even when physicians, staff, and volunteers are stretched thin, I have seen them work together to make sure patients are not simply left without care. When someone cannot be seen that day, they take the time to find another option, connect them with the care they need as soon as possible, and follow up to make sure they receive it. It is a level of commitment to each patient that has shaped the way I understand what healthcare should look like.

Over time, I have also had the privilege of seeing some of the same patients return. Getting to know them beyond a single appointment has reminded me that patients are people first, with lives and needs that extend far beyond their medical concerns. During the colder months, I started crocheting hats for patients and their families when I noticed they could use the extra warmth. It is a small gesture, but to me, it represents the kind of care I hope to provide: paying attention, genuinely knowing my patients, and doing what I can to make their lives a little easier.

These experiences have shaped the physician I hope to become. I want to be someone who does not stop advocating for a patient when their needs fall outside the exam room or when finding a solution becomes difficult. My studies in Biology and Public Policy have further strengthened my desire to understand both the science of medicine and the systems that determine who can access it.

I chose Columbus Free Clinic as my philanthropic organization because it embodies the kind of care I hope to carry into my own career. CFC has shown me that serving a community is not only about providing medical care. It is about showing up, following through, and making sure people know that they are worth the extra effort. Through Homecoming Court, I hope to give back to an organization that has taught me so much about what it truly means to care for a patient.