San Diego Community College District

San Diego Mesa College’s Health and Wellness Community Clinic provides pro bono physical therapy rehabilitation and dental services, helping uninsured or underinsured communities access services they might otherwise be unable to afford.

In 2023, Mesa College served 414 patients through the clinic. Students in the college’s Dental Assisting program or Physical Therapy Assistant program help care for patients, working alongside an instructor already licensed in the field.

“Not only are we serving the community, but the opportunity allows our students to become better employees,” said Connie Renda, professor and health education program director at Mesa College.  

Amanda Johnston, director of Mesa College’s Physical Therapist Assistant program, said students recognize how valuable that hands-on experience is to their educational training.

“(It) helps them understand different diagnoses that patients may have that cannot be fully understood by written description or video,” Johnston said.

Karen Wait, director of Mesa College’s Dental Assisting program, said the response has been very positive in the dental portation of the clinic, where community residents can get needed dental services such as exams and X-rays at no cost. “We have students and people from the community being seen for multiple procedures,” she said. “We even had people return from last year to have services completed.”

Patricia Santos, who graduated from Mesa College’s Physical Therapist Assistant program in May 2024, said working in the clinic was a vital part of her training.

“Participating in the Mesa Community Clinic has been instrumental in preparing me for my career as a PTA,” Santos said. “It has provided me with valuable insights into patient interactions, treatment protocols, and collaborative healthcare practices.”

"These experiences are shaping me into a well-rounded healthcare professional, ready to make meaningful contributions to the field of physical therapy," Santos said.

Both Wait and Johnston hope the clinic will grow to include additional services and learning opportunities.

"I would love to expand the clinic to offer more services," Wait said. "The need for dental services is great for people who are underinsured or have no insurance at all, and adding more services would allow students to practice more skill sets prior to graduation. It really is a ‘win-win’ for both the student and the community."