Every day, small pollinators visit the flowers in our pollinator garden here at Alliance Medical Ministry (AMM) — honey bees among them, doing quiet but essential work. Without them, our garden couldn’t produce the food we're able to share with our patients.

National Immunization Awareness Month is a yearly reminder that vaccines are important at every age - not just childhood! Many vaccine-preventable diseases still circulate in the community, and making sure you're protected from them is a big part of staying healthy. If you missed some of your shots when you were younger, now is a great time to get caught up. If you are a patient at AMM, your provider will be happy to review your immunization history and recommend what you need.

Good health starts on our plates, so the foods we eat every day matter. They give us energy, provide the nutrients we need to stay strong and healthy, and can even help manage chronic health problems.

Since then, Taya has finished preclinical classes at the UNC School of Medicine, taken the first board exam in medical training, and has started year three of medical school. Taya has also had the amazing opportunity to present her research from her time at AMM at the 2026 National Kidney Foundation Spring Clinicals in New Orleans, Louisiana, as well as have her abstract published in the May Issue of the American Journal of Kidney Diseases.

"I volunteer as a medical assistant and help support the clinic by assisting providers and making sure patients are taken care of efficiently."

I chose social work because I grew up in a rural community with a significant shortage

of resources and access to care. Witnessing these gaps firsthand inspired me to

become an advocate for vulnerable populations. I developed a strong desire to help

individuals and families navigate systemic barriers and access the support they need to

improve their overall well-being.

Med Serve is a program through AmeriCorps that allows students interested in pre-health careers, such as becoming a physician or a physician's assistant, to serve for two years at a clinic in North Carolina. All the clinics focus on primary care in some form or fashion, and fellows serve in different clinical roles as medical assistants, health coaches, scribes, and anything related to that. They also serve in a community health role as health educators, outreach personnel, population health specialists, and more.

Ruby is a second-year medical student at the UNC School of Medicine. During her time, she has been shadowing Dr. Thakur and taking a deeper look into which AMM patients have gone to the Emergency Department (ED) in the last three months and the reason for their visit.

Taya is a second-year medical student at the UNC School of Medicine. During her time at AMM, she will be focusing on how AMM’s process of referrals to nephrologists, a doctor who specializes in kidneys, to see how it can help patients, what issues may arise, and how we can better the referral process.

As the days become longer and the temperatures rise, sleep patterns can often change

and become harder to maintain. June's early sunrises, late sunsets, and growing

humidity can make it difficult to sleep well. However, restful nights are still possible with

a few simple modifications.

Nicky Delgado was a former NC Med Assist program coordinator and patient services assistant at AMM, who is now starting a position as a Genetic Counselor for Duke as part of a research study called “Undiagnosed Diseases Network.” She is a recent graduate of Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia with a Master’s in Genetic Counseling. During Nicky’s time at AMM, she coordinated the NC Med Assist applications, worked at the front desk, and helped educate patients on their medications.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a period devoted to promoting mental health, eradicating stigma, and providing support. Mental health is still stigmatized, misunderstood, and infrequently discussed, despite the fact that everyone is affected differently. This month is an important opportunity of the importance of taking care of ourselves and others, to acknowledge the significance of mental health, and normalize honest conversations about mental health.

I chose mental health counseling because I am passionate about advocacy, social justice, and empowering clients to find their voice and recognize their inner strength.

April 20-26, 2025, is National Volunteer Appreciation Week! AMM relies on volunteers to assist in the garden, build kits for patients, and work part-time in the clinic. Without our volunteers, AMM would not be able to help the thousands of uninsured neighbors in Wake County. A big thank you to everyone who has volunteered at AMM! To celebrate, we are featuring two of our clinic volunteers and hearing from them about their volunteer experience.