Dr. Tryna Ramos, Volunteers in Medicine volunteer

Dr. Tryna Ramos has been a volunteer in El Cajon for the past eight years at Volunteers in Medicine – San Diego (VIM), a non-profit that brings together medical professionals and patients who do not have health insurance.

Dr. Ramos is among more than 100 professional volunteers, including retired doctors, nurses and support staff, who donate thousands of hours in providing primary care services to more than 2,000 patients annually at the East County VIM clinic. The majority of patients are from employed working families who earn too much to quality for low-income government health program, yet earn too little to be able to afford health insurance.

Dr. Ramos serves mostly in primary care and women’s health at VIM, and also mentors other volunteers. Dr. Ramos is bilingual in English and Spanish, giving her an ability to put Spanish-speaking patients at ease. She also has an ability to make diverse populations comfortable so she can provide equitable access to care.

“It’s rewarding to volunteer at Volunteers in Medicine because it’s healthcare similar to what I’ve done internationally, but it’s closer to home, plus it’s a continuum of care, which can be more effective than occasional, episodic care,” said Dr. Ramos.

When she is not donating time at VIM, Dr. Ramos is a physician at Kaiser Permanente’s San Diego and Palomar hospitals. Her spirit of volunteerism has also taken her to serve in other countries on medical missions to remote areas where little to no medical care is available.

Grossmont Healthcare District holds an annual awards event to recognize front-line volunteer caregivers and other individuals like Dr. Ramos who improve health and quality of life for East Region residents. Nominated by their peers, honorees are considered as true unsung heroes of healthcare whose day-in and day-out work might not otherwise be celebrated. For more information on criteria, nomination deadlines, and more, visit our Healthcare Heroes special events page.

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Source: Grossmount Health district