The Volunteer Voice

Stay tuned for VIM's June Fundraising Event! VIM is not federally funded and does not charge for services. The Clinic is truly a nonprofit 501 c 3 organization offering free healthcare services to families that work with a low household income and can't afford insurance. VIM is for the community, by the community. Your continued generosity will provide critical services that would otherwise be unattainable to our hard working low income neighbors in need of hope, health and healing.

The Volunteers in Medicine Dental Clinic offers high demand, FREE dental services. On a national level, the amount of adults without dental insurance is estimated to be three times those without medical insurance. That could potentially equate to approximately 100,000 of the population in Luzerne County with no dental insurance. Employed adults lose more than 14 million hours of work each year due to dental disease.

VIM is in need of volunteer dentists to help get our neighbors out of pain. Many patients visit the clinic with abscesses and tooth decay, making it difficult to eat, work and smile. All patients are extremely appreciative and understand the dental provider is generously offering their time and expertise. Some of the specialty dentists will see our patients in their own offices. Any amount of time dedicated to VIM by a dental provider, is extremely helpful.

Volunteers in Medicine is a nonprofit organization providing medical, dental and behavioral health services in Wilkes-Barre, PA. The healthcare center has a fantastic and rare opportunity for a dentist to join an inter-professional team of compassionate providers in the mission of keeping our community healthy. The position offers flexible hours and a competitive salary. If you are looking for a worthwhile cause and want to make the difference in people’s lives, please email resume/cv to vimwb@hotmail.com or call Kelly at 570-970-2864. 

Kelsey Crossin is from Plains and a second year pharmacy student at Wilkes University. She hopes to practice pharmacy where she can have direct contact and form relationships with the patients. Her experience at VIM made her appreciate the field of ambulatory care pharmacy.

Ashley Fernandez is from Hazleton and attending Luzerne County Community College in the Medical Office program. Ashley is bilingual and a huge help with translating for our patients and healthcare providers.

Samantha Rinehimer is in the King's College Physician Assistant Program. She hopes to practice in Emergency Medicine. Samantha is also a Firefighter and EMT in Kingston and Shavertown.

Austin Wood, from Mt. Top, attended Penn State and is applying to dental schools. He started volunteering to serve the community and positively impact peoples lives.

Stella Marie Chery is a 3rd year Medical Office Specialist student at Luzerne County Community College. She plans to continue her studies in the Coding Program and hopes to work in a physician practice. Stella enjoys soccer and cooking in her free time. She is originally from Haiti and the staff loves to learn about her heritage.

Leana Pande is from Shavertown and graduated from Wilkes University with a double major in Neuroscience and Psychology. Her future goal is to become a Primary Care Physician. Leana started volunteering to give back to the community where she grew up. Leana is also an artist and during the pandemic sketched for hospice patients. We hope Leana comes back to NEPA as a successful physician.