Written by Renee Liu
Translated by H.B. Qin
Edited by Adriana DiBenedetto
Twice each year, Tzu Chi volunteers and medical professionals from Tzu Chi International Medical Association (TIMA) join hands in San Jose, California, to hold free mobile medical outreach events at the Jing Si Hall of Tzu Chi USA’s Northwest Regional office. Here, community members can access quality medical consultations and outpatient services — regardless of their income.
At 7:30 AM on March 16, 2025, fifty-five Tzu Chi volunteers and TIMA medical professionals arrived at the Tzu Chi campus to set up their equipment and make final preparations before kicking off a full day of outreach.
Rediscovering Smiles
The mobile clinic attracted nearly 60 patients, most of whom had made appointments. Tzu Chi volunteer Andrew Liu, who was in charge of the clinic, said the volunteers aimed to serve disadvantaged community residents who are not medically insured, providing free acupuncture, chiropractic, dental, and internal medicine services that they would otherwise not have access to.
Victor Leon is a gardener who also sets up sprinkler systems. It’s hard work, Leon expressed, as his shoulders bear most of the strain, which has led to chronic pain. Dr. Kevin Huang, a chiropractor, used the Pulsed Electromagnetic Field (PEMF) device he brought from his clinic to treat Leon, explaining that the device could help the injured tissues and relieve the pain.
I feel great after my treatment. Dr. Huang is very skilled, and made me feel better. I want to say thank you very much to everybody, especially all the people volunteering. I appreciate it.
Yeison Cervantes is from Colombia and is employed at a company that manufactures pasta. He learned about this event from a relative. However, it wasn’t the first time he’d heard of Tzu Chi. He’d previously sought care at a Tzu Chi event where he was able to see a dentist and have a cavity filled. This time, Cervantes received a dental examination and cleaning.
The Tzu Chi clinic is very thoughtful because they have Spanish-speaking volunteers, which is very helpful.
Service That Bridges Barriers
Reclining on the treatment chair and listening to the sound of dental instruments is a source of dread for many people suffering from toothaches. However, even if their pain is intense, they may decide to hold off on getting treatment if they do not have dental insurance and the cost of treatment is prohibitively expensive. At Tzu Chi’s medical outreach event, approximately half of the patients expressed that English was also not their first language, and the language barrier made seeking treatment even more stressful.
“Most people are quite scared just to walk into a dental clinic,” shared Jocelyn Mejia, a dental assistant at the outreach event. Mejia shared that most patients who came to the mobile clinic do not seek regular dental care because they are not medically insured, and some may not be aware of or have access to informational resources regarding dental care. As a bilingual medical professional, Mejia often speaks with patients in Spanish first to help them relax before carefully explaining each procedure.
I really enjoy interpreting for the patients because a lot of them are afraid of dentists, and the language barrier can make the treatment even more nerve-wrecking. I like making them feel more comfortable, so that the dentist can treat them without issue.
The Compassion of Physicians
William Luong, who is an acupuncturist, joined Tzu Chi in 2009. He worked as an engineer in California’s Silicon Valley before leaving in 2000 to study Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), and has practiced TCM for more than ten years. Since retiring a few years ago, Dr. Luong has been actively participating in Tzu Chi clinics, and shared that he appreciates how caring the volunteers are as they help patients. Many patients seeking treatment at the event had been experiencing pain, while some also live with chronic conditions such as gout, hypertension, and rheumatism.
Dr. Luong uses crutches, but doesn’t mind the routine of sitting down to take a patient’s pulse before standing up again to provide acupuncture treatment. Despite difficulties with mobility, he finds great joy in his work and helping others. “I’m grateful that Tzu Chi is giving me this opportunity to treat people with what I’ve learned,” Luong expressed.
I got polio when I was only three years old, but it hasn’t affected my ability to treat people. My handicap encourages me to work harder and change my life.
Success with Joint Efforts
Andrew Liu, who grew up in a Tzu Chi family and participated in the Tzu Chi Collegiate Youth Association, whose members are known as “Tzu Ching,” coordinated the entire event. The reserved young man who studies music is serious about his responsibilities. This marked the third time he has coordinated a medical outreach event.
“I wasn’t sure what to do at the beginning, but I’ve been learning and improving from my experience in the past two free clinics,” Liu said.
When I see patients who walk in with pain, versus them walking out without pain and with a smile on their face, that makes me smile, too.
Time management can be a significant challenge for the clinic due to patient volume, as the team works to ensure patients with appointments and walk-ins alike can be treated within an appropriate timeframe. Liu seemed to be everywhere at the clinic, spotting problems and solving them on the spot, while recording areas of improvement for the future.
“I’m very shy, and used to feel nervous just hosting the preparatory meetings. But as I slowly became more familiar with the program, I’ve learned how to recruit medical professionals and volunteers to participate in Tzu Chi clinics,” Liu said.
At the Tzu Chi Mobile Clinic, professionalism stems from dedication as well as compassion. The new generation of Tzu Chi volunteers has worked hard to learn the ins and outs of running a free clinic, and has worked hand-in-hand with healthcare professionals and volunteers to provide care for those in need. Altogether, the team counted this medical outreach event a resounding success.
