Kelcey Lamphere

Hometown: Jericho, Vermont

Educational background: BS in Family Studies and Human Development from the University of New Hampshire 

Host Site: River Region Human Services

What is your title and role at your host site?
I will be serving as a Patient Navigator, where I will help patients enroll with insurance and find access to medications. I will also be the link between patients and various resources they might need, such as assistance with housing and food programs and other government assistance. Because I will be handling so many resources for our patients, I will need to keep in contact with many outside organizations to make sure everything us up-to-date.

Why did you join AmeriCorps/National Health Corps?
Right after graduating from UNH last year, I got a full-time job with Planned Parenthood of Northern New England. I’ve loved working with such a great organization, but I was feeling like I needed a change. Northern VT doesn’t have much diversity, and my position didn’t offer a lot of direct in-person contact with patients. When I applied to AmeriCorps looking for a change of pace, I found the National Health Corps to be just what I was looking for in terms of direct patient contact with a focus of public health, something I’m very interested in.

What are you hoping to gain from your year of service?
I’m hoping to expand my knowledge on public health issues and gain exposure to a broader and more diverse population of individuals and families. I’m also hoping to see how different roles in the healthcare system work

What are your plans after AmeriCorps service?
Hopefully heading back to school for a master’s in social work or public health, or perhaps even nursing! Likely staying somewhere warm and sunny.

Where do you envision yourself in 5 years?
Working somewhere in the healthcare field!