When a team of health sciences students from UNC Chapel Hill picked their rural health immersion site, they didn’t quite know what they were signing up for.
“We weren’t sure what to expect, or even if it would work,” said Heidi, one of the student leaders. “But after our first Zoom with Vecinos… we knew we had made the right choice.”
And they were right.
Thus began six days on the winding backroads of Western North Carolina—full of farm fields, mobile clinics, dancing to Zumba under stormy skies, and maybe more than one helping of pozole. The experience, hosted by Vecinos—a community health clinic rooted in dignity, care, and salsa roja—was more than an immersion. It was a lived education in what rural health means when it’s practiced with love and grit.
Day 1: Tomatoes, Trust, and Don Salvador
Sunday greeted us with sun and salsa (the music, not the condiment… that came later). The group gathered at SMM Farm, where Vecinos’ Outreach Team was in full swing—conducting health assessments, cooking, laughing, and walking the fields with Don Salvador, a farmer whose stories are rooted as deeply in the soil as his tomatoes.
“Don Salvador, where did you learn all this?” a student asked, wide-eyed.
His reply: “From my years of work, and from those who shared their ways with me. I try something, and if it works, I keep doing it. Simple as that.”
What you see in Don Salvador is a deep love for the land and a humble heart open to learning from others.
“Here we are all equal—we are all farmworkers putting our knowledge together.”
By the end of the day, surrounded by squash, cabbage, and invisible threads of trust, students glimpsed something profound: rural health isn’t just about services—it’s about relationships.
Day 2: Of Hubs and Waterfalls
On Monday, students toured the Hub—the home base of Vecinos and a testament to how a dream (and a very persistent board and executive director) became a brick-and-mortar reality. Kiki led the grand tour, and Dr. Potter brought it home, painting a picture of integrated care that connects patients not only to physical and mental health services, but also to food, housing, and community.
The day ended at Dry Falls, where students debated whether the waterfall or the clinic was more breathtaking (we’re still tallying the votes).
Day 3: Blood Pressure and Big Hearts in Asheville
We began the day with Dr. Ben Guiney, who shared stories of rural health from both overseas and across the U.S. His talk inspired deep reflection:
How can we do things differently?
How can we build a more humanized health system, where care truly exists for all?
Students discussed how political will, committed professionals, and engaged communities might be the answer.
Tuesday also brought a shift: we traveled to Asheville, where students helped provide blood pressure checks and nutrition education to over 200 families affected by Hurricane Helena. Hosted by UNETE, the event was filled with conversation, movement—and a few unexpected dance-offs (Zumba knows no borders).
Amid the music and smiles, stories from Doña Norma, José, and community volunteers painted a vivid picture of resilience. Students saw firsthand how disaster response, cultural identity, and public health intersect—and how healing often begins with dialogue and rhythm.
Day 4: Herbs, Health, and Jump Ropes
Wednesday brought us to Gaia Herbs, where fields scented with lavender taught lessons in sustainability and dignity. Guided by Kate Renner and Arturo Campian, students learned that even on a commercial farm, it’s possible—radical, even—to center worker leadership and respect.
Later, at another gathering featuring (what else?) pozole, Elaina cooked outdoors while Claudia and Nancy led discussions on the nutritional value of traditional foods. They emphasized how our beloved dishes—rich in protein, vegetables, and grains—can be both delicious and balanced.
Meanwhile, Gerson introduced students to the benefits of jumping rope. He gave out ropes, explaining how it’s a fun, accessible, and powerful tool for physical and mental health.
Day 5: Clinics, Commitment, and a Farmer Who Shows Up
On Thursday, students met with Vecinos’ Executive Director, Marianne Martinez, who shared the motivations, stories, and history that brought the organization to life. It was a morning of connection and trust-building—a bridge between past dreams and present realities.
That afternoon was a deep dive into regional healthcare systems. First stop: the Jackson County Public Health Department. Led by Director Anna Lippard, the visit revealed a department rich in educational initiatives and community programs—thoughtfully designed with patients’ needs in mind.
“It’s not the biggest building,” one student remarked, “but the scope of programs is incredible. I’m so impressed.”
The group then split: one team headed to the Hub Clinic in Franklin, while the other joined a mobile clinic at a farmworker housing site in Canton.
At the mobile clinic, students were struck by the warm, organized care and the leadership of Don Waltemar, who received his tetanus vaccine and encouraged others to do the same. The farmer himself came by, asked questions, expressed appreciation, and—unlike many—he showed up.
Back at the Hub, students shadowed patients and met with the mental health team. Across both clinics, they witnessed not just health systems in action—but the heart behind them.
Day 6: Wisdom in the Mountains
Friday was for Cherokee wisdom. The group began at the Museum of the Cherokee People, where heritage and survival echo in every exhibit. Students reflected on the pain of colonization, the resilience of identity, and the sacredness of tradition.
Later, at the Cherokee Indian Hospital, they saw healthcare shaped by sovereignty, spirit, and architecture designed for healing. Every hallway and interaction sent the same message:
We belong here.
To end the week, Scot Gunup—artist, storyteller, and long-time volunteer—guided the group into the sacred space of a sweat lodge. Surrounded by symbols of life, healing, and renewal, students were invited to reflect:
What does it mean to heal?
What are we really trying to restore?
One Week, a Thousand Lessons
By the end of the week, stethoscopes shared space with ladles, and questions gave way to reflection. What began as an immersion became something deeper—a realization that rural health isn’t just a checkbox on a syllabus. It’s a commitment to presence, curiosity, and finding shared humanity in every corner of the map.
And maybe—just maybe—it also means keeping extra pozole on hand.