Finding Her Place in Health Care: Local Volunteer Aileen Kurts Is Getting Ready for Med School

Aileen Kurts is discovering her own place in health care from the comfort of her own community’s hospital. Aileen grew up in Porterville and for the last three months, the college senior has been volunteering at Sierra View Medical Center. She studies at Pacific Union College in Napa Valley, Calif. and recently took the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) for medical school entrance.

After taking a medical mission trip to Cambodia while in high school she realized, “there was no place I’d rather be” than helping others through medicine.

As she thinks of the type of doctor she may want to become, Aileen says she’s open to whatever comes her way. Volunteering at Sierra View is helping expose her to different directions in medicine. “It’s just been a dream of mine. I wanted to get into the hospital setting and figure out how everything works,” she says.

When Aileen is not spending time at Sierra View’s Volunteer Desk with Volunteer League members like Rich Garza, she enjoys reading, crocheting and also baking! We wish you luck as you continue your path toward health care, Aileen!