Workforce Resource

"We did over 500!" Victoria Medeiros cheered as she wrapped up Dorchester House Multi-Service Center's fourth public flu clinic, high-fiving one of the vaccinators. As her staff applauded and cheered with her, they sighed in relief that the busy flu clinic was done for the day. The long line of patients -- which had wrapped around their community room and out the side door of the health center -- had finally dissipated. "It is all Victoria's doing," said Sasha Filimonov, RN, lead nurse assigned to the flu clinic that day. "She really is a rock star in planning all this."

Originally from Illinois, Victoria moved to New England 23 years ago and discovered Dorchester House Multi-Service Center when she was a member of a hospital-based grant writing team looking for funding to open a mobile dental program and clinic. This led to her first position at the Dorchester House as the manager of the dental department. In a few short years, Victoria took on additional responsibilities in managing infection control, laboratory, and eye care. She then took on Joint Commission accreditation, and joined in the health center's effort to open a 340B pharmacy. In recent years, she has added radiology, pharmacy, behavioral health, and emergency preparedness to her duties. Today, Victoria is the health center's Director of Regulatory Compliance. Victoria is also a graduate of the League/Suffolk University Community Health and Community Health Center Management Certificate Program.

"One of the best things about my job is working with patients from many different ethnic and racial backgrounds as well as the center's wonderfully diverse staff," said Victoria.."I like creating policies and doing staff trainings and working with our local hospital [Boston Medical Center]."

A mother of five children and grandmother to five grandchildren, Victoria is passionate about the health center mission. When her children were young, Victoria was a single mother and was considered one of Massachusetts' "working poor," as she could not get health insurance through her employer and made too much income to qualify for MassHealth. "Living in Taunton, I didn't realize places like this [Dorchester House] existed," said Victoria."I used to bring my children to Bristol Community College to have their teeth cleaned by dental students because it was less expensive. It wasn't until my youngest child became ill that my family qualified for state assistance,"

Adds Victoria:"If I had known about community health centers back then, it would have helped my family so much. That is why today I love helping patients who come in with nothing - no insurance, no income, no assistance. Within a month we get them enrolled in an insurance program and they get caught up with all their preventive care. I know what it is like, I've been in their shoes."

For a listing of flu clinics at Dorchester House and other health centers, please click here..