Dr. Rachel Wolinsky currently serves as a Lieutenant in the United States Navy Reserves and Surgical Resident at UCSF Fresno, in Fresno, California. But, before her career serving America through the military and medicine, Dr. Wolinsky ‘got things done’ as a PMSC AmeriCorps member–serving in 2015-2016 with The Outdoor Odyssey Leadership Academy, Boswell. PA. Recently, she explained how, “serving with AmeriCorps was the perfect stepping stone along my journey towards service as a Naval Officer and physician/surgeon.”
After completing her undergraduate degree, Dr. Wolinsky chose to directly invest in individual lives and in the future of her community by serving with Outdoor Odyssey. ODO’s mission is to develop area youth into thriving leaders through mentorship, outdoor adventure, and team-building. Wolinsky relayed how her term of service between college and medical school, “not only afforded me the flexibility to submit my application and attend interviews, it was a wonderful experience to discuss during that process.”
While some people are motivated to work for salaries or prestige, Dr. Wolinsky revealed a heart of service when she shared, “I am fortunate to have found a career, both with the military and in medicine, that is nearly entirely reliant on serving others.” Her service-minded perspective perfectly aligns with Mister Rogers whom she quoted as saying, “All of us, at some time or another, need help. Whether we’re giving or receiving help, each one of us has something valuable to bring to this world. That’s one of the things that connects us as neighbors–in our on way, each of us is a giver and a receiver.” Dr. Wolinsky most certainly puts this concept into daily practice: working with her team to solve problems, build relationships, transform lives, develop skills in herself and others–Get Things Done.
Since 1994, nearly 3000 Americans have served Southwest and South Central, PA as PMSC AmeriCorps members–giving hundreds of thousands of hours in service to make the region safer, stronger, and healthier. Dr. Wolinsky makes it clear that serving in this way is a truly enriching life experience: “In addition to the experiences provided by AmeriCorps, the friendships forged that year are just as valuable. I met some truly wonderful people during my year with PMSC, both serving beside me and those we helped along the way.”
When it comes to bringing out the best of America, PMSC alumni like Dr. Rachel Wolinksy, set the standard for an AmeriCorps term and indeed a whole lifetime of service. Thank you, Dr. Wolinsky– for your servant-hearted leadership; thank you for getting things done for Pennsylvania and for America!