CommunityHealth shines the Volunteer Spotlight on Wiktor Witkowski during June.
Wiktor’s journey with the clinic is a true full-circle story and reflection of CommunityHealth’s mission to train the next generation of healthcare professionals. He joined CommunityHealth as a volunteer medical interpreter in 2020, later becoming a valued member of the Care Management team, and now joins clinic as a liaison between Rush medical student group and CommunityHealth. His growth within the clinic exemplifies how hands-on experience and service shapes future leaders in healthcare, making his path one we are proud to uplift and celebrate.
In his service, Wiktor is reliable and always willing to step in without being asked. He approaches challenges with creativity, consistently finding thoughtful solutions and leaving everything he touches better than he found it. He embodies our core values of excellence, respect, trust, collaboration, and justice, and has become a true role model. Wiktor’s leadership and heart set a powerful example for all of us at CommunityHealth, and his impact is deeply felt by patients, staff, and volunteers alike.
For his dedicated volunteer service, Wiktor was awarded 2025 Medical Student Volunteer of the Year at the 2025 Volunteer of the Year Awards.
CommunityHealth sat down with Wiktor to learn more about what quality health care for all means to him…
Tell us more about yourself and your background.
I grew up in the suburbs of Chicago and have lived there for most of my life. I graduated from the University of Illinois at Chicago with a major in neuroscience in 2020. In 2024, I started medical school at Rush Medical College, and I hope to pursue a career as a physician specializing in neurology.
Why and how did you begin volunteering at CommunityHealth?
Since middle school, I’ve always been passionate about volunteering. In 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, I tried to seek out opportunities to volunteer in healthcare but was repeatedly turned down due to COVID restrictions. I eventually stumbled upon CommunityHealth and saw that the clinic needed remote interpreters. As a native Polish speaker, I knew that becoming a medical interpreter would be an excellent way to support my community and to help people without access to healthcare, while bridging the language gap between patients and their clinicians.
What has been your favorite memory from your time with CommunityHealth?
When I worked in Care Management at CommunityHealth, I had the opportunity to lead smoking-cessation classes with our patients. Quitting smoking is incredibly difficult for many people, and I still remember my first patient who successfully managed to quit. Seeing the impact on his life and overall health stayed with me, and I can still picture how excited he was when he came in to share that he had not only quit but maintained his progress in the months that followed.
What has kept you volunteering all this time?
The sense of community and teamwork that makes CommunityHealth what it is, for both patients and clinicians, keeps me coming back. My first meaningful exposure to this was when I volunteered with the health education team in 2021, teaching patients one on one about diabetes and hypertension, and again when I worked alongside volunteer clinicians and students to call every single patient we had at our clinic regarding the availability of the COVID-19 vaccine. I saw firsthand the dedication that it took to contact every patient and to inform them, in their preferred language, that we had the vaccine, plus to educate them and to help schedule appointments.
Since then, I’ve been both a volunteer and a paid staff member, and now I’m back as a volunteer medical student. Returning in the role of a provider, as a medical student, truly felt like a full-circle moment for me. I returned to a place that genuinely feels like home. I know the staff members well, they are my friends and colleagues, and having been part of the organization since 2020, I’ve had the chance to meet so many amazing volunteers and clinicians. Each time I walk into the clinic lobby, I feel a sense of joy, gratitude, and belonging. The mission of CommunityHealth, the dedication of our staff and volunteers, and the shared belief in healthcare for all, keep me coming back. It’s the stories our patients share or the overwhelming relief they express when receiving free medication refills that motivate me to stay with CommunityHealth – now as a student, one day as a resident, and eventually as an attending physician.
Do you remember your first day? What surprised you?
My first day was a remote session where I was paired with a Polish interpreter trainer at CommunityHealth. He guided me through my first clinical encounter and ensured I interpreted accurately throughout the visit. It was nerve-racking at first to carry the responsibility of conveying every part of the conversation between the patient and the clinician. I still remember momentarily freezing up as I tried to recall the Polish word for “cervix,” until my trainer chimed in. Overall, it was a great experience, and my confidence grew with each encounter. That day was the first time I truly felt the power of community and togetherness that CommunityHealth is known for.
What is something you’ve learned from volunteering at CommunityHealth?
I’ve learned that it takes a village to care for someone. As a medical student, I may place an order for my patient, but many people help make that order a reality. If I order a CT scan, my attending must approve it, then it goes to our medical director for approval. From there, the referrals team processes it and works with partner hospitals to schedule it. Next, the care coordination team contacts the patient with the appointment information and any instructions. There are so many steps and so many individuals involved throughout each process. I’m always grateful for my colleagues and the many staff members and volunteers who make the work we do here possible.
What has been your biggest takeaway from your time with CommunityHealth, and how does it impact your life or career goals?
My time at CommunityHealth has shown me the importance of actively listening to and spending more time with our patients, while recognizing that many circumstances are beyond our control. Patients may miss appointments not out of indifference, but because of the challenges and barriers that life places in their way. People come from diverse backgrounds, cultures, and levels of health literacy. Many of our patients take multiple buses to reach the clinic, work long or unpredictable hours, or speak languages different from our own. Yet despite these differences, we all share a common desire for improved health outcomes. Our patients come to us seeking support and guidance, and regardless of where they are on their health journey, they seek someone who will listen to them, understand them, and walk alongside them on their path to wellness.
How has working with CommunityHealth influenced your perception of healthcare?
My experiences at CommunityHealth have reinforced my deeply held belief that healthcare is a fundamental human right that everyone deserves access to, regardless of finances or eligibility. Working in a resource-limited setting has helped me better appreciate the importance of thoughtful decision-making when ordering tests or placing referrals. It has also strengthened my diagnostic skills, reminding me that medical foundations in clinical reasoning and physical examination remain incredibly valuable, even in an age where testing is readily accessible at many institutions
Why is volunteering important to you?
Volunteering is an outlet for me. It is an opportunity to contribute to the greater good and allows me to support my community. It brings me joy and fulfillment, gives me purpose beyond my daily responsibilities, and allows me the opportunity to give back in meaningful ways. I’ve been volunteering since 2010 and have contributed thousands of hours of service across various organizations across the U.S. and abroad. I can’t imagine a future without service and giving back, at its core.
What is the best piece of personal or professional advice you have received?
“It never hurts to ask.” The worst someone can say is no, but asking can open doors, and
you never know where life may lead you.
Outside of volunteering with CommunityHealth, how do you like to spend your free time?
Life as a medical student is busy, so whenever I have free time, I love spending it with family and friends by catching up, playing games, going out, or simply being together.
I also love to travel. It gives me a chance to step away from daily responsibilities and to immerse myself in new places, languages, cultures, and cuisines. In my free moments, you can often find me researching or daydreaming about my next destination!
As the largest volunteer-based free health center in the nation, serving the uninsured, underserved, and undocumented, CommunityHealth is more than a free clinic but a true patient-centered medical home. Health care providers, both clinical and nonclinical, devoted to quality health care for all are encouraged to apply.