I would like to start by expressing my gratitude to the incredible staff who made my externship at Healthpointe such a positive and educational experience. A special thank you to Monique and Patty at the front desk, as well as Ursula, Dr. Toumayan, Dr. Castro, Jeff, Eric, and Joe in the back office. Their professionalism, kindness, and dedication provided me with invaluable insights and guidance throughout my time there.
With that being said, I feel it is important to address an unfortunate aspect of my experience, specifically regarding the Assistant Manager, Isabel Cervantes. Unfortunately, she did not take the time to formally introduce herself to me as a manager. Her demeanor consistently came across as unprofessional and discourteous. On several occasions, she failed to acknowledge staff or greet them with basic courtesies such as "Good morning" or "Good afternoon." Instead, interactions were often accompanied by dismissive gestures, such as eye rolls or an unapproachable attitude, waving her hair everywhere.
For example, there was an instance where she approached me, asking for Monique. When I informed her that I was unsure of Monique's location because I was with a patient, she responded under her breath, "Does anyone know anything around here?" before rolling her eyes and walking away. Another time we had an incident with another student and her response was if we don't fix what was going on then we would be dismissed from HER PRACTICE like if it was her very own. Upon entering the room, her presence exudes an aura of belittling and intimidation, affecting the emotions of those present. And then today 1/9/25 she walks past Samantha and Patty and bumps in to her rudely and says "excuse me!" and doesn't even give them a chance to get out of her way and expected them to move out of her way at her convenience. Instances like this were disheartening as they reflected poorly on the leadership culture. You can probably ask all the fellow colleagues but they will more than likely stay quiet since they do need their job.
While I considered bringing up these concerns to Alma or Patricia , the manager, I hesitated because, as a student, I felt my concerns might not be taken seriously since we are another student coming in and out in a few months. This environment made it challenging to voice feedback openly. I understand the importance of maintaining professionalism during an externship, but it is equally important to ensure that students, staff, and patients are treated with respect.
Overall, I am grateful for the learning opportunities I received at Healthpointe, but I do hope the leadership team reflects on how such behavior can negatively affect morale and the overall experience for those under their guidance. Constructive feedback should not be met with dismissal, and mutual respect should be the foundation of any professional environment.
Thank you for taking the time to read this feedback.
Sincerely,
Adrian Flores M.A. Student read more