Nathali Patlani. is a High School student at Newbury Park High School in southern California, but you might think she was a pre-med student to watch her work at the Westminster Free Clinic.  She has donated over 1000 hours of volunteer time at the Clinic, located in Thousand Oaks, California. She has volunteered in many capacities as her experience has grown.  Nathali  takes patient histories, checks vital signs, and presents patients to the doctor .  She assists the patient through the whole health care process.  The majority of the Clinic patients are Spanish speaking, first generation immigrants, who are working poor and have little or no previous access to healthcare.  Nathali is bilingual, and makes sure each patient feels cared for, is understood clearly, and has a positive experience.  Recently she was promoted to student manager, and  is now responsible for 70 other high school interns , who help both the professionals and patients who come through the clinic for health screenings and procedures.  

Nathali has ambitious goals of entering the medical field and advocating for patients.  She seeks opportunities to keep growing and learning by attending all clinic training and field trips.  She is an advocate for disadvantaged women and children in her neighborhood and in Ventura County as a speaker at local school board meetings and at county presentations on issues of easy access to education and health care for low income people.  

Nathali sands out as a student with great potential as an advocate for women now and in the future.  She understands the hardship and struggle of low income single parents from firsthand experience through her own mothers experiences.  Nathali does not have access to the financial resources or academic assistance available to more affluent students, yet is always ready to get involved in any opportunity that will help her learn more.  Nathalis receives $1,000 from the Zonta Club of the Conejo Valley Area.    We are proud  to submit her name to District 9 as Our Conejo Valley Area YWPA Recipient of 2008! 

For more information about Zonta Club of Conejo Valley Area, please visit our website at www.zontacv.org or send email to inquiries@zontacv.org