Dr. Ocampo is Keeping Poets Healthy
Upon walking to one of the quieter sides of Whittier’s campus, up Philadelphia Street and past Stauffer Residence Hall, lies a small house, home to the Health and Wellness Center. Following the brick path to the door, and ringing the doorbell, a smiling but masked face will greet you. That face could be none other than Dr. Tracy Ocampo, the Director of the Health and Wellness Center. Dressed in a Whittier College t-shirt and a Health and Wellness Center jacket, Ocampo welcomes you into her cozy office space that is meticulously decorated for St. Patrick’s Day, lined with four leaf clovers, rainbows, and health-related decor including stethoscope images. The warmth of the decorations and happy demeanor of the staff make the Health and Wellness Center feel like a home, if your home is filled with informational pamphlets and resources for students.
Ocampo has been working in the medical field for 22 years but only recently came here to Whittier College. Prior to working at the College she worked at Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo as a cardiac nurse. She shared her stories about experiencing burnout when the COVID-19 pandemic hit: “Covid has changed a lot, there’s a lot of people that left the industry because of burnout. We were already burnt out before the pandemic. That’s why I left the hospital setting.”
You can tell from Ocampo’s saddened tone that she really cares about her field of work. Even though Ocampo chose to leave the hospital, some of the most rewarding moments in her career were spent with cardiac patients and the impact she felt she had on them, helping them get better and inspiring them to stay healthy. While she enjoyed her experience, Ocampo knew it was time to go, saying with a sense of relief, “I did it for so long and said, ‘Okay, it’s time to move on to other things to make an impact somewhere else.’” She began working at Whittier in 2018 and was drawn here by the potential of helping a younger population with preventative care. Ocampo shared she had only worked with younger populations in medical school, but was excited to make a different kind of impact on a new community.
Ocampo is passionate, from the way her eyes light up when talking about her work, to her dedication and hard work to help grow the Health and Wellness Center. She was born in the Philippines, but moved to California when she was around five years old. Ocampo currently lives in South Orange County. Despite the long distance, she does not mind the lengthy commute to Whittier every day. “I’d rather commute to a place that I love versus work somewhere that is 10 minutes away that I don’t necessarily like going to,” she said with a smile and a laugh. She went on to share her love for the unique community that is Whittier College, and how well she feels the students care about their health. One of the most important things to Ocampo in her work is preventative care, and she feels fulfilled working on that here as Whittier students really listen to her advice and want to do what they can to stay healthy.
In addition to her career, Ocampo’s many hobbies include dancing, going to the beach, theater, “Oh, and Disneyland!” she exclaimed brightly. Ocampo especially noted her love for cooking: “I enjoy cooking. It’s my therapy. I like doing that at home, and also watching cooking shows.” She also mentioned how she loved spending time with her family and going on vacations, happily talking about how important and fulfilling family time is to her, no matter where it is. “I love to travel and to spend time with my family, even just stay-cations.”
Ocampo was most excited to talk about the work of the Health and Wellness Center. When asked what the most important things students could know about the Health and Wellness Center was, she simply responded with, “First, to know that we are here.” Ocampo followed up by talking about the reputation the Health and Wellness Center had during the pandemic, “I know during Covid they saw us as the people that tested, but we do so much more.” She added that the Health and Wellness Center offers a variety of other health services for students, “We’ll see you for your rash or your ankle injury,” she said. Ocampo discussed how busy she and the Health and Wellness Center have been in trying to get outreach to the College, “This week alone we had a community acupuncturist, so that’s a great alternative medicine.” She continued by talking about the massage therapists that came in and the blood drive that also happened last week. Ocampo is determined to increase engagement at the Health and Wellness Center events and to spread the word that they are here to help. She cares deeply about the Whittier community and the Health and Wellness Center, sharing that, “We are open, we are here for you. Just give us a call.”
Ocampo is a dedicated, caring doctor but also just an incredible person to talk to. She wants to get connected with students and make sure everyone on campus knows there are resources for them. Be sure to stop by the Health and Wellness Center to pick up free medications like ibuprofen or even condoms, and give Tracy Ocampo a hello. Make sure to be on the lookout for any of their upcoming events, which you can find with ease on Engage.
Photo Courtesy of Whittier College
