Newman graduate Sebastian Salcedo-Vaquera is expanding access to free medical care in downtown Wichita through a monthly pop-up clinic he founded.
Salcedo-Vaquera earned his Master of Science in biomedical science in 2025 and currently works for an emergency medicine physician group that staffs several local hospitals. They work through the charity foundation Vituity Cares Foundation (VCF), which is how he operates the VCF Wichita Pop-Up Clinic.
“We’re a nonprofit organization providing free, accessible medical care to vulnerable communities in our city with a primary focus on serving our unhoused neighbors and the working poor,” Salcedo-Vaquera said. “This includes clinical care and prescriptions for medications that are often financially out of reach, ensuring that essential care reaches those who need it most.”
The clinic partners with KU School of Medicine-Wichita, ShowerUp, Kansas Food Bank, Simply Hygiene, the Sedgwick County Health Department and City Life Church.
“Together, we provide showers, hygiene and personal care products, free meals and fresh produce, substance use resources and sexual health resources,” he said.
Launched in November 2024, the clinic has operated on the second Saturday of every month since, serving between 70 to 100-plus guests.
Salcedo-Vaquera said the idea for the clinic began and grew while working in the emergency department. There, he witnessed the same people come in who didn’t have adequate medical support they needed.
“So many patients were cycling in and out, not because they didn’t care about their health, but because they didn’t have access to regular care, medications or even basic necessities,” he said. “I felt a pull to do something. I wanted to build a space where our unhoused and working-poor neighbors could get care, dignity and consistency.”
Salcedo-Vaquera said the clinic even gets volunteers from other Newman students and alumni.
“It’s meaningful to stay connected with the Newman community,” he said. “I’ve had the chance to work alongside alumni and current students who volunteer with our clinics, which makes the work feel full circle. It’s a reminder that the values we learned at Newman continue to ripple outward into the community.”
It started at Newman
Salcedo-Vaquera said his academic journey at Newman was challenging but transformative, especially as a first-generation college student in his family.
“While at Newman, I faced the challenge of advocating for myself academically while also balancing work and my personal life,” he said. “However, I also found a strong sense of support from faculty who believed in my potential.”
One faculty member who offered their support was Tomoko Bell, Ph.D., assistant professor of biology. She later invited Salcedo-Vaquera as a guest speaker for her undergraduate class to speak on his experience serving the Wichita community.
“He shared some of the warm interactions with his patients, and I could tell that my students were touched by his determined spirit to help people who do not have medical access,” Bell said. “He was one of the most passionate graduate students.”
Salcedo-Vaquera also noted a course he took with Sonja Bontrager, assistant professor of Spanish and co-director of Hispanic initiatives: Border Crossings. He says the class was influential to him, even after graduation.
“The course challenged me to look beyond physical borders and recognize the many social, economic and cultural divides that separate communities, often in ways we don’t pay attention to otherwise,” he said. “It was humbling and eye-opening, and I left it feeling inspired to be more present, more aware and more intentional in how I serve others.”
In continuing the work he began at Newman, Salcedo-Vaquera is helping build a healthier and more connected community — one pop-up clinic at a time.
“Sebastian is a true servant who is a strong medical leader, transforming not only the Wichita community but also the world,” Bell said.
Newman’s MS in Biomedical Sciences program
Fast-track your path to medical school or a health care career with Newman University’s accelerated, online Master of Science in biomedical science.
