PHC

Here, We Care

Uncategorized

Community Foundation’s top award winner is a familiar face at People’s Health Clinic

by

Patty García of The People’s Health Clinic, receives Trisha Worthington Community Service Award from Park City Community Foundation Credit: Jonathan Herrera/Park Record

It was a true celebration when Patty García was called to the stage, the backing and admiration of her peers evident in the cheerful roar of support that filled the room of Park City Community Foundation’s Grant Celebration at Snow Park Lodge.

García had won the Trisha J. Worthington Community Service Award, which the foundation confers annually to an individual who has been generous with their time and talent to charitable and community endeavors. 

Currently serving as the patient access director for the People’s Health Clinic, Garcia is also a board member of PC Tots and a mother of four, and she is widely recognized for her dedication and advocacy in creating accessible and inclusive opportunities in health care and child care for the community. 

The foundation also said that García had been nominated multiple times for the award this year and last.

“Patty has a heart of gold and is a tireless champion for child care and health care,” said Sue Banerjee, executive director of PC Tots. “Despite working full time and raising her own children, she finds time to support the community through formal and informal ways. She is there to connect people to services and give advice. … She has been a voice for many who otherwise would not be heard.”

“I feel so happy,” said García, “I am surprised, but I feel very happy to have been recognized, and for my work to have been recognized.”

It’s an honor, she said, and she appreciates the recognition for doing something she loves.

García said she loves to go to work and interact with the people she is there to serve. She spoke about the close-knit types of relationships she has built over the years and how fortunate she feels to be in a position where patients trust that she will help them. 

“I love that people come to me because they know I will do my best to help them with whatever they need,” said García, “I feel that sometimes you can get tired of what you do or say that, but whenever you look at something and think, if we weren’t here, if the clinicians weren’t here, this man would have never known his diagnosis, or this woman would have never known this was happening to her — knowing that I can help them is the best feeling I could have.”

The People’s Health Clinic is a volunteer-driven organization that summarizes its mission in three words: “Here, we care.”

García said she strives to be a person of trust, one who is available to help those without support systems or who otherwise might be alone, unseen, untreated and unheard.

García said that especially in a situation in which not everyone qualifies for health care, and particularly when helping the undocumented community — because they are often the ones who don’t qualify for any programs — knowing that she is helping them and that they can trust her just as she trusts them fills her heart.

She likened this type of trust to what she she aims to provide for her parents.

“More than anything, I know that if I don’t do things for (my parents), no one else is going to do it for them. So I want them to know that I am the person who will be there for them.”

In the same way, García’s goal is to provide that care to those in the community who need it, every step of the way, no matter the magnitude or difficulty of what someone may be facing.

“I’ll hold your hand until you get what you need,” said García.

See full article

$75K high-impact grant awarded to People’s Health Clinic

by

Reported by Leslie Thatcher, KPCW

Members of the Park City Community Foundation’s Women’s Giving Fund voted to award $75,000 to the People’s Health Clinic.

The announcement was made on Wednesday, June 10, at the annual grant celebration at Park City Mountain’s Red Pine Lodge.

The more than 2,000 members of Women’s Giving Fund vote every year to decide which of three local organizations should receive the annual high-impact grant.

The fund started in 2014 when 1,000 women donated $1,000 each, raising an endowment of $1 million. This year’s $75,000 grant to the People’s Health Clinic was the largest ever awarded. People’s Health Clinic provides free health care to the uninsured in Summit and Wasatch counties.

When accepting the award, Women’s Health Director Dr. Tonja Bodnar stood next to the mom-to-be who was featured in the finalist video, members saw before casting their votes. They were also joined on stage with the patient’s newborn daughter Ataña.

“I have delivered 1000s of babies I’ve performed 1000s of surgeries,” Dr. Bodar said. “I don’t quiver. This is quiver-worthy. You are incredible. Thank you.”

People’s Health Clinic CEO Mairi Leining says the money will be used to elevate the women’s health program.

“Right now we’ve got Tonia Bodnar working at max capacity along with her other women’s health practitioners,” Leining said. “Where I feel like we can bring the program to another level is by adding a community health worker who can really do attentive, detailed follow-up with our patients. So, when Dr. Bodnar wraps up with the patient, the community health worker would then go in and make sure that individual has everything they need to succeed.”

Read full article here.