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By Cindy Bevington
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For Dr. Teresa Smith, a physician in private practice and the medical director at Faith Community Health Clinic in Angola, the work she does at the clinic is her personal answer to how one person can help others.
Faith Community Health Clinic opened its doors in Steuben County in April 2008. The need for a community clinic had been discussed for 20 years, wrote Rita Lechleidner, program director for the clinic, in her letter nominating Smith as a physician Health Care Hero.
“Some believed there wasn’t a need in Steuben County, but those of us who worked with people who had no medical coverage knew better. The most recent endeavor began in 2006 by the women of Holy Family Episcopal Church. People from many churches became involved to make the clinic a reality.
“We scheduled another meeting and this time invited the doctors of the community. Several came with doubts and questions. One doctor, Teresa Smith, made a commitment to the clinic before she left the meeting. In addition to operating her private practice, she agreed to be the clinic’s medical director. Without her, there would be no clinic today.”
Holy Family is currently building an addition to its church, and the clinic will have a permanent home in the lower level. The clinic started in the lower level of First Congregational United Church of Christ in Angola, rent-free, and has been able to thrive with help from the Steuben County Community Foundation, Cameron Hospital Foundation, community organizations, individuals and churches.
Along with numerous physicians assis tants, nurses, lab technicians and clerical workers, several doctors volunteer their time — there are no paid positions within the clinic — and in 15 months they have seen 482 patients for a total of 855 patient visits.
The clinic helps people obtain prescriptions and dental care, provides Pap smears and simple lab tests and works with the AIDS Task Force to provide monthly HIV/AIDS testing.
It also has developed partnerships with many specialists in the area; one board member is a surgeon who has provided services at free or reduced prices.
“All of this has happened one evening a week, three hours a week, and Dr. Smith is there working most weeks. Many of these people would not have seen a physician or would possibly have gone to the emergency room or doctor’s office and not been able to pay their bill,” Lechleidner wrote. “There are people with no health coverage who fall under 200 percent of the poverty guidelines.”
On Sept. 2, the clinic saw its 1,000th patient visit, an event that had Smith marvelling over the care and help the clinic has been able to give its needy patients.
“Here, we have seen people with breast cancer, brain cancer and heart disease diagnoses, and we got them the care they needed,” Smith said. “I’ve been asked, ‘Why support this clinic when we’re going to get this national health care?’ My answer is, it’s not here now. If we get it we’ll shut our doors. But right now the need is here.”
As a result of Smith’s conviction and leadership, most of the local physicians have embraced the clinic’s mission. For her, it is not unlike being a missionary overseas, only it’s something that those who can’t go overseas can accomplish right here, right now, she said.
“I have this saying on my door. It’s not original, and I don’t know who said it, but it is so true,” Smith said. “And that is this: ‘I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do.’
“It’s just so true. And for me it’s worked so far.”
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