Every issue we feature stories of individuals and agencies that are making a difference in their communities during these challenging times since COVID-19. Today we are talking with Lisa Safaeinili, M.P.H., Executive Director, Westminster Free Clinic.

Since 2002, Lisa has been the Executive Director of the Westminster Free Clinic. She has been able to grow the organization from serving the needs of 500 homeless patients/year to serving the health needs of over 12,000 uninsured working poor and homeless families of Ventura County each year. In addition to growing the many free medical services offered by the Clinic, Lisa has spearheaded many programs and services addressing the social determinants of health and whole person care over the past 20 years.

How did you get interested in your field of work?

Lisa: From a young age I was interested in fitness and nutrition but what solidified my interest was my summer work experience at Cooperative Extension in Delaware County, NY when I was 17. I was hired to develop nutrition education programs for children and adults in rural, low-income communities in upstate New York through a special program funded through Cornell University. I knew from then on that I wanted a profession where I could help people be well and healthy.

What is your passion for working in the community?

Lisa: I believe everyone should have the opportunity to be well and thrive and that all young people should have the resources and supports necessary to succeed academically and reach their goals.

How are you specifically addressing issues of Health Equity in your work and your community? How are you making a difference?

Lisa: For over 20 years I have been the Executive Director of Westminster Free Clinic & Community Care Center (WFC). In 2000 I received my first 3-year grant from The California Endowment that helped me launch our whole person, public health approach to health equity and access to health care. From the beginning we addressed the social determinants of health including health care access, emotional and social supports, economic supports, environmental change, education equity, and empowering the Latino community to lead and serve their community, starting with the youth who are part of our leadership team.

A core part of our mission is to empower youth to learn about health care and promote healthy lifestyles so they can support the health of their uninsured families and so they can expand their view of what they can do when they graduate from high school. Our program has grown over the years to include 200 high school students, 50 college students, and hundreds of medical and non-medical volunteers annually. We are making a lasting difference on many levels.

What are the areas that you hope to make changes in?

Lisa: All of our first generation, low-income teens obtaining advanced education after high school that leads to high paying jobs with health insurance. All of the low-income immigrant families staying mentally and physically well so they can work, buy food, stay housed and care for their family in a healthy way.

Tell us one thing about you that helps us get to know you better?

Lisa: I was only able to attend college thanks to the help of many mentors, many scholarships and working four part-time jobs. While I was in graduate school I was uninsured and in a car accident. I was stabilized at the hospital and then released because I did not have health insurance and had no money to pay the bill. My college professors raised money and sent me to Mayo Clinic in Rochester Minnesota to get the health care I needed. Thanks to these generous people, I was able to get better and return to college to finish my degree. Through the work I do, I feel grateful that I can pay forward the gift I was given of an education and access to health care. I know how stressful it is to have many barriers in the way.

If you could give a closing remark for or words of inspiration for the community during this time, what would it be?

Lisa: I love Ghandi’s quote “Be the change you want to see in the world.” Our staff at WFC is 95% volunteer, including our medical professionals. There are many caring and kind people, from many different backgrounds in this world and in Ventura County, who want to make a difference and will do so when given the opportunity.

Thank you Lisa for sharing your experience with us. You are an inspiring Driver of Change!

Learn more:

Lisa Safaeinili, M.P.H. Executive Director, Westminster Free Clinic

westminsterclinic.org