Volunteer Spotlight: Kathy McNamara, Volunteer Nurse

Each month we take a moment to spotlight one of the many volunteers that keep Culmore Clinic running. This month we spoke to Kathy McNamara, one of our volunteer nurses. Kathy comes to us with a wealth of experience from nursing in Bangladesh to the Alaskan Bush and designing culturally responsive clinics through the National Association of Community Heath Centers. We sat down with her to learn more about her career, and why she decided to volunteer with us in her retirement.

Tell us how your experience at the National Association of Community Health Centers prepared you to volunteer at Culmore Clinic.

The work at the National Association of Community Health Centers was an honor to work with the providers and patients across country and territories. For more than 30 years partnering with patients and providers we collectively designed culturally responsive high quality clinical programs to meet their needs.  This included such things as hypertension, diabetes, addiction, HIV, LGBT health, migrant health, women’s health as well as adolescent and pediatric interventions.

You've also served as an RN, and worked in Bangladesh and the Alaskan Bush. Do you see some similarities between those experiences and working with the patients at Culmore Clinic.

It was often a challenging and humbling experience coupled with hard work to work in these environments with populations who had so little economically and physically.  Often times brutal weather.  However, the richness was in their love of community and family and their wisdom to live life fully. I see the same in the eyes of the Culmore patients. 

What attracted you to the volunteer opportunity at Culmore Clinic?

The mission, history and dedication of the Clinic to the community they serve.  Staff and volunteers who are invested in making a  difference in peoples lives.

You've officially "retired." Other than your volunteer work here at the Clinic, how do you like to spend your time.

Live everyday as if it is my last day on earth.  My family and kids are all involved in this adventure of life with me, it has given us wonderful shared memories/experiences and taught us what is important in life.