Why I Volunteer

For most of my career, medicine was tied to productivity, schedules, and the realities of earning a living. Like many providers, I spent years working within systems that measured success by how many patients could be seen in a day.

Volunteering at Bethesda Clinic has reminded me why I entered healthcare in the first place.

When I walk through these doors, I’m not focused on the dollar. I’m focused on the person sitting in front of me. I have the freedom to give patients the time they deserve—to listen, to understand their needs, and to provide care without feeling rushed by a clock or pressured by productivity goals.

Bethesda Clinic exists for one reason: to care for people. There are no financial incentives driving decisions, only a commitment to serving patients in the best way possible. That creates a culture that is truly special. The staff are caring, engaged, respectful, and deeply committed to the mission. It’s simply a great place to work alongside others who share a heart for service.

The patients make the experience even more meaningful. They are uninsured and have limited options for healthcare. Without clinics like this, some would have nowhere to turn. Being able to provide care for them—and seeing the gratitude with which they receive it—is incredibly rewarding. Their thankfulness is genuine, and it serves as a powerful reminder of the impact compassionate healthcare can have on a person’s life.

At this stage of my life, volunteering here has become more than just practicing medicine. It’s an opportunity to serve others in a way that reflects the values I believe in. It reminds me that healthcare is ultimately about people helping people.

Every time I volunteer, I leave feeling that I received just as much as I gave.

If you’re a healthcare provider looking for a meaningful way to use your skills, I can honestly say that serving at Bethesda Clinic has been one of the most fulfilling experiences of my career.

“Bethesda helped us in every way—emotionally, financially, and spiritually,” Yesenia shared. “They gave us hope when we didn’t know what to do.”

Your support provided more than medical care. It gave the Mendoza family hope, healing, and a path forward.

After more than 20 years as a physical therapist with UT Health’s outpatient rehabilitation program, Lynn Henry knew retirement wasn’t the end of caring for patients—it was simply a new chapter.

Long before she retired, Lynn had asked Bethesda volunteer Dr. David Carney if the clinic could ever use a physical therapist. His answer was simple: “Yes.” That conversation planted the seed that eventually brought Lynn to Bethesda.

Today, Lynn volunteers one day each week, helping uninsured patients improve their strength, balance, mobility, and independence through physical therapy.

“I’ve really enjoyed it,” Lynn says. “The people are so nice. Everybody’s wonderful, and you just feel wanted and needed there.”

Throughout her career, Lynn specialized in outpatient rehabilitation, including vestibular therapy, which helps patients experiencing dizziness and balance disorders. While many of her Bethesda patients come with orthopedic concerns, she often incorporates balance training into their treatment plans, helping them regain confidence and reduce their risk of falls.

What stands out most to Lynn isn’t just the work—it’s the gratitude.

“I have not met anybody who wasn’t thankful,” she says. “Many of them come back for follow-up visits because they want to keep getting better.”

When she’s not volunteering, Lynn enjoys staying active herself. A longtime runner and former soccer player, she’s completed six half marathons and still enjoys tackling Tyler’s hills with her running shoes laced up.

For anyone considering volunteering, Lynn has a simple message:

“Come and check it out. It’s such a supportive atmosphere, and it’s been a great experience.”

Lynn’s impact extends beyond the clinic walls. During a recent conversation with family, she learned her niece had once relied on Bethesda for healthcare.

“She told me how grateful she was for Bethesda,” Lynn says. “That made me even happier to be volunteering here.”

Volunteers like Lynn bring not only their professional expertise, but also compassion, encouragement, and hope to every patient they meet. We’re grateful she’s chosen to spend her retirement helping our neighbors heal.

As an internal medicine and primary care physician, Dr. Katie Root volunteers at Bethesda Clinic alongside her Green Acres Baptist Church family, providing care to patients with both chronic and acute medical needs.

For her, serving at Bethesda is about more than medicine. It’s an opportunity to meet practical needs while sharing the love of Christ with people in the Tyler community who may not otherwise have access to healthcare.

“Local missions are sometimes overlooked,” she says. “There are so many people who need help right here in Tyler and the surrounding communities. Being able to care for them and share the love of Jesus is incredibly rewarding.”

Because of volunteers like Dr. Root, Bethesda is able to provide compassionate, Christ-centered care to neighbors in need every day.