Humans of NHC Heather Lyman Outreach & Prevention Coordinator

   One of the more monumental experiences for me at Ampla Health has been gaining training experience in clinical outreach from Heather. I admire her ambitions and positivity that she takes with her everywhere she goes. What drew my attention was the work ethic that Heather displays here at Ampla Health as the Outreach & Prevention Coordinator and to the patient/client population she serves. Her typical day initiates with a positive mood to go out in public, reaching out to patients, discussing education and proper preparations to avoid and/or live with HIV/HCV and STDs. Her role with patients allows preparation for proper safety measures and helps patients understand the severity of HIV/HCV and STDs.  

   What drew Heather to serve Ryan White-patients was the program’s deep commitment to health equity and compassionate care for people living with HIV. Her inspiration for the Program focuses on care and support for these patients. Heather realized it was the right path for her, when she saw how patients react and show emotions to the help like the one she provides; providing them hope to continue to live on with their lives. Her proudest moments during her career journey are hearing patient’s stories who had to deal with rough times in their lives yet were strong enough to reach out for help to improve their daily lives.  

   The work that Heather does has changed the way she views healthcare. To her it feels like there are two different roads patients can go down, and which one they end up often depends on who providers choose to prioritize. A change that Heather would like to see in the community is more outreach with patients/clients out in the public who especially are on the streets; which is much of the patient intake I work with. I let them know we are there for them and to help in any way we can.  For Heather, building trust with the people she serves is, telling them to be honest with her, giving these communities a sincere shoulder to lean on that builds trust that allows them to open to her.  

   A quote She came across that shows strength and truth is; “Compassion is the cure that medicine alone cannot give.” – A guiding truth in caring for those facing stigma and illness. “It’s not just the medicine that makes a patient happy, it’s how they are being treated by the provider, peers, everyday life”.