Spokane Graduate, Gail Tharpe - Lucero continues to serve her community in Juneau, AK

Gail Tharpe-Lucero, PA-C , Spokane class 6

I began working at the Front Street Clinic (FSC), the only clinic is Juneau that serves those who are homeless, in 2006. The clinic opened around 2003.

It continues to be an Honor to serve this marginalized and misunderstood portion of our population. Daily I am taught so much about humanity and integrity. My patients are my teachers and they are an incredible group of people who are diverse, and tenacious and at the same time at risk because of their circumstances and erroneous belief by many (who think they choose to be homeless). It is their tenacity and their support for each other that allows them to survive and bear the hardships they endure.

In an effort to improve the lives of these citizens, I have also became a member of the Juneau Homeless Coalition when I came to work for Front Street Clinic. The goal of this organization is to improve the lives of those who are experiencing homelessness and work toward ending homelessness in Juneau. One of our slogans is "A Roof Over Every Head".

Shortly after I transferred to FSC, I also became a member of the National Health Care for the Homeless Council and the Homeless Clinicians Network. (nhchc.org) This organization has a national membership of experts in the practice of providing health care and support services to those who are experiencing homelessness. It also has a wonderful consumer advocacy group of homeless and previously homeless individuals who enlighten us with their knowledge and experience. At the last conference I met one of the people featured in the movie Sicko. She became homeless because her insurance company refused to cover needed medical expenses.

I will be attending the annual National Health Care for the Homeless Conference in June 2010 in San Francisco, CA.

A friend (formally homeless) and I put together the Glory Hole Mission Band in 2008 (The Glory Hole is the homeless shelter in Juneau). The band was started to bring aware to the issues of homelessness and dispell the many myths and falsehood that surround those who are experiencing homeless. It is one of the most enjoyable activities in which I participate. We perform at the annual Juneau Folk Festival and occasional elsewhere in our community. We have several homeless or previously homeless individual in the band.

Last year I was honored by a patrons family and allowed to have his ashes on stage when we performed and to tell his story. He had asked me to tell his story when he was still alive. He was a veteran, on a waiting list for housing and died before housing became available for him.

This year I became a board member of the Rainforest Recovery Center (substance dependence and abuse treatment center). This facility is reorganizing and it is my hope that we can provide a facility that can meet the special needs of those suffering from Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) and those with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and other populations that need support to stay sober. Individuals with FASD and TBI do not have the cognitive ability to respond to traditional treatment methods and the FASD Team in Juneau is working to help provide education and support to allow for more specific resource options to be made available for those unable to respond to past treatment modalities.

It is exciting (though sometimes frustrating) to be working in several avenues to produce positive change and improve the lives of those that trust our clinic to be there for them. It keeps me busy and my patients keep me committed.