Mary’s Legacy: A Lifelong Commitment to Care

When Mary first walked through the doors of Clearwater Free Clinic, she never imagined it would become such a defining part of her life. She didn’t know it at the time, but she was stepping into a role that would impact thousands of lives, save countless patients from devastating health crises, and shape the clinic itself for years to come.

Her journey began in the most unexpected way—with a simple conversation with her neighbor, Connie McLaughlin, a former Clinical Director. “I don’t know anything about primary care,” Mary told her when she was first approached to volunteer. “I only know about labor and delivery.” When Connie confirmed that labor and delivery weren’t part of the clinic’s services, Mary assumed she wouldn’t be much help. But Connie reassured her: “Oh yeah, there’s always something you can do.”

That willingness to learn and serve became the foundation of Mary’s entire career at Clearwater Free Clinic.

Learning on the Job

Mary quickly realized that working at the Clinic was an education in itself. Every day presented new challenges, new lessons, and new opportunities to make a difference. “I learned something new every day,” she said, reflecting on her early years.

One of her first significant learning experiences came when she trained at Jocelyn Diabetes Clinic. “What I knew about diabetes could fit on a pencil tip,” she admitted. “It would have been the worst part of my boards.” Determined to fill that gap, she spent time absorbing everything she could about diabetes care—knowledge that would prove invaluable in serving the Clinic’s patients.

Mary and Victor!

Stepping Into Leadership

As Mary became more deeply involved, her responsibilities grew. Eventually, she was offered a small part-time position—just 20 hours a week—assisting the Clinical Directors. It seemed like a natural next step, but the reality of the position was anything but simple.

At the time, the role of Clinical Director was shared between two individuals with vastly different management styles—one “very laissez-faire” and the other “a drill sergeant.” Mary found herself caught between them, trying to navigate their contrasting approaches while keeping the Clinic running smoothly.

This situation was untenable, but lucky for Mary, and ultimately lucky for the Clinic and our patients, both resigned and Mary absorbed her current role, and their shared role.

Building a Clinic, One Step at a Time

In those early days, the Clearwater Free Clinic was far from the established institution it is today. Mary’s first “desk” wasn’t even a real desk—it was a donated nightstand tucked into the nurse practitioner’s office. “If Mary needed to do something, it went on the nightstand,” she laughed.

Over time, she took on more responsibilities, wearing more hats than she could count.

She wasn’t just the Clinical Director; she was the problem solver, the troubleshooter, the fixer of all things. She recalls a day when she had to repair an ultrasound machine over the phone, following step-by-step instructions from a technician. Another time, she was part of an impromptu fire brigade when a patient’s discarded cigarette set the dry brush outside the Clinic ablaze.

“There were windows in the front, and you could literally see flames,” she said. “It was at night, so it showed up quite brightly.” With no running hoses available Mary and her team resorted to whatever they could find to put out the fire.

Through it all, she maintained a simple philosophy: “I don’t ask anybody to do anything I wouldn’t do.” Whether it was emptying trash, cleaning rooms, making schedules, or ordering supplies, she did whatever needed to be done.

A Lifetime of Impact

In the years that followed, Mary became more than just a leader at the Clinic—she became the medical conductor.

She has witnessed thousands of patient stories, some heartbreaking, others uplifting, all a testament to the importance of accessible healthcare. One patient in particular stands out in her memory.

“He wasn’t even a patient yet,” she recalled. “He came to the window asking for an appointment, and I asked what was wrong. He said, ‘Well, my foot is black.’”

Concerned, she pressed for more details. “Do you mean it’s dirty, or do you mean it’s really black?”

When he showed her, it was immediately clear—he was in danger of losing his foot. “Sir, do not pass go. Go directly to the hospital. Right now.”

The man, later identified as Bruce, followed her advice. He was hospitalized and treated in time to prevent amputation. Months later, he returned to the Clinic, this time as a patient. He never forgot Mary’s intervention. “I wouldn’t have a foot if it wasn’t for you,” he told her. Like so many of our patients that struggle to make a living, Bruce was in a similar economic situation, but that didn’t stop him from bringing sandwiches for the whole staff as a token of gratitude - Mary saved his foot after all.

There have been countless stories like Bruce’s—patients whose lives were saved because someone at the Clinic took the time to listen, to care, to act.

Mary brought many to tears at Jeannie Shapiro’s retirement party.

Looking to the Future

Now, as Mary prepares to transition into a new chapter of her life, she reflects on the qualities that will be needed in the next generation of leadership.

“It’s going to require attention to detail—a lot of attention to detail—and the ability to jump from one completely different task to another,” she said. Her role has never been about doing just one thing; it’s been about doing everything.

Though she’s looking forward to stepping away from the day-to-day of Free Clinic life, she won’t be slowing down completely. “I’ve got two grandkids and a 94-year-old mother,” she said. “So there’s still plenty of chaos.”

As she looks back on her years at the Clearwater Free Clinic, she doesn’t dwell too much on the numbers—the thousands of patients she’s helped, the hundreds of lives she’s likely saved. But every once in a while, she’s reminded of the impact she’s had.

Recently, she stopped at a small grocery store in Dunedin, a place she didn’t normally shop. As she was checking out, a man recognized her.

“I know you,” he said.

After a few moments, it clicked. “You worked with Dr. Jan at the Clearwater Free Clinic,” he said.

He went on to tell her how his health had declined since leaving the Clinic—how, despite now having Medicaid, he hadn’t been able to find the same level of care.

“He couldn’t say enough wonderful things about Dr. Jan,” Mary said. “And he was so kind, thanking me again for everything we did.”

Moments like that remind her of the legacy she leaves behind—not in a name on a plaque, but in the lives of the people she helped.

For Mary, the Clearwater Free Clinic has never been just a workplace. It has been a mission, a calling, a family. And though she may be stepping away, the impact of her work will be felt for years to come.