From Intake to EP Lab Aspirations – A Decade of Dedication

Shannon Westwood’s journey with the Clearwater Free Clinic began almost ten years ago in our former “tiny shack” of a building. A recent college grad unsure of her next step, Shannon was introduced to the Clinic by Melanie Leimer, a former board member. That introduction would blossom into one of the most remarkable volunteer commitments in our history—some suspect over 3,000 hours of service.

Shannon started in intake but quickly became a jack-of-all-trades: running labs, autoclaving instruments, supporting physicians, staffing the front desk, and even stepping in to teach diabetic patients when the need arose. As we transitioned to our current building, she not only helped move us in—she taught many of our physicians how to use the EMR system, scribing alongside them and adapting her role to whatever was needed most.

Throughout her master’s program at USF and four years of medical school, Shannon continued to make time for CFC—sometimes volunteering twice a week, even rearranging work shifts to make space for Tuesday mornings at the Clinic. She’s completed four clinical rotations here and credits CFC as a major part of her training. “I’ve learned something new every single day,” she says, “and every doctor I’ve worked with has shaped the kind of physician I want to be.”

Now heading to the Cleveland Clinic for her internal medicine residency, Shannon plans to specialize further—ultimately becoming an electrophysiologist, or, as she calls it, “an electrician for the heart.” Even as she moves north, she carries the Clinic’s mission with her: “Every residency interview I had, I talked about the Free Clinic. This place is transformative—for patients, and for people like me.”

Asked what keeps her coming back, she doesn’t hesitate: “The patients. The gratitude here is like nowhere else. People say we saved their lives—literally.” And to future volunteers? Her advice is simple: “Come here if you want to be here. Be kind, be welcoming, be patient. You’ll get more than you give.”

From all of us at the Clearwater Free Clinic—thank you, Shannon. You’ve given us your time, your heart, and your humor. We’ll miss you deeply, but we’re so proud to send you off.