Humans of NHC: Brenda Lopez

Since serving my term at Ampla Health, I have had the privilege of meeting many talented and compassionate health professionals that make great strides in the local community. The general area is rural and medically underserved, making the efforts of the Ampla Health team even more considerable and gratifying. In my experience, I have seen Brenda Lopez especially shine and give back to her community in her position as the housing case manager. Brenda’s role as Housing Case Manager is monumental, she serves over 60+ clients, assisting them with emergency cases for housing and supportive services such as food and essential products. This position includes collaboration with medical staff, government staff, local businesses, and other resources to carry out specialized social services to her clients. When interviewing Brenda, she revealed to me that since she was 18, she always knew she wanted to do something to better people's lives and the community as a whole. Brenda serves a huge case load, requiring a substantial amount of administrative and footwork for each case. However, it does not come at the cost of her grit, “... it my calling it’s what feeds my soul- to help others. That’s what drives me to continue on and pursuing this line of work”, she admits. Her favorite aspect of her current career is, “... connecting with my clients, building a bond and trust between us really means a lot to me”.  

Brenda’s dream does not stop here. Shes aspires to go back to school to become a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW), eventually helping the younger population navigate life and growing up, “I would love to council young adults into adulthood... I always felt like growing up, I needed a counselor. I never had one and I feel like if I had someone to talk through things with, life would’ve been easier” Brenda acknowledges, not only within the local community, but in our general population today that, “There is most definitely a need for young adults to be uplifted and supported in that way...”. Brenda recognizes that healthy living is a product of confounding factors; to recognize that is to make the first steps toward comprehensive care among the population. Within the medical and public health field, Brenda would like to see the world make more progress within the mental and social elements of life, “I was struck by the lack of attention to mental health among the people that we serve. Medical treatment is a big focus but there’s not enough on the social and mental influences that occur alongside one’s physical health”.  

I asked Brenda, what should other current, or aspiring, health professionals know? Her response: “Aspiring health professionals, you have to take care of you and learn to disconnect and separate work from personal life. It’s important because you deal with heavy circumstances sometimes and if you don’t allow yourself to step away from that at the end of the day, it can seriously do a toll on you. It can be draining sometimes”. I think Brenda is once again showing her care for others and her passion for mental health with this last statement. It is always important to take care of yourself, even if your job is to take care of others! 

Thank you, Brenda, for your service and uplifting messages!