A Light in the Darkness

J , a budding artist, shares the painting he donated to Grace Medical Home.

In a world of darkness, even the smallest light can change everything. I know this because I was once lost, forgotten, and drowning in a life of pain and despair. But through the grace of Jesus Christ and the love I found at Grace Medical Home, I discovered hope, healing, and a new beginning.

My name is J. My story is not one of strength or bravery but of redemption. I was born in a small Central American neighborhood where opportunities were scarce, and the paths laid before me led either to crime or exile. My childhood was filled with love for a time—until my father left, and my mother, overwhelmed by the burden of raising three children alone, could no longer give me the attention I craved. Poverty and survival became our daily reality, and I found myself drifting toward the only life I knew—the streets.

Surrounded by crime yet unwilling to become a gang member, I sought another way to survive. My ambition led me into the world of drug trafficking. The money filled my pockets, but my soul was emptier than ever. My mother wept for me, warning me that I was walking toward death, but I didn’t care. I had long carried the weight of wanting to die.

When I turned 18, my life unraveled completely. Heartbreak, depression, and anger consumed me, and I made a plan—one that would end with my own destruction. But the night before I was set to act, something unexpected happened. As I walked the familiar streets, I passed a small church where songs of praise to God filled the air. Something deep within me stirred. Despite my resistance, I felt an undeniable pull, and before I knew it, I was inside, sitting in the back row, unseen yet fully exposed before God.

The weight of my pain crashed over me, and for the first time, I allowed myself to break. I fell to my knees, crying out in agony. A servant of God approached and prayed over me, asking Jesus to give me a new heart. In that moment, something inside me shifted—a wave of warmth, love, and grace poured into me. I wept, but now in joy. For the first time, I felt loved, free, and truly seen.

Even after that transformative night, my struggles didn’t disappear. I battled depression, post-traumatic stress, and the scars of my past. But Jesus had a plan greater than my pain. That plan led me to Grace Medical Home—a place that became my refuge, my second chance.

From my very first visit, I noticed something different. At Grace, doctors and staff didn’t just treat symptoms—they treated souls. They saw me as a person, not a problem. Their kindness, patience, and faith reflected the love of Christ in ways I had never experienced before. They spoke of Jesus not just in words but in actions, in the smallest details of their care.

To those at Grace Medical Home, I want to say this: Many of us who walk through your doors have never been treated with dignity before. Some of us don’t know how to respond to kindness because we've never known it. But believe me when I say, we see the light you bring into the darkness. We feel the grace of Jesus through your hands and your hearts.

One day, Jesus saved me in a supernatural way. And now, He has saved me again through your love and care. Thank you for being His hands and feet. Thank you for reminding me—and so many others—that we are not forgotten. A small light in the darkness can change everything. And because of you, I have found my way home.

Matthew 25:35-40

Welcome New Board Members, Tim Cook and Tony Jenkins

Grace Medical Home recently welcomed two new members to their Board of Directors: Tim Cook, senior vice president and chief mission integration officer for AdventHealth and Tony Jenkins, Market President, Central Florida Region, for Florida Blue.

Tim Cook, senior vice president and chief mission integration officer for AdventHealth, has over 30 years of leadership experience in church, community, and health care settings, including 25 years with AdventHealth. Previously, he served as CEO of AdventHealth Altamonte Springs and led the launch of The Hope & Healing Center in 2021 to support those struggling with opioid addiction. His leadership spans multiple AdventHealth facilities, including overseeing the construction of AdventHealth Apopka’s new campus. Before health care, he was a pastor and a United Way executive director. Cook holds a master’s in humanities and religion from Andrews University and a bachelor’s in theology from Pacific Union College. He and his wife, Vivian, live in Longwood, Florida, and enjoy making music with their family.

Tony Jenkins is the Market President for Florida Blue’s Central Florida region, where he provides strategic oversight to drive business growth, enhance brand visibility, and foster employee engagement. With a background in Human Resources and Public Relations at CSX Corporation and 20 years in leadership roles at Walt Disney World, he brings extensive experience in hospitality and corporate management. Tony is deeply involved in the Orlando community, serving on multiple boards, including Grace Medical Home and the UCF College of Medicine Dean’s Advisory Council. Recognized for his leadership, he has received numerous accolades, including the Orlando Business Journal’s CEO of the Year and Diversity in Business Lifetime Achievement Award.

“Tim’s extensive experience in health care, mission integration, and community service will enrich our work and strengthen our commitment to whole-person care, said Grace’s CEO, Stephanie Nelson Garris. “Tony’s exceptional leadership and deep expertise in business strategy, community engagement, and healthcare innovation will be invaluable.  We are honored to have Tim and Tony serve on our board to advance Grace’s mission and expand our impact in Central Florida.”

A Mother and Daughter's Journey of Services

Dr. Neha Doshi never imagined that volunteering at Grace Medical Home would become more than just an extension of her career—it would become a bridge between generations.

After 20 years in medical practice, Neha felt a calling to give back in a new way. “I grew up volunteering and realized I needed to go back to my roots,” she reflects. Finding Grace Medical Home was like coming full circle. Every Thursday, she traded the familiar rush of private practice for the quiet, unwavering mission of Grace—serving those who might otherwise go unseen. “Doctors get to help people every day, but at Grace, I am really making a difference—I feel it in my soul.”

What she never expected was that her daughter, Maya Sanghrajka, would one day walk through those same doors—not just as an observer, but as someone ready to serve.

Maya grew up listening to her mother’s stories from Grace. While she was away at Florida State University, she could count on a phone call every other Thursday evening, filled with her mother’s excitement. “She would regale me with stories from Grace—the people she worked with, the patients she helped, and the kindness that flowed through those doors,” Maya recalls.

So when she graduated and began searching for a meaningful way to spend her gap year, the answer seemed obvious. “I’m not always a decisive person, but submitting my application to Grace was one of the easiest decisions I’ve ever made,” she says.

She wanted something more than just clinical experience—she wanted transformation. She wanted to wake up every day knowing she was making an impact. “I have never been a morning person, so the fact that I now regularly wake up at 7 a.m. for my shifts at Grace definitely says something.”

Now, mother and daughter serve together, their journeys intertwined in ways neither of them anticipated. “I feel so privileged and proud to share this piece of my life with her,” Neha says. “It is an honor to teach her the joys of volunteering, of giving, of learning.”

For Maya, Grace has been more than just a place to grow professionally—it has been a lesson in humanity. “The patients we see here are often in unique positions where they are trusting us in a way they may never have trusted someone before,” she says. “The honor and privilege I feel each day as I leave this building is incomparable to anything I have ever experienced.”

It’s in the little moments that Maya finds the deepest meaning—like the day she overheard a team member hurrying down the hallway, asking for change for a $50 bill. “A patient needed change, and they didn’t have enough,” she recalls. “Something so small, but the urgency and care behind it showed me exactly what Grace is about—making sure that every patient’s needs, no matter how minor they may seem, are met with love and dignity.”

Beyond the patients and the medicine, what makes Grace extraordinary is the people who sustain it—the volunteers, the staff, and the donors who make their work possible. “Every person who contributes something to Grace, be that money, time, or spare medical supplies, is allowing this clinic to function to its full potential,” Maya says. “It truly takes a village.”

Neha echoes this sentiment. “No matter what someone contributes—big or small—it makes someone’s life better. And when we give, we ourselves receive. That is the greatest gift of all.”

For Neha and Maya, Grace Medical Home is more than a clinic. It is a place where service is an act of love, where healing extends beyond medicine, and where a mother and daughter have found a deeper connection—both to each other and to something greater than themselves.

Hope Renewed: A Morning of Prayer and Praise at Grace

Grace Medical Home recently hosted our annual Patient Worship Service, offering an uplifting time of worship, prayer, and encouragement for our community. The event was a beautiful reminder that Jesus cares for every patient, family, and individual who walks through our doors.

The service opened with a heartfelt prayer from Dr. Sherry Brooks, setting the tone for a morning of reflection and hope. The Grace Worship Team led the congregation in powerful songs, including He Calls Me Friend and I Run to the Father, filling the space with melodies of faith and reassurance.

Pastor Omar Cardona delivered an inspiring message, reminding all in attendance of God’s deep love and care. He also extended an invitation to receive prayer, a moment that many embraced, finding comfort and support from our dedicated prayer team members.

A highlight of the service was patient testimonials led by Dr. Marvin Hardy, offering firsthand stories of perseverance, healing, and the impact of compassionate care. These testimonies deeply resonated with those in attendance, reinforcing Grace’s mission.

The event concluded with words of gratitude and a closing prayer from Kirsten Carter, leaving everyone with a renewed sense of faith and encouragement.

We hope that those in attendance left Grace with more than just a program in their hands; they carried with them the peace and promise that Jesus cares for them and that they are not alone.

You are Here Today Because Someone Chose to Listen

Lauren Carmody, right forefront, scribes while Hannah Sleppy, PA, examines patient, Sonia.

Whoever has ears, let them hear –  Matthew 11:15

I was working with Michelle Cornell, APRN, a few weeks ago and when we walked into an exam room. I immediately noticed that her patient was hunched over in his chair. A million things ran through my mind -- Was the patient sick? Did we need to call for help? Michelle confidently walked into the room, put everything she had down on the counter, looked the patient in the eyes, and said five words to him - “Tell me what’s going on.” An open-ended question, no strings attached. The patient poured out his heart and told her about the incredibly difficult things he was facing. She never stopped or interrupted him. At the end of the conversation, Michelle offered several services to the patient, but he declined and said, “I think I’m good – I really just needed someone to listen.” He left a completely different person than the one who walked through the door.

It was such a powerful moment and a beautiful reminder that the simple act of listening can be profoundly impactful.  According to one source, listening is referred to 412 times in the Bible. Its emphasis in scripture must be indicative of its importance. Because in listening, we learn. In listening, we can better understand those around us. In listening, we can change lives.

This act of listening reminded me of my own story and how one physician who chose to listen changed the trajectory of my life. In 2012, I was practicing law at a firm in downtown Orlando when I started experiencing excruciating pain at the base of my skull.  I made an appointment with my primary care physician, but he dismissed my concerns. My symptoms persisted. A few months later, I lost complete function on the right side of my face.  I went back to my PCP, he diagnosed me with Bell’s Palsy and asked me to return in 6 months. He also referred me to ophthalmology because the paralysis was impacting my eye.

The ophthalmologist that he referred me to was Margaret Poulos, one of our dedicated Grace volunteers. I went to see her, and when she walked into the exam room (much like Michelle) she said five words to me – tell me what’s going on. I told her everything and she listened intently.  She told me she was studying for her board recertification and had just read the section on Bell’s Palsy.  All of her instincts told her that something didn’t add up. She didn’t think I had Bell’s Palsy and ordered an MRI.

I got the MRI and Dr Poulos’ instincts were right. The imaging revealed a large tumor at the base of my skull. A few weeks later I had surgery at Shands Hospital at the University of Florida where my doctors discovered that I had chondrocarcoma, a rare bone cancer.  After I recovered from surgery, I was referred to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston for oncology.  My oncologist in Boston would often tell me, “You are here today because your ophthalmologist chose to listen.”

By the end of 2012, I was deemed NED (no evidence of disease) by my doctors.  Although we were overjoyed that I had received such encouraging results, I would require lifelong surveillance due to the nature of chondrosarcoma. This was a difficult reality to digest.  I so desperately wanted to be cured so I could move on with my life.  I had no idea how to live scan to scan, in a constant state of uncertainty. I was struggling spiritually and mentally.  A friend encouraged me to go on a retreat to process my emotions. While I was there, I met with a priest who suggested I make a list of the ways cancer had blessed my life.  I was infuriated. It felt so insensitive.  How could cancer be a blessing?  After taking some time to process his suggestion, I heeded his advice. I started to write and I couldn’t stop. Among the many blessings that stemmed from my cancer diagnosis were the doctors, nurses, and medical professionals I met during my journey.

When I returned to my law office after our time in Boston, all I could think about was the incredible impact the medical profession made on my life. I felt like God was calling me into healthcare but there was one problem – I was a lawyer. How do you walk away from a decade worth of legal work to pursue something totally different?  While contemplating this life change, my husband and I found out that we were expecting our first child. My pregnancy was picture perfect, until it wasn’t.  At 23-week’s gestation I unexpectedly went into preterm labor.  Despite our doctor’s best efforts to delay our son’s birth, he was born 16-weeks prematurely weighing just 1 pound, 12 ounces.  There I was again, thrust back into the healthcare system.  We lived in the NICU for 109-days. Thankfully, our son had a miraculous outcome, but our experience solidified that I had been called into healthcare.

In 2017, I began exploring the process of shifting careers and I enrolled in my first post-baccalaureate class.  Around that same time, I was invited to an event called Let’s Say Grace that benefited Grace Medical Home.  There, I reconnected with Stephanie Garris, who I had met many years prior in the Junior League of Greater Orlando.  She was now serving as the Chief Executive Officer of Grace Medical Home. Also a lawyer who found a way to serve in healthcare, Stephanie quickly became a trusted mentor. After listening to my story, she invited me to Grace. I began volunteering in 2019 in Care Coordination and then became a Gap Year Intern in 2024.  

The second day of my Gap Year Internship, Dr. Carter stopped me and said, “Lauren, I think one of the reasons God brought you here was so we could encourage you in your journey.”  A few days later, unaware of this conversation, Michelle Cash pulled me aside to offer words of encouragement. I was caught so off guard by her kindness that it brought me to tears. When I embarked on this new career path, many people questioned my decision to leave the practice of law. Although I felt confident in my calling, my resolve was shaken on more than one occasion. Grace has been different. Every single person I have encountered at the clinic has unequivocally supported my journey.  They have prayed with me, over me, and for me. They have taken the time to teach me with incredible patience. They have gone out of their way to support my studies, offer gentle advice and constant encouragement.

 People often ask if being at Grace has solidified my desire to pursue healthcare. My answer is unequivocally, yes. Being at Grace each day fills my life with indescribable joy.  Starting each day with devotion has strengthened my spiritual life and has kept Christ at the center of my time at the clinic. I have been privileged to work alongside incredible providers. I have watched breathtaking transformations and have witnessed life after life improved for the better. I have learned from staff members who meet every challenge with profound love, compassion and empathy.  I have thought often of Dr. Carter’s comment over the last few months. She knew from the beginning what it took me months to learn – that I needed Grace as much as Grace needed me.

 I have volunteered with many organizations over the years and Grace is, by far, the most special place I have ever invested my time. The culture of Grace is different, and you can feel it from the moment you walk in the door. Everyone who works at the clinic, from the registration desk to the exam rooms, wants to be there. They believe in the mission of the organization and work every day to put their faith into action.

 Much of our lives are public, but in healthcare, we often come alone. Without family, friends, support. I was alone when I got that phone call from Dr. Poulos, my husband and I were alone in the NICU with our medically fragile child. Healthcare providers, by proxy, stepped into the role of family and friends for us. I know, first-hand, the impact that healthcare can have on an individual, and I see it every single day at Grace. Exam rooms are transformed into sacred spaces and our providers become the hands and feet of Jesus Christ to the suffering. Your investment in Grace Medical Home carries long-lasting impacts far beyond treating a medical condition. Much like the gentleman who walked into the clinic hunched over and distraught, every single person that enters the doors of Grace leaves in a better place than when they came.

A Heartfelt Farwell to Gayle and Rob Bosscher, Volunteers Extraordinaire

Since May 2019, Gayle and Rob Bosscher have been integral members of Grace Medical Home’s volunteer family. Gayle first joined us as a devotion volunteer, but her heart for service soon led her to take on additional roles in Patient Registration and Care Coordination. When Michelle Cash, pediatric nurse practitioner, learned of a young patient who needed help with reading, she knew exactly who to turn to. With 29 years of experience as an educator, Gayle was the perfect fit. Ever since, Gayle happily tutored that patient and many others over the years, often rearranging her own schedule to stay late and make a difference in her life.

Inspired by Gayle's dedication, Rob began volunteering in September 2021. Together, this dynamic duo has given more than 2,576 hours of their time—a contribution equal to one full-time staff member for over a year! Their loyalty and service have touched the lives of countless patients and staff.

It is with heavy hearts that we bid farewell to the Bosschers as they move out of the area. Gayle and Rob, your dedication, warmth, and love for serving others will be missed more than words can say. Gayle, we know that even from afar, you can still lead a devotion via Zoom! We are certain that God has great plans for both of you as you continue to bless others. We will miss you dearly.

Strengthening Community Health Thanks to the Winter Park Health Foundation

Grace Medical Home has been selected as one of only five nonprofits to receive the prestigious Well Together Grant Awards Challenge by the Winter Park Health Foundation (WPHF)! this initiative is part of WPHF’s unwavering commitment to enhancing the health and wellbeing f our community in Eatonville, Maitland, and Winter Park, marking a special celebration of their 30th anniversary.

With this significant award, Grace Medical Home will join forces with the Central Florida Black Nurses Association to address critical health disparities that exist in these communities. Our collaborative efforts will focus on diabetes prevention and heart health improvement through comprehensive community outreach, education, and screenings at our Mobile Medical Unit in the Eatonville area.

Together, we are committed to making a positive impact on the health of our community, ensuring a brighter, healthier future for all. stay turned for more updates on this exciting journey!

Savor the Taste of Fall with Pumpkin Chili

Many uninsured in Orange County call this medical center ‘home’

Grace Medical Home has provided first class medical care for uninsured since 2010.

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – The lobby and waiting room at Grace Medical Home is clean, nicely appointed and well-lit. In many ways, an unremarkable setting for a modern doctor’s office.

Dr. Kirsten Carter, internal medicine specialist, said that’s the point.

“We were very intentional in wanting not only a medical place of perfection and excellence, but we wanted it to be beautiful. Most of our patients have not had an opportunity to feel valued, to feel special to feel embraced,” Carter said.

The full service medical center near Colonial Drive and Mills Avenue has been serving Orange County’s uninsured residents for nearly 15 years.

“We know that there are people out there who deserve the best, who just, for whatever circumstances, can’t or don’t have access to health care, it doesn’t mean that they shouldn’t have it. So our goal was to provide a space to fill that hole,” Carter said.

Annette Opio is a patient at Grace Medical Home in Orlando. (WKMG-TV)

Annette Opio has relied on Grace Medical Home for several years. She has some chronic conditions and is able to get regular care from a variety of specialists within the practice.

“I get my labs done. And then I come and talk to my wonderful doctor, she tells me if I’m doing good, or if I’m getting scolded,” Opio said with a laugh.

Opio is unable to work but even when she was employed she couldn’t afford health insurance.

“I worked for many years and couldn’t afford the insurance in my own job because I had to pay other bills.” Opio said. “So a lot of people go without seeing a doctor because they can’t afford insurance.”

And those are the people Grace Medical Home is designed to help, the working poor.

“When you’re trying to choose between getting health care, and putting food on the table or paying your rent, you know, those basic needs have to be met first. And so your illness will go down on the list.” Carter said. “So you ignore things, you definitely don’t get prevention. Unfortunately, you become more and more sick, which makes you less productive. And it’s just a downward spiral.”

According to Grace Medical Home, more than 185,000 people in Orange County are uninsured and have no access to ongoing care due to insurance status and cost barriers.

Many patients work more than one part-time job. Construction work tops the list of patient occupations.

Stephanie Garris, CEO of Grace Medical Home, said most patients need care for chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol and asthma.

“Our patients if they’ve sought care before, it may be episodic, maybe at a minute clinic or something like that, or the emergency room certainly. But what they really don’t have access to is that cardiologist that endocrinologist all the components that are needed with chronic disease management.” Garris said. “So that’s really what we do here. And we have all of those specialties.”

Grace Medical Home provides primary care for adults and children including well and sick visits, check-ups and care for chronic illnesses. More than 35 medical specialties, such as cardiology, dermatology and orthopedics are provided on-site.

The center relies on more than 400 physician volunteers.

Since its inception in 2010, Grace has served more than 5,000 patients and reduced patients’ ER visits totaling more than $2.4 million since 2015.

Grace Medical Home in Orlando. (WKMG-TV)

In 2010, local physicians participated in a medical mission trip to the Dominican Republic. The mission was to help the Dominicans turn a children’s sick clinic into a comprehensive medical home where, in addition to acute sick visits, there are well care check-ups, health education and adequate medical records.

“Returning home, they saw the same need to provide high quality and continuous healthcare to the underserved right here. So when they saw the clinic doing so successful down there, where they didn’t have many resources, they said we could probably do something like here in the U.S. And here we are,” Carter remembered. “And so it’s just amazing how it just takes one spark to ignite a big flame. All you need is a spark.”

“We were very intentional in calling ourselves Grace Medical Home,” Garris said. “Because that’s precisely what the low income uninsured struggle to find because of insurance barriers or cost barriers. And really all that means is that the patient’s in the center of their care, they come here as much as they need to. They get the secondary care, the procedures, the screenings, the cancer screenings and preventive care services that they just simply don’t have access to.”

Grace Medical Home is not currently accepting new patients but updates their website each month.

To be a patient at Grace, you must:

• ⋅ Live in Orange County for at least the past three months

• Be uninsured, not enrolled in and don’t qualify for any government-assisted healthcare programs (such as Medicaid, Medicare, VA Benefits, etc.)

• Be between the ages of birth and 64

• The monthly gross income of your family must be equal to or less than 200% of the federal poverty level.

They do not accept walk in applications.