(Left to right) Keila and fellow Gap Year Intern, Tori, at the Sizzlin’ Summer Luau
Keila Bazile knows the challenges of being an uninsured immigrant firsthand. “When my family and I relocated to Florida from Haiti, we didn’t have access to healthcare and were uninsured,” recounts Keila. “It was through a financial assistance program at a local community health center that we were able to gain access to primary care and various healthcare opportunities.” Her personal experience inspired her to volunteer at Grace Medical Home.
Keila began her volunteer service as a Gap Year Intern after graduating from the University of Central Florida in June 2020. During her internship, she served in Care Coordination, managing Optometry/Ophthalmologist referrals and in Women’s Health, managing referrals for mammograms and well-woman exams. She also served as a scribe working with our providers and as a KNIGHTS Clinic liaison working closely with UCF med students. “Every day that I came to Grace,” said Keila, “I always had the thought, ‘Patients are relying on your assistance and for you to advocate for them therefore you cannot let them down.’ That motivated me to try my best at whatever I was doing whether that was handling mammograms, optometry referrals, or translating.”
Keila wanted to do something for our patients who lost their jobs or were housing insecure due to the pandemic. Keila recalls, “In the third grade, I was chosen by my guidance counselor as one of the students to receive a Christmas shopping spree. Fascinated with the idea of purchasing toys, it never dawned on me how much of a financial relief it was for my parents. This experience inspired me to create the toy drive.” The Toy Drive held last December ensured that all of our pediatric patients and their siblings received Christmas gifts.
Following the success of that event, the Sizzlin’ Summer Luau was created to provide an opportunity for pediatric patients to have a fun summer experience before returning to school. “Not every child has the privilege of participating in a summer camp. For some patients, this event was probably the most fun activity they’ve done this whole summer,” said Keila. “That event reminded me what community is supposed to feel like. Everyone from volunteers and staff came together to help. Our pediatric patients were happy to see their providers in their Hawaiian shirts, we did the electric slide and had snow cones. It was an awesome day!”
Despite creating those joyful events, Keila’s personal experience was never far from her mind. Though similar to Grace patients’ arrivals in the US, Keila’s experience was far less challenging. Her service at Grace made her realize, “I’m not much different from our patients but at the same time, my journey is. I came to the US from Haiti when I was eight years old and all we did was get on a plane. When I hear stories about the ways some our patients arrived to the US, in a way I feel guilty and find it unfair. I feel as if I should have faced the same obstacles and gone through the same journey as them.
I remember one of our patients explaining how one of her sisters was sent back once she made it to America and another saying how she had to learn how to swim in order not to drown when crossing the rivers. I have a hard time understanding why it was such an easy process for me but not for them. Not that I would have liked to go through the obstacles they’ve experienced, but at least it would have been fair.”
Keila’s personal experience and hearing the plights of our patients spurred her passion to eliminate health disparities. “Grace has allowed me to give back and become an advocate for those without a voice,” said Keila. “You don’t have to wait to become a healthcare provider to act. You have the possibility to make a difference whether it’s small or big. I know that I made an impact in the lives of our patients whether it was advocating for them to be able to get vision exams, mammograms or organizing the toy drive and summer event. Those services make such a difference in caring for our patients and allow us to provide them with more resources.”
Keila is in the process of applying to PA school, where she wants to continue working with and advocating for underserved populations, especially undocumented immigrants. “The PA field is team-oriented. Working in Care Coordination, I’ve learned how to work collaboratively and seek guidance from others,” said Keila. “As a Gap Year Intern, I’ve made sure to ask myself: ‘Do I want to be the type of provider that does the bare minimum? Or do I want to be the type of provider that goes above and beyond?’ I keep the mindset that these are also my patients and they’re trusting me.”
We have no doubt that Keila will continue to be the voice for the marginalized. Thank you for your amazing service to Grace, Keila. You have left an indelible imprint on our hearts and in the lives of our patients.
