A Life Built Around Caring for Others

DONOR SPOTLIGHT

Rodney Smith and Janet Kemink

Janet provided support for people frightened about their diagnosis and uncertain about what would come next. She guided them through their care plans with compassion and alleviated their fears.

Rodney often cared for patients who found themselves in the Emergency Department simply because they didn’t have the means to seek regular medical care. Upon discharge, they were frequently referred to Packard Health for follow-up care. Many of these patients went on to develop trusted relationships with their Packard primary care providers.

Caring for these patients in the Emergency Department inspired Rodney to impart the human side of medicine to the residents he trained.

“One of the things I would tell residents is that your job is to figure out ‘why’ people come to the emergency department. When you’re a resident, you think they came because of a complaint or acute illness. But if you really get to the answer to that question sometimes it’s simply because it was the only time they could get a ride, or they couldn’t miss work for a doctor’s appointment.”
– Rodney Smith

Hearing their patients’ stories inspired Rodney and Janet to help, and they recognized that Packard Health could be a solution for those whose “why” was a transportation issue or other barrier to accessing quality healthcare.

Rodney and Janet’s commitment to and compassion for their patients continues today through donations to Packard Health and other local organizations that support vulnerable members of our community—the patients who have fallen through the cracks in the health care system. It has been “a blessing to be part of that,” they said.

When asked if they had any advice for Packard, Rodney said “Keep doing what you’re doing.” And with their help, we will do just that.