This Florence Nightingale quote describes my hero, Dr. G. Solis, perfectly: “The greatest heroes are those who do their duty in the daily grind of domestic affairs whilst the world whirls.”
A tenured associate professor at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), Dr. G. Solis is not only a colleague and mentor, she was also one of my great professors when I was completing my Master of Science in Nursing degree to become a family nurse practitioner (FNP). While I was working on completing my post master’s degree in nursing education, one of the requirements was for me to find a mentor experienced in nursing education. As a student and fellow colleague, I have experienced how Dr. G. Solis educates her students with such a passion to ensure they are able to provide safe care to improve patient outcomes. There was no hesitation—I chose her as my mentor because she continually inspires me to learn more and teach more.
And when she asked me to participate in a health fair she was organizing, I didn’t hesitate either.
Now, let me tell you about the history of this health fair. Health, Opportunity, Education, & Prevention (H.O.P.E.) is held at the Opportunity Center for the Homeless each year. Dr. G. Solis collaborated with her friend and colleague, Dr. Eva Moya, to begin this initiative in April 2016. Dr. Moya the interim department chair and associate professor in the Department of Social Work at UTEP.
There was so much planning to ensure this was a success. I worked collaboratively with a team of family nurse practitioners, social workers at the master’s and doctorate levels, and a member of UTEP’s Building Scholars. Volunteers worked tirelessly to increase the resources provided at this fair.
When the day arrived, I educated undergraduate nursing students on the interview process and how to perform foot exams for the diabetic and non-diabetic persons. For each participant, the students would ask questions about medical and surgical history, perform foot cleansing, and document my findings while I performed foot exams.
There were many other services provided, too, like blood work, blood pressure checks, medication review, and mental health screenings. We also made sure the COVID-19 vaccine was offered to all participants. All left with health information on various topics, and some received referrals to podiatrists and local clinics for primary care.
Each of the health fair participants had a story to tell. Many of them were from out of town and were traveling to find their families. They did not have the resources to pay for a hotel or food and found shelter at the Opportunity Shelter for the Homeless. One participant suffered a stroke and was unable to properly bathe himself. He needed assistance removing his shoes and socks. We helped with what we could and luckily could direct him to a primary care clinic to meet his additional needs.
Throughout the entire day, Dr. G. Solis was running around directing students and other volunteers. I watched how she interacted with everyone with such compassion and respect. It was evident she loved what she was doing. And this is just one of the many initiatives she leads!
I asked Dr. G. Solis why she is so involved in community service. She said, “My passion is to work with a vulnerable and homeless (home free) population, one of the most neglected, with unique biopsychosocial needs.” The fair initially began with 12 stations but has grown to 44. Between seven health fairs, Dr. G. Solis has tended to 1,300 people. She also somehow finds time to volunteer with the Center Against Sexual & Family Violence and the Alzheimer’s Association.
As I reflect on my experience, not only with this health fair but also on everything I’ve learned and continue to learn from Dr. G. Solis, I am inspired to follow in her footsteps. It was very rewarding to see the participants receive care that they would not normally receive because they don’t have insurance or money to pay for this care. The world needs more people like her, and I hope maybe one day I’m one of them.
Monica S. Vasquez, DNP, APRN, FNP-C, WCC, ACHPN, is a full-time clinical assistant professor at the University of Texas at El Paso in El Paso, Texas, USA. She is a member of Sigma’s Delta Kappa Chapter. Dr. G. Solis is also a member of Sigma’s Delta Kappa Chapter.