The medical director at Heart and Soul Clinic, 17338 Westfield Park Road, Westfield, recently received an award from Serve Indiana, the service and volunteerism division of the Indiana Department of Workforce Development.
Dr. Barbara Haehner received the Volunteerism Award during the 2022 Serve Indiana Awards for Excellence ceremony held on Nov. 3 at the Eugene and Marilyn Glick History Center in Indianapolis for her service at the free clinic in Westfield.
Dr. Haehner started volunteering at the clinic in 2015 after retiring. She continues to serve as the clinic’s medical director and primary medical provider, volunteering 25 to 30 hours weekly by providing medical care to patients. Under her care, the clinic served more than 570 patients during 2021. She hoped to increase the scope of medical and dental services the clinic offers to uninsured and underinsured residents of Westfield and the surrounding area.
“People think of Hamilton County as being one of the wealthiest counties in the state, but there are still anywhere from 30,000 to 40,000 uninsured Hoosiers there,” Dr. Haehner said. “Everyone in our clinic is a volunteer, and we have grown and grown. We have many more services now than when we started. It is a blessing to serve others.”
The Serve Indiana Volunteerism Award is given to any individual 18 years old or older as of Oct. 1, 2021. A minimum of five volunteer hours per month or equivalent of 60 volunteer hours a year are required.
“Even though Dr. Haehner is retired, she gives her time, talents and passion to take care of patients that have barriers to health care,” said Heart and Soul Clinic Executive Director Lisa Kreag. “She is dedicated, and this truly has been her calling. She cares deeply and the clinic is truly grateful to her as the medical director.”
The mission of Serve Indiana is to advance service and volunteerism by informing, connecting, and promoting opportunities and resources that enrich the lives of Hoosiers. It accomplishes that mission through several programs and initiatives including AmeriCorps State, Day of Service Grants and the Awards for Excellence Ceremony. To learn more, go to in.gov/serveindiana.
Thank you very much for your contribution, Dr. Haehner!