Phil Denbleyker

We were asked to share something about ourselves that was meaningful; something that related to our corporate values. Courage. Impact. Accountability. Integrity. My mind raced. Was I ready to be this vulnerable in a room full of work colleagues? Courage I thought of times I needed to show up, even when it was hard. For my community; for my family; for myself. A common thread occurred to me - I fight for people. People who don't have a voice. People who are exhausted and need an advocate. Even for myself. Everyday. Impact I thought of my time as a volunteer on the board of directors for a health center in my community, one where I was also a patient. Their mission: to provide healthcare to people, despite their ability to pay for it. What started out as a way to volunteer my time to help people get needed medical care turned into an opportunity to lead that organization into a new, larger location that could help more people in our community that needed it. From a small medical practice with four providers, it grew to a full community health center offering medical, behavioral health, and dental services. To anyone, everyone, regardless of their ability to pay. I'm so proud of what I helped build at Metro Community Health Center. Not only does Metro treat people's health needs, it meets them where they are in the community and provides holistic care including food and transportation support. It's not easy; it's hard work. But the fight is worth it for the people in my community who deserve to have their needs attended to in a dignified way. Accountability I thought about how I'm the person in my family with clinical training. The person they come to with medical questions or concerns. Battles with cancer; struggles with chronic, poorly understood illnesses; dealing with aging and changing family dynamics. I thought about all of the people that I love and care for that look to me to help them understand their medical journeys in ways small and large. I have to be there for them. I am their advocate when they can't or are too exhausted to advocate for themselves. I am accountable to them to ensure they are getting what they need. I need to fight for them. Everyday. Integrity I thought about times where life put me in situations where I had to fight to be true to myself. In personal relationships. In work relationships. In community relationships. I have fought hard to live my life authentically and with integrity, even when that was difficult or uncomfortable. When I think about fighting for people, I realized that I also fight for myself. To be seen. To show up. To live with integrity in every situation, being true to myself and making no compromises when doing the right thing. This event reminded me that I'm a fighter. A joyful warrior, but a fighter none-the-less. I fight for people. Everyday.