At Weatherby we are passionate about giving back — at every level from our upper management and staff to our locum tenens physicians and allied healthcare providers. Frankly, we are bursting with pride and eager to share a few heart-warming examples of our “putting people first” culture and all the good it’s doing, both locally and abroad.
Making a difference in Guatemala
Earlier this year, Weatherby physicians volunteered to travel to Central America to provide valuable healthcare services to underserved patients. For OB/GYN Dr. Luis Gonzalez, it was his first medical mission — but it will not be his last. Funded by a grant from the Making a Difference Foundation and organized by the non-profit organization International Medical Relief, the volunteers spent a week in La Antigua, Guatemala, venturing out to different communities each day. By the end of their week, the IMR medical team provided care for more than 2,000 patients.
“The medical mission allowed me to exercise my passion for people and culture,” says Dr. Gonzalez, who made the switch to locum tenens practice about 18 months ago. “Traveling as part of a medical mission is so much more rewarding for me than traveling as a tourist. It feels good to do something I know is helping humanity. I would love to do another mission in the future.”
Building relationships in Kenya
Nearly 9,000 miles away, more Weatherby volunteers—both physicians and non-medical representatives — spent part of their summer at Baraka Hospital in Kenya. With help from funding provided by the Making a Difference Foundation, the volunteers were able to provide the local population with healthcare on par with what you’d see in Chicago or New York, according to mission leader Dr. Roger Altoff.
“Having people come here and teach the local docs is the best way to support the healthcare system. Sustaining an ongoing program like this is how we can make a real impact,” explains Dr. Altoff.
The non-medical staff agree. “I feel fortunate to work with these physicians who donate their time and fly halfway across the world to give back in a way that will continue to make a difference in this community and in countless lives,” says Bill Heller, president of Weatherby Healthcare.
Getting involved in local communities
Closer to home in south Florida, Weatherby is gratefully giving back in many ways, not only as a company, but also on the team and individual levels. In fact, Weatherby offers paid “volunteer time off” to support its staff’s desire to volunteer for a nonprofit organization of their choice, which benefits the local communities in countless ways.
For example, Weatherby volunteers stepped up at Feeding South Florida, which feeds more than 780,000 people in southern Florida. Weatherby folks volunteered to help provide more than 8,000 meals to Floridians who were having a hard time feeding themselves and their families.
On another occasion, Weatherby volunteers set to work to make Mother’s Day special for seniors at the Broward Adult Day Care Center. Forty-five volunteers created stained glass hearts and artwork to distribute at the center. “It was amazing to see the joy on the faces of the seniors as we passed out the artwork,” recalled one volunteer.
Last year, the Weatherby pediatric team joined forces with a pediatric team from a sister company to raise money for pediatric cancer. The employee-driven fundraiser sold raffle tickets and donated prizes from local businesses to Jessica June Children’s Cancer Foundation’s Cookout for a Cause — and raised more than $6,000.
Not surprisingly, this charitable culture attracts the best people. Take for example, Weatherby psychiatry team member John Bonney, who volunteers regularly at Families Moving Forward, a nonprofit organization that provides temporary housing to homeless families with children. When John learned the Making a Difference Foundation offers local and strategic grants, he seized the opportunity. “The foundation awarded us $15,000!” John says. “Obviously one person can make a difference, but when you have an organization backing you up, the impact is multiplied that much more.”
Whether it’s in our own backyard or halfway around the world, Weatherby and our locum tenens partners care about helping others. We are invested in giving back, through community service, medical missions for physicians, and any other idea our providers and staff members can dream up.
To learn more about working with Weatherby Healthcare, please give us a call at 954.343.3050 or view today’s job opportunities.
