Special
Features / July 2007
West Sided Story
 Sherry Simmers
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By Pat Lawrence
There’s something satisfyingly symmetrical about how life has come full circle for Sherry Simmers. She grew up in Charleston’s West Side neighborhood, seeing how families struggle every day when there isn’t enough money. It was kindness, not health insurance, that helped her mother through illness. Sherry never forgot that kindness. Today she’s the one offering kindness and help for West Side residents, whether or not they have insurance.
With seven children in the family, there was no money for college. But, at thirty, Sherry went back to school. After years of working in banks, her declared major was economics. “But, I took biology - and loved. So I changed majors.”
An astute adviser put her life on a different track. “She said, ‘You’re an intelligent woman, and I think you’d be good as a doctor. Why don’t you think about it?’ And, I did think about it. I liked the philosophy, the openness and the independence of the osteopathic medical school.” Working full time while she went to school full time, at 35, Sherry became a D.O., a graduate of Lewisburg’s WV School of Osteopathic Medicine.
Like MD’s, a doctor of osteopathic medicine completes four years of basic medical education beyond a scientific undergraduate degree and is a physician licensed to perform surgery and prescribe medication. After medical school, both are prepared through internships and residencies to practice a specialty. After Dr. Simmers completed her three year family practice internship, in 2002, she joined the health care team of Family Care, a federally funded clinic offering a variety of services. “Working in an integrated practice was in line with my philosophy and working in an underserved area appealed to me. Plus, I liked the Family Care concept of providing high quality, cost effective health care to families, regardless of their ability to pay. And, the clinic is very near where my grandparents lived.”
She sees about twenty patients a day, from newborns to grandmothers, but then a great deal of her time is focused on getting them the medications and preventive tests and services that most cannot afford.
“People without insurance don’t come in until they’re sick. I have patients who haven’t seen a doctor in ten, twenty or even thirty years.” Dr. Simmers has made a point to become familiar with special programs that provide free prescription drugs, and to connect with the drug manufacturers and pharmaceutical representatives willing to provide samples at no charge. She says, “It takes an incredible amount a of paperwork, a LOT of paperwork!”
A lack of insurance means many women don’t get the Pap smears and mammograms they should. Dr. Simmers concentrates her efforts on getting them into programs like CAMC’s community assistance, that provide preventive health care services like blood tests, cat scans, x-rays and ultrasound. She practices a holistic approach to health, with equal emphasis on mind, body and health, and, “I’m a big advocate for preventive health care.”
She says the best part of the job is also the worst. “We have programs that can help with so many things, diabetes, hypertension, all kinds of tests and of course, prescriptions. Through Rx Assist programs, patients can get ninety days of medicine for about $15. It’s great to have that access, but the paperwork, policies and procedures can be very frustrating. And, finding specialists when no insurance is involved is more frustrating.”
“Once a patient comes into the room, it doesn’t matter if they have insurance or not”, Dr. Simmers says, “We’re all in the same boat, we should all be treated the same.” She works long hours, but, “I like helping people who don’t have access to health care. These are very grateful people.”
Outside of work, Sherry goes to conferences and reads the professional journals and periodicals to keep current. “Patients teach you things, too, every day!” She is touched by how they help each other. “They network for me and they’ll bring in coupons for drug discounts for other patients.”
Dr. Simmers recently cut back from five to four days a week at the clinic, to respect her own mind, body, spirit requirements and “Because you have to balance life.” She reads every day, and enjoys antiquing, traveling with her husband and just staying home with Oscar the dog and two cats. But most days, she’s back in her old neighborhood, trying to bridge the gaps in health care and helping those who have fallen through the cracks. “I grew up on the West Side, played on the West Side and I’m working on the West Side.” Dr. Simmers has found her balance.
Copyright © 2007 A Woman's View. All rights reserved.
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