- 9 -
accessHealthNews.net
January 2025
Volume 11 | Issue No. 92
When Erica Peavy first walked through
the doors of Samuel U. Rodgers Health
Center in 2013, she was no stranger to the
organization. Her grandmother had often
spoken about the care and compassion
the center provided to the community.
But for Peavy, a newly certified medical
assistant, joining the team wasn't just
about finding a job—it was about
becoming part of something bigger.
"I actually interviewed for a position and
didn't make the cut," she said with a
laugh. "But I didn't give up. I knew this was
where I wanted to be."
Fast-forward 11 years, and Peavy now
serves as the director of clinical operations,
a role she earned through persistence,
hard work, and an unshakable
commitment to the mission of providing
high-quality, affordable care for all.
Her journey to leadership is deeply rooted
in her understanding of the work at
every level. Having started as a medical
assistant, Peavy knows the challenges her
team faces and uses that knowledge to
lead with empathy and insight. "When
they come to me with an issue, I know
what they're going through, and I'm here
to help," she said.
Stepping into management brought new
challenges. Peavy recalls how intimidating
it felt to transition from peer to leader.
"There was a fear that I wouldn't be taken
seriously," she said. With the help of a
mentor, she learned to navigate those
concerns and focus on building trust with
her team.
For federally qualified health centers like
Sam Rodgers, clinical operations form the
backbone of care delivery. These centers
focus on serving populations that often
face barriers to accessing health care,
such as refugees, individuals experiencing
homelessness, and people with limited
financial resources.
READ MORE
"Work as a medical assistant or an RN first, you need to
understand what health care looks like on the ground before
you can lead a team."
- Erica Peavy, Director of Clinical Operations at
Samuel U. Rodgers Health Center
