Heather Wise Reed proudly wears many hats—an early childhood educator, a Washington DC resident, Community of Hope board member and patient, and most importantly a mother.
Three years before becoming a Community of Hope board member, Heather was pregnant with her second child and searching for respectful and trustworthy prenatal care for her and her baby. An ‘everyday angel’ and fellow mother in her community told Heather that if she wanted a birthing plan that would meet her individual needs, then she should check out Community of Hope.
Two births and many doctor and dentist visits later, Heather has grown relationships across many Community of Hope locations. Her whole family now receives comprehensive healthcare at Community of Hope. Heather believes that what sets Community of Hope’s health care apart from the others is the whole person and whole family approach.
“I feel comfortable, heard, and attended to in a safe, warm environment,” says Heather.
At Community of Hope, you’re not just a clipboard, a broken bone, or an illness, but a whole person. Community of Hope makes sure that each person that leaves there is satisfied with their health.”
D.C. has a history of inequities. Growing up in a low-income neighborhood, Heather was made to feel more like a statistic than a human. Heather sees Community of Hope making D.C. more equitable by providing quality health care services to the zip codes that need it the most.
“Community of Hope’s services are consistent across the board. In every location, you get the same experience. It’s like a family. Patients are treated as equals, not as an inconvenience.”
Heather has been a board member at Community of Hope since 2018. She is proud to be a part of a diverse group of people from all walks of life that can offer different perspectives to create the most inclusive atmosphere for patients.
“I’ve enjoyed my time on the board mostly because I get to be a representative of the community served. And when I come in as a patient, I can see the changes in the patient experience that the board influenced,” says Heather.
When asked what her dreams are for the future of Community of Hope, she shared about a time she met with a dentist that inspired her, “One of the dentists at Community of Hope told me that she became a dentist because of how supportive her dentist was growing up, and it immediately made me think how great it would be if one-day Community of Hope could link children receiving care to scholarships to become midwives, nurses, dentists, and doctors.”
As a woman, mother, patient, and board member, Heather does not just represent our community, but she also represents our hope.
Much like her experience, Heather is excited to share Community of Hope with anyone looking for medical care. “Today I am that woman informing other families about where they can go for quality health care.”
“This isn’t just a community, it’s family.”
