Making a Career of Helping Others

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Posted on October 1, 2020

Lance Crawford

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Kayla Brown has always been motivated to help others. From the time she landed on the South campus she has immersed herself in service. She was an officer for the Alpha Gamma Delta women’s fraternity for four years, volunteering for many charitable organizations. Her senior year, she joined the student-led organization Dance Marathon which raised money for USA’s Children’s and Women’s hospital serving as a liaison between patients, their families and the organization.

The Mandeville, LA. native even took helping a step further, becoming an emergency medical technician while still in college.

“I became an EMT in college to get more of medical background before doing the medical administration side,” Brown said. “Being an EMT taught me the importance of compassion. I saw patients on one of the worst days of their lives and it taught me how important quality patient care is.”

Brown received her degree in professional health sciences in 2020 and shortly thereafter landed a position as site coordinator at USA Health’s Franklin Medical Center in Loxley.

“I was over the moon that I landed my dream job right after graduating from college,” she said.

Brown was able to secure the position thanks in large part to a $4.4 million grant the College of Medicine received from the Health and Services Administration as part of the Population Care Pathway Program in 2019. The goal of the program is to improve the general health of people in underserved areas by increasing the number of primary care physicians available in those communities.

“Eighty-five percent of the patients that are seen here are uninsured and rely on this facility for their health needs,” Brown explained.

USA Health has similar clinics in Foley, Bayou La Batre, Mobile and Semmes offering basic medical services as well as substance abuse counseling, behavioral health services and transportation assistance.

This year each site will also be staffed with two USA medical students. Those students will receive work experience outside of a medical school setting while increasing care for patients of the clinics.

Brown’s job is to oversee the students at her location, help implement telehealth for virtual appointments and coordinate all activities related to the program.

“Kayla has been eager to learn about this program and has adapted quickly to the site,” said Autumn Phillips, site coordinator for the College of Medicine. “We are excited to have her as a part of this new exciting opportunity.” 

For Brown, her new career is really a labor love and giving, cultivated during her time at South.

“It played a major role in solidifying my love for serving others and learning to give back,” she said.

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