A volunteer Advances Practice Nurse, Bette helps people in need get the care they deserve at The RotaCare Pittsburg Free Medical Clinic at St. Vincent de Paul.
At the RotaCare Pittsburg Free Medical Clinic at St. Vincent de Paul, every patient is met with care, compassion, and a smile. One of the people behind that care is Bette, a volunteer Advanced Practice Nurse who brings a lifetime of knowledge and kindness to every shift.
Bette is not only a medical professional, she is also a teacher, an artist, a gardener, and a lifelong learner. Whether she is helping someone understand their health or showing them how to care for their garden, Bette brings the same message: you matter.
“I just love to teach. I love to help people learn what they need to help themselves, whether it be gardening or their health,” Bette said.
Bette studied at the University of Iowa and Seattle University. As a new graduate, she was quickly placed in charge of a night shift. It was a challenge, but Bette stepped up. she later was the Advanced Practice Nurse in charge of evening shift at Group Health Hospital in Seattle for 12 years. After that she helped launch a teen drug and alcohol Program in 1984 as she was also a Nationally Certified Addiction Counselor. Wanting to do more, she opened her own private practice to help people struggling with addiction.
When her husband was offered a job in the Bay Area, Bette welcomed the adventure. She moved, stayed active in her medical field, and kept giving back.
She became a Master Gardener and now teaches composting and soil health. She leads the Rivertown Garden in Antioch and serves as president of the local art guild. She also spends time at creating ceramics at a studio in Walnut Creek, where she finds joy in creating.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Bette joined the Contra Costa County Medical Reserve Corps and helped vaccinate the community.
“We were in parking lots, outside supermarkets – I loved it,” she said. “I got to help people and educate people, and I got to help comfort children. It was amazing work. People had all these ideas and fears, and I was able to help calm them and educate them.”
When wildfires forced families to flee their homes, Bette showed up at emergency shelters. She helped people get the medications they had to leave behind, providing care in moments of crisis.
One day, Bette received an email about the RotaCare Pittsburg Free Medical Clinic at St. Vincent de Paul. They needed volunteer medical staff. Bette had always kept her licenses up to date, and she knew right away that she wanted to help.
She has been a beloved part of the clinic ever since.
“I love the joy, and the spirit, and the laughter that happens when you’re helping people,” Bette said. “It really touches my heart.”
Bette said she is thankful for the team of volunteer doctors, nurses, and translators who serve alongside her at the clinic. She wishes she spoke Spanish so she could communicate even more directly with patients, but she does everything she can to make each person feel seen and cared for.
At St. Vincent de Paul of Contra Costa County, we are honored to have volunteers like Bette. Her story shows how one person, with a generous heart and a love of learning, can change lives.
“I just love being able to have people get the care they need, and the care they deserve,” Bette said. “I love seeing people get healthy and the education they need, and they get that at the clinic.”
If you are looking for a way to give back, we invite you to join us. Whether you are a medical professional, a translator, or simply someone who cares, there is a place for you here.
