On Thursday, February 25th, Baylor Graduate Dr. Keister, along with his four Baylor Graduate interns, educated Honors College students about their great work in Amarillo, Texas to help the poor gain access to free healthcare. After graduating from Baylor summa cum laude with a B.A. in Biology, Dr. Keister went on to become a physician with a big heart to help those in need. Interestingly enough, Dr. Keister identified the significant need for free healthcare in his hometown of Amarillo, Texas. This realization led to the eventual creation of his non-profit, “Heal the City,” in 2013.
This non-profit emphasizes putting patient care before medical bills and ensuring patients feel dignified in the process. With this intention, Dr. Keister established the Shalom Clinic because, as he puts it, “Shalom means wellness, it means completeness, it means wholeness.” Their care not only ensures patient health, but cares for their whole spirit. Due to this priority, it is no mystery why Dr. Keister’s non-profit attracts so many Baylor graduates. As Dr. Keister noted, “The really great thing about including Baylor graduates—and graduates from the Baylor Honors College—is that I see them as really great disciples that will go out and get the Lord’s work done.”
During this Formation Series, each of the Baylor graduates turned gap-year interns shared their unique and enriching experiences with Heal the City. Once such testimony was about this clinic’s unique experience with administering COVID-19 vaccines. One of the interns described how when patients would receive the vaccine they would start weeping and one patient expressed, “I never thought we would be the ones to get the vaccines first.” This is a perfect example of showing Christ’s love to “the least of these.”
Dr. Keister and his work with the impoverished is one among the many inspirational stories that typify the lives of Baylor alumni. This Formation Series not only shared a great story of selfless service, but it also presented a few job opportunities for students, as the non-profit is seeking more gap-year interns! To stay informed about the great work of “Heal the City,” be sure to follow them on Facebook and Instagram @healthecityamarillo.
