Pamela Witt was honored with the Clinical Champion award from the Virginia Association of Free and Charitable Clinics on Oct. 21.

Witt is the director of clinical services at Western Tidewater Free Clinic, and she has been working with the free clinic since its inception.

“I came to them as a volunteer in 2007, and when they had an opening, it was evident they needed the right person,” Witt said. “It was meant to be. I feel like these patients are my people.”

Witt has loved the last 11 years at the Western Tidewater Free Clinic and after such a long and successful tenure, it was obvious to Executive Director Chet Hart that he should nominate her.

“Simply because Pam comes to work every day, WTFC is a better place,” Hart wrote in his nomination letter. “On a daily basis, Pam offers a hand up, not a handout, to them, embracing them in partnership to manage their own health care.”

Not only did the nomination come as a shock to Witt, but it was just as shocking for her to win the award.

“It was completely amazing. I was very shocked and honored,” Witt said. “I was thrilled to even be nominated.”

A passion for public health and a love for mankind has given Witt the ability to do her job and do it well.

Over the last decade, she has filled almost every position at the clinic and is willing to help no matter the type of work.

“Not only has Pam served as a multi-talented nurse and clinical expert during her tenure at WTFC, she has also served in just about every capacity at the Clinic including plumber, maintenance woman, fundraiser, grant writer and reporter, public relations representative, electronic medical record software expert, budget expert, volunteer coordinator and interim executive director,” Hart wrote.

In his nomination letter, Hart explained how her dedication to her patients inspires him to strive for excellence, and Witt couldn’t ask for more than that.

Witt makes sure that every day she goes in to the clinic, she is doing the best work possible for the staff and her patients. In doing so, she is able to get a good night’s sleep every night.

“I think at the end of the day when you put your head on the pillow, if you know you’ve done your best, then you are OK,” Witt said.

Leaving a job at the health department was a decision Witt didn’t take lightly, but over the last decade, she is happy she did.

“When I first came to the clinic, it was small and the charge nurse had a TV tray for her desk,” Witt said. “The clinic needed me, and it was time for a change.

“It is a joy to have this job.”

“Pamela H. Witt is that rare individual who lives what she says we all should do and therefore is a role model for others: love our neighbors as God loves each of us. As a result, Pam gives all she has in her daily service at Western Tidewater Free Clinic,” Hart said.