Collaboration, education, and personalized care are at the heart of Open Arms Free Clinic’s diabetes practice—an approach that is making a measurable difference in patients’ health.
Since June 2024, participants have seen an average reduction of 33% in their A1C levels, a key marker of long-term blood sugar control. This success reflects more than numbers—it reflects relationships, trust, and shared learning.
At the center of this work are volunteer nurse practitioner Gretchen Geist and staff pharmacy manager Meagan Markovich, who bring together their knowledge, skills, and compassion to walk alongside patients in their health journey.
For Gretchen, relationships are everything. After decades as a nurse, she returned to school to become a nurse practitioner and chose to volunteer at Open Arms because of the freedom to connect deeply with patients.
“I just chose to come here because of the freedom to establish relationships with people, to work with those who truly respect and value your gifts and skills,” Gretchen shared.
She listened when patients voiced their frustrations—rotating providers, changing medications, and little involvement in their care. Gretchen responded by reviewing labs together with patients, inviting them into the conversation, and empowering them through education.
When Meagan joined the clinic three years ago, she and Gretchen quickly discovered the strength of their partnership. They began creating individualized care plans that draw on their unique expertise.
“Gretchen has enough faith in me and sees the impact that a pharmacist can make,” Meagan said.
Both emphasize that this approach is not new to Open Arms—it is part of the clinic’s DNA. Building rapport, cultivating trust, and meeting patients where they are is central to their work.
“There’s a lot of shared decision making. There’s a lot of teaching. There’s a lot of care that happens when you plan it the right way,” Gretchen said.
Together, Gretchen and Meagan take time at every visit to talk with patients about nutrition, lifestyle, and how medications support their health. Education is delivered in small, meaningful pieces and reinforced with each encounter.
Importantly, they create space for choice.
“I’m not going to force them to do something. I’m just recommending. This is their life and their decisions. We’re there to help,” Gretchen explained.
Meagan added,
“One of the beautiful things Gretchen has taught me is to meet patients where they are. You have to understand the whole person—with their culture, background, and story—and respect that.”
One patient worried that giving up cultural foods meant losing part of his identity. Instead of prescribing strict restrictions, Gretchen and Meagan explored options together—small adjustments in portion size, gradual lifestyle changes, and honoring what mattered most to him.
These gentle conversations build trust and allow patients to move at their own pace.
“When a patient has the knowledge and understands that knowledge enough to empower themselves, it is such a win. It is such a win,” Meagan said.
For Gretchen and Meagan, every improvement in health is worth celebrating—not just the drop in A1C levels, but the courage and commitment behind each step.
This is ethos in action at Open Arms Free Clinic: listening first, partnering always, and honoring each patient as a whole person on their own journey to wellness.
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