Lucio Gonzales, PA-C, graduated from the PA program at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston in August 2003. Just one year later, he accepted a position as clinical director of Tapestry Healthcare, a community health care clinic in his rural hometown of McKinney, Texas.

Gonzales first worked at an urban-area clinic in Dallas upon graduation. At that time, his cousin was working the front office at a "little shoebox clinic" in McKinney that was open on Tuesday and Thursday nights.

That clinic needed volunteers, so Gonzales began volunteering, and "kind of fell in love with the clinic," he says. Ray A. Coleman, the founder and CEO, approached Gonzales about a full-time position. He accepted the offer and started in September 2004.

Gonzales says he's made many sacrifices in his new position, but it's been well worth it.

According to Gonzales, in the year and a half since Tapestry Healthcare has been in existence, the patient population has grown to about 2,200 patients from eight counties, with almost 6,000 office visits and a 30% increase of patients per month. "It's just blooming," he says. The clinic is run solely by Gonzales and a nurse.

"We take Medicaid and Medicare and nobody's turned away because of money. We're really the first community health care clinic here in McKinney, and really Collin County, that is open full-time providing services to children and adults," Gonzales says. "Most of them (patients) are truly sad cases. It's not that they don't know how to take care of themselves, it's just that they can't afford it."

Tapestry Healthcare's services are provided on a sliding fee scale. Sample medications are provided when available. When samples are not available, patients are given a prescription and directed to a company fills prescriptions at a low cost. The patients are truly grateful, according to Gonzales. Sometimes if they can't pay, they will bring in homemade food or a small gift to the clinic to show their gratitude.

Gonzales' supervising physician is Brian Procter, MD, who also serves as the medical director for Tapestry Healthcare. Dr. Procter also runs a private clinic.

"He's less than five minutes away, and I can pick up the phone and call him and he'll be here in five minutes," Gonzales says. "He's that accessible."

Gonzales says his responsibilities at the clinic are endless.

"My main responsibility for coming in was to implement a clinical program that I was comfortable with. I pretty much set up the flow of the clinic and the control of it," he says. Gonzales is also in charge of staffing, raising funds, increasing community involvement, networking with specialists and applying for federal funding.

One project Gonzales worked on the annual fundraising event, a summer fiesta on July 23, 2005. This event was a cooperative effort between Gonzales and his sister, Julie Gonzales, who serves as Tapestry Healthcare's communications specialist. She organized the event, which featured about 15 bands, as well as items donated by the Dallas Cowboys and the Texas Rangers for a live auction. All proceeds from the event went directly to the operations of the clinic.

Gonzales says he's very happy at Tapestry Healthcare and with his move back home.

"It's heartbreaking to see these people that need so much help," he says, "but at the same time, when you do actually get to help these kinds of patients, it's more rewarding because they are truly grateful."