We recently had the chance to connect with Dr. Rachel Jamison and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Rachel, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What are you being called to do now, that you may have been afraid of before?
As our organization and work continue to grow and evolve, it’s clear that my role as a leader will inevitably shift from being involved in the day to day operations of the clinic in Guinea to being in a oversight and guidance role on the international level. This shift is needed if we are to scale and duplicate. In the beginning, it simply wasn’t possible; I needed to see patients, ensure quality medical practices, write protocols and policies, order supplies, create to do lists for every department, guide education of our local team, etc. But now, as our local staff has grown so much in their competency and skillsets, it’s not only possible to step away to focus on the larger vision, but necessary.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am the Chief Medical Officer of Hope Ignited, a Texas-based non-profit organization that was founded in 2002 to bring hope to the forgotten poor of the world. Currently, our work is exclusively focused on Guinea, west Africa, where we have created the country’s first pediatric center of excellence. The doors to the center opened in May 2023 and we are now seeing over 15,000 patients annually while also training our local colleagues to provide the highest quality care possible. Through the center, it is our goal to provide a new story to the people of Guinea. For too long, they have been stuck in poverty and been told over and over again that nothing good will come from their country, that children are simply destined to die young, and that nothing can change. The center stands as a visible contrast to these false stories, helping to narrate a new story that speaks to the hope we have in a better future.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: What relationship most shaped how you see yourself?
My marriage, no question. As a teenager and young adult, I really struggled with confidence. I was salutatorian, graduated magnum cum laude, was recruited to play volleyball at a D1 school, and yet, I still felt like I was less than my accomplishments and accolades. It was almost as if I felt like an imposter – that at some point, the veil would fall and everyone would realize my weaknesses and where I was lacking. I didn’t trust my strengths to carry me through challenges and so I was afraid to take risks or take on leadership roles. My husband really helped me to see my strengths as a leader. Of course, I still see my weaknesses and where I need to grow, but I also know what I’m good at and where I can excel or make a difference. He reminds me everyday what he sees in me and it propels me forward with confidence that God has created me for what He’s asked me to do in the world.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Living in west Africa, there is no shortage of suffering. Poverty has created a way of life here where death and hunger and hardships are expected. Integrating into this community has caused me to come face to face with the darkness of the world, to really engage suffering and sit with it. The lessons learned are countless, but the biggest has been the power of presence. In the business of life, it’s hard to be truly present to someone, especially in their suffering (or in your own). But here, where community is everything, my African friends and colleagues have taught me what it means to sit with someone, being present to both their joys and their heartache, to allow myself to really feel what they are going through. It’s a very humbling experience where you have to deal with your own insecurities and fears, reconcile your beliefs about the world with what is before you, and struggle to find ways that actually make a real difference.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
I think they would say that I care deeply about the people of Guinea and seeing them have access to excellent pediatric care, and that they might know they are loved and seen by God. They would also probably say that my ambition gets the best of me at times, but that I truly desire for our team to progress together, both international and local staff.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope people will tell a story of courage in the face of difficulties and one of loving others deeply. I hope my work and my life leave a lasting impact on those around me.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.hopeignited.org
