Our Healthcare History and Staff

History

Helping Hands is a group of volunteer health professionals who have provided free healthcare to the poor and homeless in our area for over 30 years. The clinic is staffed by social workers, registered nurses, advanced registered nurse practitioners, physicians, and community service volunteers. 140 people helping in all! Over the years, there have been over 50,000 visits with over 12,000 individuals seeking care. Half of those served are homeless, ranging from months to decades on the streets.

The Clinic has received recognition for all healthcare services over the years , including a Citation in President’s Volunteer Action Award Program and the Governor’s Points of Light award for making a significant contribution to the community.

The clinic also recently received the ACMedical Society Award for Most Outstanding Medical Clinic.

Together with a few Nurse Practitioners, a Social Worker, an MD, & a few other volunteers, they started a program at the local Salvation Army Lodge many years ago.

Helping Hands Clinic is now a complete medical facility, including additionally the only free fully-staffed psychiatric program with comprehensive pharmaceuticals of all kinds onsite. The clinic also offers survival and hygiene items for the needy, psycho-social support groups, meals, abused women’s empowerment programs, acupuncture and massage, as well as dental care referrals and eye care.

Executive Director

Brendan Shortley started his work with homeless populations in South Florida. After coming to Gainesville many years ago, he continued those efforts individually and with groups of professionals. He later started with Helping Hands Clinic in the early years of its humble beginnings at the Salvation Army.  After training fellow volunteers and functioning as clinic manager, he began expanding roles further into areas such as program management, volunteer coordination, and finance/grant coordination. He also helped oversee the transition expansion into the current facility where the clinic is still located. Brendan is the Executive Director.

In addition to being a business owner for many years, Brendan has been recognized by various communities for his research and leadership in the areas of health, education, science, business, and service, including community service awards from city governments in South Florida and Gainesville.  His work with homeless populations began as a child in South Florida, through street outreach efforts in the poorest neighborhoods. He started his college career at the University of Florida, where he earned degrees in neurobiology, psychology, and pathology.  He conducted years of research in the fields of neurology, psychology, physiology, therapy effects on children with cancer, etc.  He also taught college students at a learning center in the fields of chemistry, physics, biology, anatomy and physiology. He later founded his own learning center in town, and it won an award in 2013 for Outstanding Service to the Community.  Recent accomplishments include being elected chairman of the North Central Florida Coalition for the Homeless and Hungry in 2013.  It was then when he jointly founded the million-dollar Empowerment Center for the Homeless and Hungry (GRACE Marketplace) in 2014.  This Center now serves over 300 clients per day.  Brendan continues to serve on the Coalition’s Governance Board of Directors.  He was elected Chair of the County Commissioners’ Health Care Advisory Board in 2013, and has served as chair every term since then.  He is also involved in the National Association of County and City Health Officials Community Health Improvement Project in their Healthy Communities Initiative and Forces of Change Steering Committees.

Brendan is also a frequent university guest lecturer in the colleges of business, chemistry, liberal arts & sciences, and Innovation Academy.

Office Staff:

Office Assistant

Wendy Adams was born in Connecticut. She has an A.S. (Associate in Science) degree in medical assistant technology. After successfully participating in Helping Hands Clinic’s Women’s Empowerment Program, Wendy started as a volunteer. She eventually became an office assistant at the clinic. She loves her work and knows the challenges that confront homeless women.




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Clinic Office Manager

Michelle was born and raised in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado.  She has also worked for other clinics and healthcare systems over the years. She is the clinic office manager and has a strong desire to make anyone in need in the community aware of all the available resources.





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Outreach Worker

Muriel Maxis was born in the Bahamas in 1973, migrated to the United States in 1975, and has resided in Florida most of her life. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Human Services. Her passion is serving those in need and believes that she has been led to the Helping Hands Clinic as a result.  She is also able to empathize with those in need of healthcare because she needed lifesaving healthcare herself, requiring brain and heart surgeries. She is proud to be at Helping Hands Clinic because we provide healthcare for those with little or no income and the homeless.