SOUTHFIELD, MI | by Joey Yashinsky | March 31, 2019
Original article can be found at: https://www.theoaklandpress.com
It began with just a single location in Pontiac in 2012.
Seven years later, Honor Community Health has expanded to 11 different medical centers throughout Oakland County.
The organization was established to provide medical care and assistance to those that have struggled to secure proper coverage and treatment. As a Federally Qualified Health Center, grants are received via state and federal government to help serve many of the uninsured or those on Medicaid.
One of Honor’s hardest-working physicians is Dr. Deirdre Claiborue, a family medicine practitioner at Plum Hollow Center in Southfield. Her enthusiasm for the work is undeniable.
“Throughout my career, I have primarily worked with the underserved. That has always been my passion.”
Prior to joining Honor in May of 2018, Claiborue was the medical director of a PACE program in Jackson, and also spent 12 years working at Henry Ford. The wide-ranging capabilities of Honor Community Health made an early impact on Claiborue.
“I knew that they worked with the underserved, but I really didn’t know the multitude of people they treated. Honor Community Health has expertise in treating people with addiction, mental health issues, and also the homeless population.”
“Coming from the Henry Ford arena, a lot of times those types of more complicated situations are farmed out to specialists. But here we are able to keep them in our circle and help our patients through those challenges by providing a comprehensive approach.”
Now a West Bloomfield resident, Claiborue was raised in Detroit and earned her medical degree from Wayne State University. As a family medicine physician, she treats newborns, elderly patients, and everything in between.
“I always envisioned working with a wide variety of patients, being able to provide services to anyone in the family so that if I had a wife come in, she might say: ‘Can you also see my husband?’ Or maybe a son or niece. And I can say: ‘Yes, I sure can!’ Sometimes a family takes the initiative to try and get healthy together and that can have a really positive impact.”
While Dr. Claiborue acknowledges the sometimes demanding nature of her work, she wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.
“You have to have patience and tenacity. It can be challenging coordinating all the services that are needed. But the most important thing is just seeing someone make progress with their health and then be able to enjoy a better quality of life.”
“It is very gratifying.”
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