In our September Community Connection, we spotlight Dea Heath, the clinic administrator of our Cedar Park and Central Austin clinics in Texas. Dea’s personal and professional journey has been shaped by a strong family foundation in counseling, medicine and the military, leading her to a fulfilling mental health care administration role.
A journey of service and care
Dea’s story begins with a family deeply rooted in service. With a mother and sister in the military and medical fields, Dea was inspired to follow in their footsteps. She served in the Army for eight and a half years, starting as a medic and later becoming an operating room technician.
Her service deployed her to Haiti to support a humanitarian mission, where she provided patient care in the field. She spent nine months as part of the only hospital in the region. These experiences shaped her skills and solidified her passion for helping others.
Creating connections, building community
Since joining Family Care Center over a year ago, Dea has played a crucial role in keeping our Austin region clinics running smoothly. She is responsible for ensuring that our clinics remain welcoming and supportive environments for patients and staff. Whether it’s addressing patient concerns, maintaining a clean and safe facility, or supporting her team of medical office representatives (MORs) and medical assistants (MAs), Dea is the heart of our clinics.
One of Dea’s key strengths lies in her ability to foster strong team communication and collaboration. She understands the challenges that providers face and works tirelessly to create opportunities for connection and camaraderie. From organizing team events that offer a chance to unwind and laugh together to ensuring her team has everything they need to succeed, Dea is dedicated to creating a positive work environment that directly impacts patient care.
If challenges arise, Dea tackles them head-on, working closely with directors and supervisors to find solutions that benefit both the staff and the patients. Her most fulfilling moments come from developing her team, especially helping women in the clinic grow in confidence and excel in their roles.
A personal connection to Irreverent Warriors
When Dea’s mother passed away a few years ago, she encouraged her father—a 30-year military Veteran—to join the Veteran community. She found the Irreverent Warriors, an organization dedicated to bringing Veterans together through therapeutic events.
It didn’t take long for her to realize that this humorous, lighthearted and physically active band of warriors wasn’t the right fit for her dad. However, it was the perfect fit for Dea.
“You get what you get with this group,” Dea explained. “Veterans talk about their experiences and struggles with depression, PTSD and trauma from time in service. But there’s also a ton of banter. You’re around others who have carried the same load you have, so the heavy stuff isn’t as heavy. You can say whatever is on your mind and put it down.”
At Family Care Center, Dea has encouraged participation in Irreverent Warriors events with several employees. Only Veterans can hike alongside her, but that doesn’t stop Dea from including the rest of her team. At this year’s event, which occurred last weekend, the community engagement liaison and fellow regional leaders helped work the Family Care Center booth for the event.
The best part of these events – everyone wears nostalgic (and short!) ranger shorts known as “Silkies.”
Silkies aren’t just a fashion statement; they’re a badge of honor, a throwback to the camaraderie of military life and always a guaranteed conversation starter.
Using humor to heal
Irreverent Warriors knows that the best support network for Veterans is other Veterans. Through therapeutic events across the country, they bring a community of warriors together, offering a space where Veterans can connect, share, laugh and heal. The connections and bonds made at their events allow Veterans to create their own support network, solving the most crucial issue contributing to Veteran suicide—isolation.
Dea’s story and her commitment to the Irreverent Warriors are testaments to the power of connection—whether in the military, the workplace, or the community. At Family Care Center, we’re proud to have Dea on our team, bringing her passion, experience and commitment to excellence to everything she does.
