About Our Volunteers

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  Anita is a mother of four (three boys and one girl) – all grown and thriving.  Having recently retired after a 36-year career as a physical therapist, she enjoys reading, traveling, crocheting, volunteering and spending more time with her husband.  They are expecting their first grandchild in May 2026 and are excited to become grandparents!  

 Janet is a retired RN who moved to Otto from Texas 13 years ago with her husband Dean.  She has been committed to volunteering in her community throughout her life.  She enjoys gardening, genealogy research and church activities.  Her children and grandchildren add special joy to her life.   

  We are excited to introduce you to Dee Shaffer. Dee has been volunteering at The Community Care Clinic of Franklin for over a year. Dee and her husband Jerry will be celebrating their 49thwedding anniversary this year. They are both retired and love calling the mountains of Western North Carolina home. In addition to being a mom to two grown children, she loves being “Nana” to her grandchildren – and being mom to Sophie a furry little bundle of joy. In her spare time, Dee enjoys spending time with family, traveling, volunteering, working in her flower beds and helping at church. Thank you Dee for sharing your time and talents with our clinic.

 Natalia Salazar Reyes will soon graduate from Western Carolina University with degrees in Health Sciences and Chemistry. She is also involved in biochemistry research focused on viruses. Originally from High Point, North Carolina, Natalia is an aspiring medical student with a passion for learning and serving others through healthcare.

Outside of academics, Natalia enjoys hiking, running, baking, and spending time with friends and family. Her favorite thing to bake is a classic chocolate chip cookie, and her favorite food is ice cream.

“Hi, I’m Ruby and I am a junior at Macon Early College. My life goal is to pursue a career in the medical field, and I want to start by caring for my community and volunteering at the Community Care Clinic of Franklin.” 

  Sophia Stenson is a sophomore undergraduate student at Western Carolina University studying Biology on the pre-healthcare track. She hopes to contribute to public health and wellbeing throughout her professional career and is passionate about equality, social justice, and community.

Sophia is grateful for the opportunity to help support equal access to the highest level of care possible at the Community Care Clinic of Franklin. She looks forward to forming lasting connections and building meaningful relationships within the community.

   Hello! My name is Liz Jeong, and I am a senior undergraduate student at Western Carolina University, majoring in Integrated Health Sciences with a concentration in Pre-Physician Assistant Studies. I was born and raised in a small city in the coastal region of South Korea, where I had the opportunity to see firsthand the differences in healthcare access between rural and urban communities. That experience helped me develop a deep appreciation for the challenges people in rural areas can face when accessing healthcare services and strengthened my desire to serve rural communities. I am a certified Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) in North Carolina and have also worked as a medical scribe. I am passionate about healthcare and hope to continue my journey toward becoming a physician assistant. I believe everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect, regardless of their circumstances or financial situation. I am truly grateful for the opportunity to work with the Community Care Clinic of Franklin and to learn from and serve such a wonderful community.

    Hello! My name is Mary Mueth, and I am a senior undergraduate student-athlete at Western Carolina University. I am pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Biology on the pre-Physician Assistant track while competing as a Division I soccer player for Western Carolina. Originally from Dallas, Texas, I moved to Cullowhee, North Carolina, two years ago to pursue both my education and athletic career.

I am a Certified Clinical Medical Assistant, and I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to volunteer at the Community Care Clinic of Franklin. Being able to serve patients and help provide equal access to healthcare is something I truly value. I look forward to getting to know each patient, building meaningful relationships, and learning from the outstanding team of providers.