Marissa Sims grew up on the East Side of Buffalo. She was one of the first in her family to go to college, and sometimes felt very alone in her journey of applying to schools. Not knowing the ins-and-outs of the complex higher education system, Marissa filled out her application to Erie Community College incorrectly. When she and her mother went to the college registration office to correct this, something happened that Marissa says impacted her life for the better. 

At the registration office that day was a woman who told Marissa about the Equal Opportunity Program (EOP). Marissa had never heard of the program, but it would end up supporting her in accessing books for her classes and more during her undergraduate studies. Following her bachelor’s degree, Marissa was able to go on to graduate school, with the assistance of the graduate EOP program. 

“For me, having someone to just tell me this resource was available was life-changing,” said Marissa. “Sometimes when you have to figure stuff out on your own, you feel like it is too late when you do.”

Back in the community where she grew up, Marissa went to work at an education-based center. There, she paid it forward and assisted other people with accessing support for their educational pursuits. 

“I would see a lot of people come through trying to access the tutoring they had on site, as well as the entrance exam to get into the nursing program,” said Marissa.

One of those people was Marissa’s cousin who graduated from the LPN program offered through the center. The smaller classroom setting and having tutoring onsite were beneficial for her cousin who is now studying to become an RN. 

Now, connecting people with supportive resources is a big part of Marissa’s day-to-day at Neighborhood Health Center. The healthcare system is like the education system in that it is complex and not easy to navigate alone. In Marissa’s role, she helps patients navigate their healthcare journey and provides helpful tips and resources that can better prepare them to advocate for themselves. This can look like further educating patients on the importance of visits or their conditions, helping patients coordinate their trip to their appointments, helping patients navigate specialist visits at an outside provider, explaining how different healthcare offices work, or what to bring to their appointment. 

“These are things that not a lot of people tell you, but something that you’re somehow supposed to know,” said Marissa, regarding the smaller details of the healthcare system. “I am not going to be the gatekeeper withholding this information.”

To Marissa, it is about making the healthcare experience more equitable. She recognizes, through her personal and professional experiences, that some people need extra support and not only is that okay, she wants to be someone that connects people with those resources.

“I love the metaphor of the toolbox,” said Marissa. “Information is a tool, and the more tools you have in your toolbox the better.”