Jackie Rakowski is a dedicated leader in healthcare and nonprofit development, currently serving as the Executive Director of Woven Health Clinic. With a background in community health and a passion for addressing gaps in care, Jackie has led transformative initiatives at organizations like the Alzheimer’s Association and the Community Health Clinic of McKinney. She combines strategic leadership with hands-on experience to improve healthcare access and outcomes for underserved communities.
You’ve worked in multiple roles in healthcare. How have your experiences shaped your perspective on what patients need most from the healthcare system?
Having over a decade of experience in the nonprofit sector, including eight years as Executive Director at two charitable clinics, I’ve developed a deep understanding of what patients need most from the healthcare system. My journey—from volunteering to leading mission-driven organizations—has taught me that accessibility, personalization, and compassion are essential to patient care.
My nonprofit experience also emphasized the importance of whole-person care. Patients thrive when they feel heard and supported, and that requires tailoring services to their unique circumstances. Whether it’s offering mental health counseling, nutrition education, or social services referrals, I’ve seen how investing in these areas leads to better health outcomes and empowered patients.
My experiences have shown me the power of building trust. Transparent communication about care options, costs, and long-term goals creates a strong foundation for meaningful patient-provider relationships. These lessons have shaped my commitment to fostering healthcare systems that address not just immediate needs but also long-term well-being.
Building trust in underserved communities can be challenging. How does Woven Health work to ensure patients feel safe, respected, and heard?
Building trust in underserved communities is at the core of Woven Health Clinic’s mission. We understand that trust is built through consistent actions that demonstrate care, respect, and reliability. At Woven Health, we prioritize patient-centered care by ensuring services are accessible and delivered with compassion and understanding. Transparency is also a cornerstone of our approach; we prioritize clear communication about care plans and empowering patients with knowledge and confidence in the care they receive.
Patient voices are central to our work, and we actively seek feedback through surveys and conversations to shape our services and ensure they meet community needs. This feedback fosters a genuine sense of collaboration and helps us remain responsive to the challenges our patients face. Through these intentional efforts, Woven Health Clinic has become a trusted healthcare partner, ensuring patients feel safe, respected, and heard throughout their healthcare journey.
At Decent, we see a lot of promise in direct primary care models for reducing costs and improving outcomes. How do you see these kinds of models fitting into the broader healthcare landscape?
The DPC model allows us to spend more time on preventive care, education, and addressing chronic conditions—an approach that has led to measurable improvements in patient health outcomes. These successes are directly linked to the time we can dedicate to building patient-provider relationships and creating personalized care plans, which traditional insurance-based models often hinder.
By integrating DPC into the broader healthcare system, we can reshape how care is delivered—focusing on prevention, reducing administrative burdens, and improving both the patient and provider experience. This model isn’t just a cost-saving measure; it’s a way to return healthcare to its core purpose: building strong relationships and supporting patients in achieving better health.
What’s a fun or surprising fact about yourself that people might not know? (Favorite hobby, unique skill, or a memorable experience!)
A fun fact about me is that I love reading historical fiction. There’s something about how the genre mixes real historical events with engaging stories that really draws me in. It allows me to experience different time periods and cultures, often giving me deeper insights into the human condition. I enjoy reading about characters navigating through pivotal moments in history—it always sparks my curiosity about how past events shape our world today. I think this interest in historical narratives helps me appreciate the complexities of the present and keeps me inspired in my work at Woven Health Clinic, where we aim to create lasting change in our communities.
Who else in healthcare inspires you, and why?
The volunteers who dedicate their time to serve at charitable clinics inspire me the most. From medical professionals to those working behind the scenes in administrative roles, their commitment is truly remarkable. These individuals often work without the same financial rewards as those in traditional healthcare settings, yet they choose to be a part of something greater. Their compassion and selflessness make a significant impact on the lives of underserved populations, ensuring that everyone, regardless of their circumstances, has access to healthcare. It takes a special kind of person to volunteer in this capacity, and their dedication fuels my passion for making healthcare more equitable and accessible, especially in nonprofit settings like Woven Health Clinic. Their example reminds me every day why I do this work—to create opportunities for everyone to live healthier lives.
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