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Liberty Jacques
Grand Rapids
Hero Story
Liberty Jacques serves as Mercy Health Saint Mary's Director of Infection Prevention and the co-lead of our COVID-19 mitigation, testing, vaccination, and treatment efforts. She has worked tirelessly internally and externally during the pandemic to educate and to offer services to our communities, particularly persons of color and vulnerable communities. These services include offering expertise on mitigation, providing easy testing, conveniently offering vaccinations, and making outpatient treatments available, such as monoclonal antibodies.
During Phase 1a of the vaccine rollout (only healthcare workers), Liberty and the Saint Mary's team contacted healthcare partners in the community who serve persons of color and vulnerable communities and provided vaccinations. Our partners were not directly provided with the vaccine, and their only other option was to be served by the Health Department. Several hundreds were quickly served under Liberty's leadership. During subsequent phases, Liberty ensured they prioritized front line workers who serve persons of color and vulnerable communities, including the Grand Rapids Public Schools, DEI partners, social service agencies, and more.
In the subsequent vaccine rollout to the general public, Liberty and the Saint Mary's team worked with community partners to listen to, and converse about, concerns and to educate about and promote the vaccine. Given the listening, Liberty organized pop-up vaccine sites and onsite vaccine availability before it became more widely available. The focus was particularly on communities of color and vulnerable populations because COVID-19 has disproportionally impacted those of us who identify as such. Two of several examples were offerings by our Browning Claytor and Clinica Santa Maria Health Centers. Moreover, Liberty helped to set-up and oversee our Eerdmans Garage drive-through site, which was particularly convenient for those with mobility issues, as well as our Kentwood location, and mass vaccination site in collaboration with the Kent County Health Department and Spectrum Health. Saint Mary's mission to serve the community during COVID-19 has focused on equity in access and outcomes. Liberty has worked tirelessly to ensure this continues to happen. She is a Michigan Hero.
Liberty Jacques
Grand Rapids
Hero Story
Liberty Jacques serves as Mercy Health Saint Mary's Director of Infection Prevention and the co-lead of our COVID-19 mitigation, testing, vaccination, and treatment efforts. She has worked tirelessly internally and externally during the pandemic to educate and to offer services to our communities, particularly persons of color and vulnerable communities. These services include offering expertise on mitigation, providing easy testing, conveniently offering vaccinations, and making outpatient treatments available, such as monoclonal antibodies.
During Phase 1a of the vaccine rollout (only healthcare workers), Liberty and the Saint Mary's team contacted healthcare partners in the community who serve persons of color and vulnerable communities and provided vaccinations. Our partners were not directly provided with the vaccine, and their only other option was to be served by the Health Department. Several hundreds were quickly served under Liberty's leadership. During subsequent phases, Liberty ensured they prioritized front line workers who serve persons of color and vulnerable communities, including the Grand Rapids Public Schools, DEI partners, social service agencies, and more.
In the subsequent vaccine rollout to the general public, Liberty and the Saint Mary's team worked with community partners to listen to, and converse about, concerns and to educate about and promote the vaccine. Given the listening, Liberty organized pop-up vaccine sites and onsite vaccine availability before it became more widely available. The focus was particularly on communities of color and vulnerable populations because COVID-19 has disproportionally impacted those of us who identify as such. Two of several examples were offerings by our Browning Claytor and Clinica Santa Maria Health Centers. Moreover, Liberty helped to set-up and oversee our Eerdmans Garage drive-through site, which was particularly convenient for those with mobility issues, as well as our Kentwood location, and mass vaccination site in collaboration with the Kent County Health Department and Spectrum Health. Saint Mary's mission to serve the community during COVID-19 has focused on equity in access and outcomes. Liberty has worked tirelessly to ensure this continues to happen. She is a Michigan Hero.