A special kind of person

It takes a special kind of person to remind us that even when we see things differently, we can still treat one another with dignity, compassion, and understanding. I met exactly that kind of person as soon as my husband and I moved to Fernandina Beach.

I am truly blessed that Dr. Tom Washburn agreed to be my mentor right after I started working for the Barnabas Center. Twenty-one years ago, Dr. Tom rallied support from community leaders to establish the Barnabas Samaritan Medical Clinic, serving as its very first Medical Director. He also dedicated nearly 11 years as the Senior Physician for the Nassau County Department of Health. I was incredibly privileged to learn from him the history of how Fernandina Beach serves its most vulnerable populations, as well as his deep-rooted vision for a community defined by kindness, respect, and civility.

I always enjoy observing Dr. Tom’s beautiful mind at work. Whether he is participating in community forums or helping implement the County’s Community Health Improvement Plan, he remains deeply engaged and alert for opportunities to make a difference. In a world that can often feel divided, Dr. Tom uses his passionate yet gentle voice to stand firm in his beliefs without diminishing others. He is living proof that compassion and civility still have the power to bring us together to serve the less fortunate.

Our community will always be a better place because voices like his remind us of the shared humanity we all possess.

Oh, and by the way, Happy Birthday, dear Dr. Tom!!!

Live Well. Be Well.

Barb Baptista una Freund is originally from Belo Horizonte, Brazil, where her American mom and Brazilian dad raised six children with an appreciation for both cultures. When she and her two sons moved to the United States in 1991, they were 10 and 8, and that same love of their Brazilian and American roots remains part of who they are.

Barb earned her master’s degree in therapeutic recreation. As the daughter, sister, and mother of physicians, she has seen how deeply poverty affects access to quality healthcare. Her family's compassion helped shape her calling: connecting people with care, opportunity, and community, while addressing the everyday circumstances that influence their health.

Here in Nassau County, Barb volunteers with the Coalition for the Homeless and serves as co-coordinator of Human Engagement for the Extreme Weather Coalition. Dr. Tom was a treasured mentor during her time at Barnabas, and his example continues to inspire the way she serves others.

Since 2002, Barb's husband Gene has lovingly supported her professional goals through moves from Illinois to Georgia, South Carolina, and finally Florida. After those many chapters, they both feel they’ve found their last port here in Fernandina Beach.

If you have a story you'd like to share here in the Fernandina Observer — about a neighbor or friend or stranger or business that showed kindness, or about kindness and compassion in general — please contact Peggie Weeks at pegweeks@gmail.com