Anita Ruff, Oasis Free Clinics Executive Director
As I write this, I do so with a full heart and a deep sense of gratitude. This will be my final Giving Voice column as Executive Director of Oasis Free Clinics, a role I have had the honor of holding for the past ten years. It feels fitting to use this space to reflect on what this work has taught me—and what I hope our community continues to believe in long after my time here ends.
A lot has happened in those ten years at Oasis. We moved from paper charts to an electronic medical record. We transitioned from a primarily volunteer-run model to one supported by a skilled, dedicated paid staff. We survived—and adapted through—a global pandemic that fundamentally reshaped healthcare delivery. We built and moved into two new clinic spaces. We grew our services, adding eye care, expanding dental, and strengthening mental health support. We achieved the highest level of standards set by the National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics. For years, we have offered free, fresh produce each week in our waiting rooms—thanks to the incredible partnership with Merrymeeting Gleaners. We connected patients to millions of dollars in free medications and created an innovative mobile medical clinic model to meet people where they are. We often joke that the only constant at Oasis is change. But there is one thing that has never changed: our unwavering dedication to the people we serve.
Running a free medical and dental clinic for a decade teaches you many things, but perhaps the most important lesson is this—no one does this work alone.
Community partnerships are not a “nice to have”; they are the foundation. Oasis exists because people, organizations, and institutions chose to show up, again and again, for their neighbors. When healthcare systems, nonprofits, volunteers, businesses, and community members work together, barriers shrink and possibilities grow.
Local businesses play a critical role in sustaining nonprofits like Oasis. Their financial support, in-kind donations, and willingness to invest locally are not acts of charity—they are investments in the health and stability of our community. When people have access to healthcare, they miss fewer days of work, are better able to support their families, and can participate more fully in the local economy. Strong nonprofits help build strong communities, and strong communities are good for business. That relationship is reciprocal and powerful.
Over the years, I have seen firsthand how access to free medical and dental care changes lives. Dental pain does not just hurt—it keeps people from working, interviewing for jobs, or even sleeping. Untreated medical conditions can spiral into emergencies that destabilize entire households. Providing free healthcare is not simply about treating illness; it is about preserving dignity, opportunity, and economic mobility. When individuals are healthier, communities are healthier. The ripple effects are real, measurable, and profound.
One partnership that deserves special recognition is Mid Coast–Parkview Health. From administration to clinicians to frontline staff, this organization has been an extraordinary partner and ally. Their commitment to patient care, collaboration, and community health is evident in every interaction. I have learned so much from their leadership and have been continually impressed by the skill, compassion, and professionalism of their team. They are an extraordinary resource for our community.
Another of the great joys of my time at Oasis has been working with Bowdoin College and their students. Watching students arrive curious and eager, then grow into medical and dental providers, public health professionals, and advocates for equity has been incredibly gratifying. Many are now out in the world serving others—caring for patients, shaping policy, and working to change systems. Knowing that Oasis played even a small role in their journey is incredibly special.
None of this work happens without the people who show up every day to make it possible. The Oasis staff are truly unsung heroes in our healthcare system. They rarely receive recognition, yet they are often the steady, trusted presence in patients’ lives—helping navigate complex systems, easing fears, solving problems, and ensuring no one falls through the cracks. Their work is demanding, emotionally complex, and absolutely essential.
And then there are the volunteers. The clinicians who donate their expertise. The board members who give their time after long workdays. The community members who help with administration, fundraising, and governance. They do the hard, often invisible work of keeping Oasis ethical, compliant, and functioning smoothly—because they believe everyone deserves care. Their generosity and dedication is humbling.
I would be remiss if I didn’t thank my children, Zella and Calla. They were 10 and 12 when I started at Oasis; now they are young adults in college. Both kids were “volun-told” to help often, stuffing envelopes, directing people at Brunswick in Bloom, and other ways. Calla was even a summer intern, writing their own Giving Voice article. More importantly, they heard about the joys and challenges of running a free clinic, the injustices of our healthcare system, and how important it is that we stand up for what we believe in.
While I fervently wish that Oasis was not needed, I am glad it exists. Until we collectively decide that healthcare is a right, that no one should have to choose between buying medication or heating oil, and that your zip code shouldn’t be a predictor of how long you will live, Oasis will be here.
After ten years, I leave this role with deep appreciation and enduring hope. Hope because I have seen what is possible when a community chooses compassion. Hope because I know Oasis Free Clinics will continue to thrive, supported by people who believe in its mission.
Thank you to everyone who has walked alongside me and Oasis over the past decade. It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve this community.
Oasis Free Clinics is a nonprofit, no-cost primary care medical practice and dental clinic, providing patient-centered care to uninsured adults living in Freeport, Durham, Harpswell, Brunswick and Sagadahoc County. For more information, visit OasisFreeClinics.org or call (207) 721-9277.
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