Episode 2 Season 2: Celebrating Community Health Heroes: Pediatric Care, Mindfulness, and the Power of Presence

In an era where healthcare is often reduced to rushed appointments, prescriptions, and overloaded systems, the Give While Black podcast continues to highlight a different narrative—one rooted in compassion, access, and community-centered care. In a recent episode, host Baron J. welcomed Dr. Patera Foye-Fuller, a pediatric nurse practitioner and director of pediatrics at Advanced Community Healthcare, for a moving conversation on pediatric care, mental wellness, and the critical role mindfulness plays in modern medicine.

Dr. Fuller’s journey into community healthcare is deeply intertwined with purpose and timing. She joined Advanced Community Healthcare during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic—an unsettling yet transformational period for many in the medical field. “I was fortunate enough to be found by Advanced during the pandemic,” she shared. “It was finally realizing my dream of being able to provide community healthcare.” That dream quickly became a mission: to ensure children and families—especially those in underserved communities—receive compassionate, holistic, and consistent care.

What makes Dr. Fuller’s approach stand out is her belief that healing goes far beyond treatment plans and medications. She is a strong advocate for mindfulness as an essential component of pediatric healthcare, particularly as stress and anxiety among children and adolescents continue to rise. In today’s world—shaped by academic pressure, social media, family instability, and lingering post-pandemic effects—young people are experiencing emotional stress at unprecedented levels.

Rather than defaulting to medication as the first solution, Dr. Fuller emphasizes early intervention through simple yet powerful techniques like yoga, meditation, and deep breathing. “When we meet them on the forefront of the stress symptoms—racing heartbeat, chest pain, stomach aches in the morning—I like to teach them deep breathing techniques,” she explained. These practices help children understand their bodies, regulate their nervous systems, and develop tools they can carry with them long into adulthood.

Her philosophy aligns with a growing shift in healthcare toward treating the whole person, not just the diagnosis. Mindfulness, Dr. Fuller notes, empowers children to take part in their own healing. It fosters emotional intelligence, self-awareness, and resilience—skills that are just as critical as physical health.

The conversation also turned toward the expansive work being done at Advanced Community Healthcare, which Dr. Fuller described as a true “one-stop shop” for families. The organization offers pediatric care, adult primary care, nutrition services, behavioral health support, and is expanding into additional services such as OB-GYN care. With approximately 14 clinics across Wake and Franklin Counties, Advanced is intentionally positioned to reach families in rural and underserved areas.

“We’re touching people in more distant communities,” Dr. Fuller shared, underscoring the organization’s commitment to access and equity. For many families, this means the difference between receiving early preventive care and waiting until emergencies arise. It also means continuity of care—being seen, heard, and supported within the same healthcare ecosystem.

Perhaps the most powerful moments of the podcast came when Dr. Fuller reflected on the relationships she has built with her patients—particularly children diagnosed with autism and ADHD. She shared a touching experience from a recent gala where two young boys she had cared for since toddlerhood participated in a special moment. Seeing them thrive years later, standing confidently in front of a crowd, was deeply emotional.

“It was powerful in that moment,” she said. Her voice carried the weight of years spent not just treating symptoms, but nurturing trust. Her gentle demeanor, consistency, and belief in her patients became a stabilizing force in their lives. For families navigating complex diagnoses, that kind of connection is often the difference between fear and confidence, between isolation and hope.

Dr. Fuller’s story embodies what community healthcare is truly about: presence. It’s about meeting families where they are—not just geographically, but emotionally and culturally. It’s about recognizing that healing does not happen in isolation. It happens in relationships, in trust, and in accessibility.

Host Barron J. reflected on how powerful it is to uplift voices like Dr. Fuller’s—healthcare professionals who are not only clinically skilled but deeply rooted in service. The episode became a reminder that healthcare heroes are not always found in headlines or on hospital billboards. Many are quietly transforming lives in exam rooms, clinics, and community spaces every single day.

This conversation also reinforces the broader mission of Giving While Black: to celebrate the ways Black professionals, caregivers, and leaders give back using their time, their talent, and their expertise. Dr. Fuller does exactly that—merging medical excellence with compassion, and blending science with mindfulness.

The key takeaways from this episode are both timely and timeless. Mindfulness is not a luxury—it’s a necessary tool in managing modern stress. Comprehensive healthcare must address both physical and mental well-being. And perhaps most importantly, relationships remain at the heart of effective pediatric care.

As healthcare continues to evolve, professionals like Dr. Patera Foye-Fuller remind us that actual impact is measured not only in outcomes but in connection. Through her work at Advanced Community Healthcare, she is shaping healthier futures—one breath, one child, and one family at a time. As Giving While Black launches into a powerful new season, host Barron J. Damon made one thing clear from the opening moments: this season is about more than conversation—it’s about transformation. With the introduction of co-hosts and a renewed educational focus through the Business of Giving Studio, the podcast is expanding its mission to both entertain and equip listeners with real-world tools for impactful philanthropy.