OZONA, Texas —
Ozona is an unincorporated West Texas community in Crockett County with a population just under 3,000. A sign across from its courthouse calls it the “Biggest Little Town in the World.”
Teena Dotson – who was born and raised there – simply calls it home.
Before she began studying to become a physician assistant, Dotson’s dream was to practice medicine in her hometown. When one of her coworkers at La Esperanza Clinic in San Angelo could not run the organization’s monthly mobile clinic in Ozona, Dotson stepped in.
Now, every third Tuesday of the month, Dotson gets to realize her dream as La Esperanza's primary care provider at its Ozona mobile clinic.
“I want to help people,” Dotson said. “And now that I have the tools to do it with La Esperanza Clinic, I feel like it's been surprising in the amount of great response that we have, and I’m hopeful that that turns into being able to fill up that clinic every month.”
Twenty-two years ago, Dotson interviewed for a job in Ozona. She said she did not yet have enough experience in her field and was denied. Afterward, Dotson applied to UT Southwestern’s physician assistant program. When her interviewer asked her if she would consider rural health, Dotson said it was her ultimate goal to practice in Ozona. The school accepted her.
“I feel like going back is my thank you,” Dotson said. “Because I used my hometown to get where I am. And now, to be able to go back and offer everything that I’ve had over the years in experience – and with a smile – I'm so happy to see all of them. It’s great.”
Dotson treated 10 patients in the mobile clinic Tuesday, achieving her dream, one visit at a time.