Gateway to Hope is excited to introduce Dr. Amanda Harrell as one of the newest members of our Board of Directors. Dr. Harrell is a primary care physician who has served the community of Joplin, MO since 2016. As Medical Director at Cornerstone Medical Clinic, she focuses on equitable access and advocates for patient education and empowerment.
Learn about what inspired her career in medicine, what she hopes to accomplish at Gateway to Hope, and the one thing she wishes all her patients knew.
What inspired you to pursue a career in internal medicine, and what keeps you passionate about it today?
I was drawn to internal medicine because it allows physicians to care for the whole person across time and complexity. What has sustained my passion, however, is the cumulative experience of caring for patients whose needs were overlooked or minimized. Internal medicine gives me the opportunity to advocate, to connect the dots, and to ensure patients are heard especially when answers are not obvious.
Can you share a moment or experience with a patient that has shaped how you approach your work?
It’s not a single moment, but a culmination of patient experiences that shaped my career. I have cared for patients with rare or complex illnesses who spent years being passed from provider to provider, told their symptoms were anxiety, or that nothing more could be done. Watching the toll that takes on patients taught me the power and responsibility of advocacy. Fighting for the right diagnosis and the right care can change the trajectory of someone’s life, and that lesson has stayed with me throughout my career.
As a physician deeply involved with equitable care, what about Gateway to Hope’s mission resonates most with you?
Gateway to Hope addresses one of the most critical gaps in healthcare: access to timely breast health services. Cost concerns, lack of insurance, fear, misinformation, and systemic red tape all contribute to delays that can profoundly affect outcomes. When patients face administrative or financial obstacles at the moment they need care most, the system fails them.
Gateway to Hope plays a critical role in cutting through those barriers. The organization meets patients where they are — financially, emotionally, and logistically — without judgment. That mission aligns closely with my belief that equitable care means removing barriers so patients can receive the care they need when it matters most.
What unique perspective or expertise do you hope to bring to Gateway to Hope?
I hope to bring a physician’s perspective grounded in clinical experience, patient advocacy, and population health helping ensure that the organization’s work continues to translate into meaningful outcomes for the communities it serves.
What’s one thing you wish every patient knew about advocating for their own health?
Patients should know that asking questions is not an inconvenience it is essential. Advocacy begins with understanding options, timelines, and next steps. Patients who feel empowered to speak up and seek clarity are better positioned to navigate their care and achieve better outcomes.
What is something that keeps you grounded outside the clinic?
Something that has deeply shaped me outside of traditional clinical settings is my work in Cambodia with RAPHA. Since 2020, I’ve been involved with RAPHA and participated in many medical mission trips serving victims of sex trafficking and individuals living in extreme poverty. That experience reinforced how profoundly access or the lack of it determines health outcomes, and it continues to inform how I think about care, dignity, and advocacy.
Anything else you’d like to say to supporters of Gateway to Hope?
To Gateway to Hope supporters: your commitment makes a measurable difference. Your support directly translates into access, dignity, and hope for patients during some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives. I am honored to stand alongside an organization and a community that turns compassion into action.
Dr. Amanda Harrell is an Internal Medicine and Obesity Medicine physician, NHSC scholar, and former Chief Medical Officer. As Medical Director at Cornerstone Medical Clinic in Joplin, she focuses on equitable access by forging local partnerships, closing care gaps, and executing population-health and value-based initiatives. She advocates for patient education and empowerment and for physician autonomy in practice. Dr. Harrell is a 2025 Missouri ACP Leadership Award honoree. She is the mother of four beautiful children and gets to raise them with her high school sweetheart.
