Rachael Simon

What stands out most about Rachael Simon is the way she brings the lessons of teamwork, resilience, and connection from the playing field into her work serving patients every day. As a Social Drivers of Health (SDOH) Care Coordinator II at Erie Sankofa Village Health Center, she helps connect patients to critical resources and support systems. Outside of work, she has found another community that reinforces those same values: sports.

After graduating in 2020, Rachael was searching for a way to stay active and recapture the sense of belonging that came from being part of a team. While yoga helped her maintain an active lifestyle, she still felt something was missing.

"I felt a hole from not being on a team," she says.

That changed in 2023 when she joined League of Their Own (LOTO), a Chicago-based community that encourages women to come together to have fun, try new activities, and stay active. What began as a way to reconnect with sports quickly became an important source of friendship, confidence, and personal growth.

Today, volleyball is Rachael's favorite sport.

"It's a healthy outlet where I can show up as my full self and let out any aggression I have," she says. "Everything is so fast-paced and competitive."

But volleyball has also taught her some of life's most valuable lessons. One of her favorite things about the sport is its reminder that setbacks don't define the outcome.

"You can actually fail 10 times in a row and still win as a team," Rachael explains. "One game, we were down 12 points and ended up coming back to win."

That perspective has proven valuable both on and off the court. Through sports, she has learned to be comfortable with failure, trust the people around her, and keep moving forward after setbacks.

"You're not going to be great at everything when you start," she says. "It's important to keep going, get better, and have a team willing to lift you up when you do fail."

Those lessons translate directly into her role at Erie. As an SDOH Coordinator, Rachael works closely with nurses, providers, Patient Benefit Advocates, and other care team members to help patients access the resources they need. Effective communication and teamwork are essential.

"You literally can't win if you don't work as a team," she says. "It's beneficial to know who is good at one thing versus another and work together."

Whether she is helping connect a patient to community resources or coordinating with colleagues to solve a challenge quickly and efficiently, Rachael relies on the same skills that make a successful athlete: communication, adaptability, and trust.

"Being adaptable and willing to rise to any occasion helps me support patients," she says. "Connecting with patients is important."

Beyond volleyball, LOTO has encouraged Rachael to step outside her comfort zone and explore activities she might never have tried on her own. Through the organization, she has experienced a long list of firsts, including boxing, majorette dance, horseback riding, aerial yoga, cycling, ice skating, and golf. Depending on the season, members rotate through sports like basketball, tennis, softball, and more.

"LOTO gives me the opportunity to try so many new sports I would have been too intimidated to try myself," Rachael says. "It has expanded my horizons to all the different ways I can move my body to stay active and healthy for as long as possible."

Her involvement has grown beyond participation. For the past year, she has served on LOTO's administrative team, helping with scheduling, organizing events, keeping projects on track, and supporting the organization's growth. The group's mission remains simple: create opportunities for women to have fun, be active, and build community, with most events offered free of charge.

What keeps Rachael engaged is the culture. She describes the community, much like the one she values at Erie, as welcoming, supportive, and fun. Members gather for social events, share meals, and work together to create memorable experiences.

Whether she's helping organize community events, diving for a volleyball, or connecting a patient with critical resources, Rachael understands the power of showing up for others. Her experiences have reinforced a belief that success rarely happens alone. It comes from communication, resilience, and having a team that supports you through both victories and setbacks.

For Rachael, that's true in sports, in healthcare, and in life.