LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Her plan wasn't to work in health care, but a family emergency sent her down a new path.

The days and weeks are long for mother of two Magan Truitt. But Truitt, a patient advocate at JenCare Senior Medical Center, might have the brightest face in the building.

“They are so excited to see me because they remember: they know I care," Truitt said. 

Truitt helps patients, particularly Louisville's older residents, navigate Medicaid, apply for SNAP benefits and apply for Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) help. 

"I can call them and say, 'Hey, you got approved; be looking for the envelope. Don't throw nothing away they send in the envelope; just bring it to me,'" Truitt said. "A lot of [patients] can't read; a lot of them can't write, so they bring everything to me on Fridays when they know I'm here." 

As a patient advocate, Truitt works side-by-side with doctors and nurse practitioners.

“She has a great passion," said nurse practitioner Seema Kulkami. "She’s very kind helping people, not just the patient." 

While Truitt’s career takes her away from her family, they are always on her mind, especially her grandfather.

When Truitt attended high school, she attended cosmetology school. Her grandfather got sick, and she began helping him.

“He had a stroke and everything, so then I was kind of falling in love with helping him progress," Truitt said.

Truitt's grandfather’s recovery led her to a new calling. She has been a patient advocate for three years.

There's even more on her plate now, however, as she's also pursuing a degree in social work. She's enrolled at Spalding University and plans to graduate in 2025. 

"I do have a 13-year-old and a 3-year-old on top of this job," Truitt said. "They say you need to set boundaries and cut it off; I'm like, I can't cut it off because it's not just my job. It's basically my life."