30 Years of Service: From One Nurse’s Van to a Thriving Community Institution

This year, we’re celebrating a milestone that humbles and inspires us: 30 years of ProAction.

It all started with a van.Not a fancy medical van—just the one that our founding executive director, Jill Field, RN, drove around El Paso in the mid-90s, bringing immunizations directly to children and families who needed them most.

Back then, there was no clinic. No formal training center. Just Jill’s determination and her belief that healthcare should meet people where they are.

That belief still drives us today.

From the Van to Vibrant Campuses

As word spread, demand grew. We soon moved into the Tillman Health Center in downtown El Paso, where we expanded our services and deepened our roots in the community.

Today, we proudly operate:

• our San Juan clinic on Trowbridge,

• our Eastside clinic, and

• our Eastside EMS training facility, where the next generation of first responders are trained.

Three decades later, the heart of this work remains unchanged: improving lives through prevention, education, and compassionate care.

Thousands of Lives Touched

In 30 years, we’ve seen a lot of change—and a lot of impact:

• We’ve delivered hundreds of thousands of vaccines, protecting generations from preventable illness.

• We’ve trained thousands of EMTs, CPR-certified community members, and Stop the Bleed participants.

• We’ve provided medical support for thousands of public events, from graduations to concerts to the annual Sun Bowl.

• We’ve stood strong in moments of crisis, like the COVID-19 pandemic, when our team performed thousands of health screenings.

And we’ve witnessed incredible stories—like EMT graduate Cynthia Loya, one of the heroic first responders on August 3rd, 2019. Or the dozens of EMT students now pursuing their dreams thanks to generous scholarships from partners like the GECU Foundation.

A Word from Our Executive Director

"When I reflect on how far ProAction has come—from working out of the back of Jill Field’s van to now operating three state-of-the-art locations across El Paso—I’m filled with gratitude and pride," says Henry Brutus, our executive director.

"What began with one nurse’s determination to make healthcare accessible has grown into an organization that protects, educates, and empowers our entire community. As we celebrate 30 years, I believe the heart of ProAction remains unchanged: we are here to serve. And with your continued support, the next 30 years hold even greater promise."

Looking Ahead

Our story began with one van and one vision.Thirty years later, it’s grown into something bigger than we ever imagined—because of this community, and because of you.

As we step into the next chapter, we’re dreaming even bigger:

• expanding outreach to underserved neighborhoods,

• training more first responders,

• and continuing to serve this community with heart, humility, and hope.

Thank you for walking with us for the past 30 years.We hope you’ll be with us for the next 30, too.

👉 If you’d like to support our mission, you can make a donation here: DONATE NOW

Together, we can do so much more.

"From a single nurse’s van to a regional institution, ProAction’s story is a testament to the power of compassion, perseverance, and community."