Sadly, in 2021 Oklahoma City Indian Clinic (OKCIC) said goodbye to Will Wofford, OKCIC’s Laboratory Director for 21 years. He was a member of the The United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma and gave so much to the community at OKCIC, patients and staff alike. All of the staff at OKCIC give their condolences to Will’s loved ones, but David Bardell specifically wanted to share a few thoughts about Will and how Will has affected his life below.
“I have seen many changes throughout my career with OKCIC. I have survived three moves to different locations, which has always seemed to be a logistical challenge, but we have persevered. We lost the person that hired me in 2021, Will Wofford. He was a great friend and boss who allowed me to be free to make decisions that impacted the quality of our laboratory. Will dealt with some personal challenges, but he was always there in the trenches to help resolve issues. I will always be grateful to Will Wofford and OKCIC’s CEO Robyn Sunday-Allen for allowing me to be a part of this team.
When I moved away several years ago from Oklahoma, after retiring from the Air Force, it became a goal of mine to move back here specifically in order to work at OKCIC. As a matter of fact, I came here a couple of years before joining OKCIC and I noticed a clinic T-shirt hanging in the window at administration. I purchased my first “team” shirt well before I was hired and I have not looked back. As a non-registered Cherokee, I felt compelled to experience the connection with the Native community. It has always been interesting to me that my boss was United Keetoowah Band Cherokee. How great was that?! What a blessing to have worked and spent leisure time with such a humorous, insightful and mysterious individual. He was always a pretty private person, but I’m so thankful to have spent time with him and been given a chance to contribute to the Native American population. I hope to be a part of OKCIC’s future for as long as I can.”
