Endorsements and Testimonials
We spoke to various supporters and past customers of ENT to gain some insight about how ENT is serving the Opportunity Youth in the Washington DC Area. We sat down and spoke with some of these people and the interviews are printed below, with light editing for clarity.
Dr. Robert Wingfield
Director of Behavioral Health at Boys Town Washington DC, PhD in Psychology from the University of Florida and postdoctoral fellowship at Kennedy Krieger Institute & Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
How did you come in Contact with ENT? I learned about ENT through Dr. Esther Forrester, knowing her since 2015. Her passion for caring for patients has inspired me over the years. As a licensed psychologist specializing in pediatric behavioral health, I am fortunate to be able to partner with Dr. Forrester as she addresses medical needs and I address behavioral health needs.
What makes you feel Connected to ENT and its mission? I feel connected to ENT for many reasons but especially because of ENT's focus on holistic health. ENT is exactly what our community needs to address the needs of youth holistically. Instead of treating symptoms, ENT's approach addresses the root of problems. I absolutely love that ENT takes this approach!
Would you encourage Opportunity Youth to come see what services are available? I strongly encourage Opportunity Youth to give ENT a try. Opportunity Youth will most likely feel inspired and affirmed as a result of connecting with ENT. ENT is a place for all sorts of healing and self-improvement. It only makes sense for Opportunity Youth to get connected.
Any things you would like to say about ENT, its services and staff? The founder, volunteers, mentors, and supporters of ENT who I have met appear to have an important characteristic in common. Each person seems to view the youth in our community as their own child. That's special!
Dr. Dela Taghipour
Venous and Lymphatic Medicine Fellow at Center for Vein Restoration, MD from Howard University College of Medicine, MPH from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, and MBA from Johns Hopkins Carey Business School
NG: What do you consider Dr. Forrester’s greatest strengths in serving ENT and its mission to serve Opportunity Youth? The list is endless! Dr. Forrester is an absolute force in her passion, drive, and commitment to being a compassionate leader. Inside and outside of medicine, she devotes everything she has to taking care of the people around her, and she invests herself deeply in everything she believes in. I think that kind of passion and commitment is so rare to find, especially from someone who is so knowledgeable and so active and present in their own field.
NG: And how long have you known Dr. Forrester? Dr. Forrester has been my mentor since I was in medical school. When I first started on her rotation, I was this shy and timid, you know, quiet little medical student. She just took me under her wing and saw something in me that I didn't see in myself quite yet. She just brought it out of me, encouraging and pushing me into a better version of myself. She really helped shape the kind of doctor I ended up becoming! So yeah, I've known her for a long time!
NG: Wow, it seems like she's served as a mentor for so many across the years! Absolutely! I mean, it was a competition to try and have Dr. Forrester as your mentor. I’ve had to share her over the years with countless others, and all of her mentees end up being a part of her family. Her heart is boundless and endless. I think she has a huge capacity to take on more people; it's what drives her, what makes her happy, and what wakes her up in the morning. I have no doubt that it will translate to the youth that ENT strives to take care of.
NG: To that point, How do you feel that ENT and Dr. Forrester’s approach to mentorship is a unique one? Dr. Forrester’s entire life's mission has been centered around youth and adolescents. Even in her medical practice, she incorporates a holistic perspective, recognizing that it's not just physical health that matters, but mental, emotional, and spiritual health. As a lifelong believer in that, she has surrounded herself with other people who share her passion and commitment. Not only will she strive to recognize what the needs are for the youth, but she will find the right people to support that mission.
Patrick T. Francois, PA-C
Masters in Physician Assistant Studies from Howard University
NG: How did you meet Dr. Forrester and hear about ENT Youth Services? I met Dr. Forrester when i was on rotations in PA school in late 2016. My first impressions were that she was very firm, but fair. When I was with her, it didn’t matter who she was with - students, patients, co-workers - she was always a mother figure to all of us.
I remember there was a boy who would definitely fall into the description of “Opportunity Youth” that I was able to connect with. We were able to sit down and just talk. He opened up to me and I opened up to him. Later on, Dr. Forrester and I had a conversation about how she's never seen him open up before. Typically, he gives all the other students who rotate a hard time but, for me, he actually was able to develop a relationship.
From this, she explained her idea for ENT. It resonated with me because I fit the description of “opportunity youth” being in and out of jail my whole life. If this program existed, I definitely would have wanted Dr. Forrester to be there. Granted, I landed on my feet, but I still would have done a lot better much sooner had something like ENT been there for me.
NG: Along that train of thought, how do you feel like ENT would have been able to shape your life differently during your younger years? We always hear the phrase “we are a product of our environment”. That means we take whatever resources we have available to us and mold our identities from them. While they’re great people, my role models and peers didn't always have the best intentions. Some of the things they were doing didn't line up with what society deems “legal and lawful”. Had I known Dr. Forrester when I was in those phases, I don't think I would have gone down some of those pathways.
ENT would’ve been a guiding light while also allowing me to make my own choices, giving me all the information that was necessary for me to make my own choices. On top of that, I would have been aware of the consequences for some of my actions. Dr. Forrester would have been like “Hey, how about we do this instead?” or “How about we find something else to do?” or “ Why don’t we find somewhere else to hang out?”. Had I known Dr. Forrester growing up, I would have had an opportunity to do so many more positive things.
NG: Does anything about Dr. Forrester’s style make her uniquely suited to an organization like ENT? Granted, she is blunt and firm with a lot of things, but always with that follow up of a “mom giving you a hug” feeling after she was done telling you everything that you didn't want to hear. She made sure you knew that it came out of love.
Her method is definitely different, as well. Most of the people that I ran into who were “there to help” felt like they were always trying to be extra nice and tiptoed around the issue. On the other hand, Dr. Forrester actually approached the issue head-on, and that keeps you from deviating from the issue-at-hand, making sure it's addressed immediately.
I'm not sure if that's unique but, this definitely makes Dr. Forrester stand out in my opinion!
NG: How do you think ENT is uniquely positioned to cater to Opportunity youth? ENT fills a gap. Many youth don’t have the proper guidance or support system in place and, ENT with Dr. Forrester provides that avenue, that support, that outlet you can run to, that person you can call for help. Even if you just have questions or you need someone to hear you out, Dr. Forrester will always have an unbiased opinion: firm but fair. Also, She will let you know if you're right or wrong and, if she doesn't have a solution, she will point you in the right direction. I believe that these youth are being provided an outlet where they feel comfortable to speak and work through any issues they may have.
NG: What would you say to the youth that may be hesitant about the ENT programs? First, you’re not in control of what happens next. You need to open your mind and try something different. This is trying to create an avenue that informs young people that “Hey there’s someone out there who cares about you!”. Ultimately, I would tell these kids to try - nothing else is working and you don't know what road this will take you down. If you don't like you can always walk away, but just give it one chance and that one chance may change your whole perspective, the way you view yourself and the world around you. Just give it one shot!