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A message from Dr. Wanda
Gonsalves, MD
"The clinic's future depends on committed and involved
students who share the responsibility for the running of the
clinic. These responsibilities range from the fascinating to
the mundane, but all are needed to keep the clinic going.
Students find that they are learning things they never
expected, including how to be a clinic coordinator, how to set
up referrals for social programs, how to manage patients with
very limited technological support, how to set up a lab and
keep samples appropriately, how to get free medications for
poor patients, and how to help someone by simply listening and
showing respect to our patients and each other. Through this
process, we build trust and a sense of community…"
(Jan 2003) |
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History |
We first began delivering free medical services
in a temporarily walled-off corner of the dining room at the
Salvation Army. That was in 1986, when Dr. Abner Golden and Dr.
David Cowen from the University of Kentucky College of Medicine
decided to reach out to those in our community that were the most
disenfranchised and least able to effectively access the healthcare
system. In 1992, Dr. John Gurley took over the responsibility of the
clinic, determined to grow our efforts to serve this population, and
over the next decade the clinic would expand to include younger
students and physical therapy services. Under the leadership of Dr.
Wanda Gonsalves, a medical school course was created to specifically
address the health care issues facing the underserved, as well as
the social services available in our area. Students taking this
elective course are trained to manage all of the clinic’s affairs
and each spring the leadership is handed over to the rising
second-year class. Today, the clinic occupies approximately 500
square feet with three curtained exam rooms, a basic on-site
laboratory and pharmacy, and a separate room devoted to physical
therapy. |
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Timeline |
1986 – Founded as a partnership of the UK College of Medicine and the
Salvation Army
of Central Kentucky.
1990s – Expanded to include three exam rooms, on-site basic
laboratory, and pharmacy.
1999 – Restructured to clarify the clinic’s mission, include
younger students, and increase
patient capacity.
2001 – Created a medical school course that emphasizes
understanding of indigent health
care and local social services.
2002 – Added Physical Therapy services on Thursday nights.
2003 – Divided student leadership into teams to ensure
excellent management and future
growth of the clinic.
2005 - A grant acquired by and through the UKCMC Patient Education Library provides
extensive patient education materials.
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