Medical Director's Corner

VIM-NH Founder Dr. Johnson

One of the first documented free clinics was the Haight Ashbury Free Medical Clinic, which opened in 1967 in San Francisco, around the time the culture of free clinics began. These organizations shared grassroots origins and used donated supplies, medications, and volunteer staff. The original Volunteers in Medicine clinic, after which our clinic is modeled, was started by a retired family physician named Dr McConnell in Hilton Head, South Carolina. His goal was to care for the uninsured, often undocumented workers in the wealthy neighborhood. The free clinic movement continued to grow and in 2022, there were over 1200 free and charitable clinics in the US, providing 5.8 million patient visits per year, according to the National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics. The cost and complexity of securing and maintaining reliable health insurance still leave many families without access to affordable healthcare, and this is where free clinics provide much-needed services in underserved communities. 

VIM-NH is a mobile clinic, as we do not have a physical site, and instead the medical staff travel to locations such as homeless shelters to provide care. A study done in 2020 estimated there are about 2000 mobile clinics in the US. VIM-NH’s two active locations are at Cross Roads House shelter in Portsmouth and the Willand Dr Warming Center in Somersworth. The medical team visits these two locations to provide care to the shelter clients who seek medical attention. 

Working with underserved and marginalized populations requires organizations to collaborate to avoid duplicating services and to maximize available resources. Locally, VIM-NH partners with the Greater Seacoast Community Health (GSCH) Mobile Health Clinic, which uses a van to provide weekly care in various Seacoast neighborhoods. When VIM-NH encounters patients needing to establish care, we refer them to the Mobile Health Clinic. Recently, we received referrals from caseworkers at Greater Seacoast Community Health clinics and Lamprey Health for our Dental Day of Caring. This type of community collaboration makes our work rewarding and ensures that resources reach the patients in the community.

Meet Ann-Marie Waechter, RN

Ann Waechter started volunteering with VIM-NH in the last few months, and she comes with a lifetime of experience working in various settings, including on a hospital ship in West Africa providing wound care! (pic from a local article about the medical mission). We are very grateful and excited to have another RN on our growing team. Picture from Portsmouth Herald, August 19, 2016, Photo by Deb Louden.

By Emily Komerska

I joined in August 2022 and was on the fundraising committee until the clinic opened in January 2023- since then I volunteer at nearly every clinic. I really enjoy working with VIM-NH because of the amazing learning opportunities and being able to see the positive impact that our actions have on our community. Some of my favorite memories from VIM-NH were from the Dental Days that we’ve held, and just from working alongside amazing and dedicated volunteers! 

Picture of Emily, right with Pauline at the Dental Day of Caring in Newmarket, May 18, 2024

Gift from Testwood Creative Studio

In April, we had the opportunity to work with Carolyn Komerska and Sherry Day at Testwood Creative Studio. Although the company is relatively new, Carolyn and Sherry are consummate professionals, and their willingness to donate their time to create short videos where board members and volunteers could discuss their belief in VIM-NH’s mission was incredible. “It was wonderful to have the chance to reflect on why I am involved and what the mission means to me,” said Dr Robert Levey, Vice-President of VIM-NH’s board. “They asked some wonderful questions, and their enthusiasm for our mission was palpable. We appreciate this opportunity to spread the word.” Please enjoy these short clips from the volunteers.