A Hand from the Heart

In less than two years, a Georgia Southern student has inspired a group of fellow students, a team of medical professionals and various community leaders to change the lives of Bulloch County’s medically-uninsured citizens by opening a free healthcare clinic.

The Hearts and Hands Clinic Inc. became a reality in July when it opened at the Son’s Light Fellowship Baptist Church on Highway 301, a sprawling complex that also houses the church’s food pantry and thrift store. Currently, a rotating staff of 12 volunteer physicians treats patients each Tuesday evening, and provides dental screenings on the third Thursday evening of each month, followed by extended dental care at Ogeechee Technical College.

The staff includes medical director Scott Bohlke, dental director Jarrett Walden, and vision director Krystal Bragg. The Statesboro Noon Lions Club has also partnered with the clinic to offer vision screening.

Andres Montes, a University honors student and the visionary behind Hearts and Hands hatched the idea during his term as president-elect of the Georgia Southern University Association of Pre-Health Professionals.

“I was guided by my father’s ethic of giving back to the community,” said Montes, speaking about childhood lessons learned from Ismael Montes, a general and cardiothoracic surgeon who grew up in extreme poverty in Mexico. Montes and fellow student Emmie Boyer first advertised on Facebook to recruit other student volunteers to assist with the initial establishment of the clinic. However, Montes knew that this monumental task would require the community’s support.

“Free clinics are not a new concept, but Andres instituted action within the Statesboro community and also aligned himself with Volunteers in Medicine, which was a good idea,” said George Chappell, the COO of Hearts and Hands, who brings many years of experience to the clinic as a retired healthcare administrator.
Through Montes’ work, Hearts and Hands became the 81st clinic to partner with a national non-profit organization called Volunteers in Medicine Inc. (VIM). VIM provides advice on start-up procedures as well as sustainability, and Hearts and Hands is the first undergraduate student-founded clinic to be advised by the organization.

“The community has opened their arms to the clinic,” revealed Montes, listing the donations that have come their way including office furniture and medical supplies. Two spaces within the office were transformed into state-of-the-art exam rooms courtesy of construction services donated by Dennis Nelson and his team at American General Maintenance. Additionally, the clinic received a $15,000 grant from East Georgia Regional Medical Center, and is in the process of applying for other grants and planning fundraising events to support the facility.

Last winter, Son’s Light’s 40-member congregation unanimously voted to provide space for Hearts and Hands, said their pastor John Long. “I don’t have health insurance and I knew that this was a badly-needed ministry in our community,” said Long, also a board member of the clinic. The clinic provides the physical need and our congregation provides the spiritual need.” Fellow board member DeWayne Grice concurs. “This is a clinic for the working poor – people who are working every day, struggling to survive and just need a little help,” he added. Patients qualify for free medical care if they are 18 or older and fall into the category of income guidelines at 200 percent of the poverty level.

Montes also enlisted the help of an assortment of Georgia Southern faculty members. Those who have championed the cause include Georj Lewis, dean of students, Brett Danilowicz, dean of the Allen E. Paulson College of Science and Technology, Todd Deal, director of the Office of Student Leadership, and biochemistry professor Dontarie Stallings. “Originally, my involvement was the result of the tremendous ability of our students and their desire to be engaged in the community, and as the initiative continued to grow, I have learned what kind of impact a program like Hearts and Hands can have in our community,” said Lewis.

“Simply put, the Clinic wants to touch as many people in the community who are in need as possible. It will be an opportunity for those in need, but it will also provide opportunities for our local health providers and students studying to be health professionals.”

Hearts and Hands is still enlisting the help of volunteer medical personnel. “We’ve had a good response from local physicians, but we need 10-20 additional volunteer physicians, so each person would only have to work once per quarter,” Chappell noted. Montes said that an increase in the hours and days of operation would also be welcomed, but the clinic needs extra volunteers. Several weeks before the clinic opened, their mailbox was overflowing with more than 100 applications for free medical care.

Montes draws high praise from everyone involved with Hearts and Hands. Jennifer Bohlke, president of the Statesboro Medical Alliance and board member of the clinic, says that Montes’ hasn’t let anything stand in the way of his dream of establishing Hearts and Hands. “Andres has been a driving force behind this mission. The institution of medicine is truly his calling. He has researched and supervised every step of making this clinic a place for those who deserve quality healthcare, but have fallen on hard times,” she said.

As Montes enters his senior year at the University, he will continue his studies and work as the CEO of Hearts and Hands. “I want to attend the Medical College of Georgia and specialize in trauma surgery,” he said, “because medicine is a huge passion of mine.”

Montes is changing healthcare through hope and hard work, not only on his part, but that of the medical profession as well. “Everyone, no matter what their stance in life, has the right to quality healthcare. For those of us at Hearts and Hands, we take our hearts, and use our hands to give hope,” he said.

–Mary Beth Spence