NASHVILLE, TN — Health care professionals from across the city of Nashville will donate their time and service at a free medical and dental clinic at Haynes Middle Health/Medical Science Design Center on Saturday, Sept. 28, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The “Agape Clinic” will be at the middle school located at 510 West Trinity Lane. Free services include primary care, women’s health, pediatrics, dentistry, and hearing. There will also be sports physicals, as well as a winter clothes donation.
“This is a great opportunity to address the needs of the people in the community,” says Dr. Joel Nichols, a dentist in Tennessee State University’s Department of Dental Hygiene and one of the clinic’s participants. “It’s also a chance for young people aspiring to be health care professionals to interact with individuals in that field.”
The middle school, located in north Nashville, blends a liberal arts’ focus with health and medical science electives in a holistic and rigorous curriculum that prepares students for high school and post-secondary education. It’s the only middle school in Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) with a health and medical focus.
“They are leaders in exposing students to the health sciences,” says Dr. Wonder Drake, a physician scientist and one of the clinic’s organizers. “This clinic is a win-win for the students and the community. For the community, all dental and medical care provided is free. For the students, they get an opportunity to shadow health care professionals in their own environment.”
Besides Tennessee State, other clinic partners include Belmont University, Vanderbilt University, Fisk University, Meharry Medical College, TriStar Centennial Medical Center, and Saint Thomas Health.