Dr. Julie Darnell, leading researcher on free and charitable clinics, braved the elements today to join us at Carle Pollard Auditorium to talk about her work to over 65 attendees in addition to those that joined us online.

She used her research to be a myth buster about free and charitable clinics showing that free clinics continue to be necessary for the over 35 million uninsured. She also used data to show that free clinics are not transient but are in fact a more permanent part of our safety net system with only 7% of clinics closing in the past 10 years.

This event was a collaboration of the Illinois Association of Free and Charitable Clinics and our local 4 free clinics namely Avicenna Community Health Center, Champaign County Christian Health Center, Hermes, and Love Clinic.

This event was also made possible through the support of Carle Foundation Hospital, the University of Illinois College of Medicine, the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Nursing and the University of Illinois School of Social Work. We thank all that attended and will be posting a video of Dr. Darnell’s talk up online for those that were unable to attend. #TheNeedContinues