Positive Change for Free Medical Clinic
In May 2007, then-Sen. Barack Obama publically unveiled his health care plan at the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine. I was an undergraduate student at the time and acutely remember the excitement and optimism of the moment.
After Obama’s talk, I wove my way to the front of the crowd to tell him about the Iowa City Free Clinic, where I first learned about health-care inequalities as a volunteer. I spoke about the patients we served and the growing need for this safety net in our community. After listening intently, he reached into his pocket and handed me two crumpled up $10 bills. Obama said he would strive to provide more lasting change for the uninsured, should he be elected, but would like to contribute small change now.
Back to the future. In 2015, we now have lasting change thanks to the Affordable Care Act. We may argue about nuances of the bill; however, it is has helped thousands of Iowans obtain health-care insurance through federal subsides and a state-based exchange. Given that more Iowa City residents now have access to basic primary care services, we are able to focus our efforts at the Free Clinic to meet health care needs not provided by the ACA, while continuing to assist patients who fall through the system’s cracks. We provide free dental services and treat many people diagnosed with chronic health conditions. Volunteer medical specialists provide care for our patients. We are now offering nutrition and health wellness classes, public-health services that may help prevent rather than just treat disease.
We remain tremendously excited about the future of the Free Clinic and the evolving role we continue to play. It is by the generous support of individuals and local businesses that we are able to maintain our safety net that is both strong and flexible.
If you believe that access to health care is a basic human necessity, please consider sharing your time, talents, and/or resources. The clinic always welcomes the involvement of students, health-care providers, language interpreters, and passionate non-medical community members.
As our president demonstrated, no change is too small.
John Heineman, M.D., M.P.H.
Free Clinic Board of Directors member & UIHC resident
Republican governors and refugees
Asked if Iowa would welcome refugees fleeing a war-torn country half a world away, our Republican governor said that we’d take our fair share. Many came. The governor himself says they boosted our economy and enhanced our culture.
It makes me proud to be Iowan, knowing our state cared about education, global citizenship, and honest hospitality. Thank you Gov. Robert Ray, you ennobled us all by doing the right and thing back in 1975.
Now, Iowa is shamed. Irrational fear or greed seems to compel our current governor to turn his back and slam the door on human suffering. Can that be Christian? Can that be Iowan?
Dan Daly