Twenty years ago, Dr. John Murray saw a need in te community for quality medical care for low income, uninsured adults in Stanly County.

At that time, many people were falling between the cracks and had no place to turn for their healthcare needs.

Murray, with the help of Roy Hinson, former president at what was then Stanly Memorial Hospital, created a free clinic to serve the health needs of the working poor in the community.

Although Murray died in 2008, his legacy of caring lives on in the clinic that bears his name.

The clinic held a dinner in October to celebrate the first 20 years of caring for low income, uninsured patients.

Jane Murray, wife of the late doctor, addressed the volunteers, board members, donors and staff gathered there.

She shared the story of the clinic’s beginning and its early vision for patients.
Chris Vaughn, clinic director, spoke about the early volunteers who worked alongside Dr. Murray including Dr. Dick Liles, Dr. John Herring and Dr. Whitman Smith.

She explained that although the clinic treated only acute medical problems in the beginning, it expanded in 2003 to care for patients with chronic illnesses.

The clinic has served more than 3,800 people in Stanly County.

Vaughn expressed her appreciation to Atrium Health CHS Stanly for providing diagnostic testing at no charge to patients and providing access to specialty care such as cardiology, surgery, GYN, gastroenterology, wound care and pulmonology.

She emphasized the broad range of health screenings that are made available to patients of the clinic at no cost, as well.

Medical Pharmacy was also recognized as a long-term partner of the clinic in providing medications to clinic patients at lowered costs, making it possible to have more than 4,000 prescriptions filled in the last year.

Vaughn concluded the evening by expressing her gratitude to this community for working together by volunteering and donating funds to take care of neighbors in need.