In the fall of 2001, retired physician
Dr. Chapin Henley could have spent his days enjoying some well-earned R&R.
Instead, he gathered a group of volunteers from many walks of life around a
shared dream. They wanted a free clinic that would give working, uninsured
residents of Bibb County, GA, something many had never had: A true medical
home.
These were neighbors who showed up every
day. They worked in local shops, restaurants, and businesses, yet they had
nowhere to turn when they got sick. Dr. Henley and his team believed the people
who keep a community running deserve care that keeps them healthy and strong.
To turn that vision into a plan, group leaders visited the Hilton Head Volunteers in Medicine Clinic and other facilities across the Southeast. Every visit confirmed what they already believed. A volunteer clinic could close critical healthcare gaps in the Macon-Bibb and Twiggs communities.
The numbers tell a powerful story. In
2025, MVC provided more than 8,000 patient encounters, adding to the tens of
thousands of encounters since opening in 2003. Behind each visit is a parent
who can keep working, a worker who can manage a condition, or a neighbor who
finally has answers.
"Coming into 2026, we set a goal to take
in 120 new patients this year," said John McCard, Executive Director at the
Macon Volunteer Clinic. "We're at 170 to date, with 2 months still to go."
The clinic has evolved over the years to offer care that reaches far beyond a basic checkup. In March 2025, following a successful capital campaign supported by the community, the clinic moved into a new 11,000-square-foot facility allowing it to better serve their patients. Patients at the clinic have access to:
- Primary care, dental care, and eye exams
- Cancer screenings and prescription medications
- Specialty care in gynecology, neurology, dermatology, orthopedics, and endocrinology
- Acupuncture, labs, x-rays, and other diagnostics
- Nutrition counseling and mental health counseling
The clinic team also understands that
good health depends on more than medicine. Staff and volunteers connect
patients with trusted local partners for housing support, food access, domestic
violence services, and therapy.
"We believe every patient deserves
to be treated as a whole person, not simply a diagnosis," says John. "That
commitment is made possible by the extraordinary generosity of our volunteer
medical professionals, local businesses, foundations, and individual donors."
To learn more or get involved, visit maconvolunteerclinic.org.
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