Plymouth Magazine-Spring24-FINAL - Flipbook - Page 17
asked if they could create a pediatric
clinic at the church to provide care to
underserved children in Des Moines. The
free clinic was born.
On January 18, 1994, the clinic opened
its doors in a Sunday School classroom.
Mother Mary Rife RN, also a church
member, served patients on the first day
despite bitter cold and school closures.
She served as a pioneer and launched
many health-related programs through
the community. I was blessed to work
with her at the clinic until her retirement.
There is a nursing scholarship in Rife’s
name at DMACC. She not only served
the underserved but educated many
nursing students through both DMACC
and Mercy College of Nursing.
Although traffic to the clinic was light in
the beginning, the church was dedicated.
In fact, to increase business, Pastor
Charlie Stallworth had a banner hung on
the church on heavily traveled 9th Street.
With the advent of Iowa’s Hawk-I Health
Insurance for low-income families and
children, the need for the clinic waned.
But the church knew there was still a
need for care in their community, so they
pivoted. They started accepting adults.
As the momentum increased, many other
church members became involved in
supporting the clinic. Mrs. Sayde Fristo,
a deaconess at Corinthian, lobbied Dr.
Connor to take some computer classes
to get the clinic up to speed. While
attending a state-wide conference, she
learned that other Free Clinics around
Iowa looked like regular medical offices.
She got inspired. She learned the state
“built” a clinic annually. She, with the
help of other Corinthian clinic staff,
submitted a wish list to the Free Clinics
of Iowa. They were chosen to receive a
$60,000 grant which ultimately allowed
us to create the current clinic. Fristo
has since retired, and our current clinic
manager is Vallery Griffis.
As a result of their tireless work, many of
the rooms bear the name of its founders.
In fact, in 2022, the clinic name was
changed to the Julius Connor Corinthian
Baptist Free Clinic ( JCCBFC) to honor
Dr. Connors’ long dedication to providing
care to the underserved in Iowa.
I have been blessed to know most of
the people who founded this clinic, but
what’s more is the true dedication I see to
our patients. JCCBFC believes in serving
the community. Whether you were born
in Iowa or in Africa, whether you speak
English or Burmese, whether you have
insurance or don’t, all are welcome!
often humbled by the thanks we receive.
We meet patients where they are today.
I often see coaches bring in students
for sports physicals because a parent
is working; data shows that kids who
participate in organized sports are more
likely to stay in school and graduate. It
takes a village. At JCCBFC we are trying
to be part of the solution.
Volunteers are vital to the successful
operation of the clinic. The volunteer
staff includes physicians, registered
nurses, certified nursing assistants,
physician assistants, nurse practitioners,
emergency medical technicians, medical,
nursing or pharmacy students and
administrative staff.
JCCBFC Address:
814 School St, Des Moines
Hours: Saturday 9 – 11:30 a.m.
More information: fciowa.org
We see all patients, provide appropriate
immediate care, or get patients referred
to local resources to serve them. I am
Erin Netteland-Sandvig, DO, is a member of Plymouth Church and the
Medical Director for the Julius Connor Corinthian Baptist Free Clinic.
She also specializes in Family Medicine at MercyOne.
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