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kim health center
SERVING THE WORKING UNINSURED
KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE
FAQs
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You must be ages 19-64, live in TN, have no form of health insurance, and have some form of a job.
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Yes. The criteria of working uninsured extends to spouses. If one spouse is working and the other is doing the unpaid labor of household management, they are eligible for care. We also provide transitional care for newly released individuals who are actively job seeking and need health care as they re-enter society. Full-time students or part-time students, over the age of 19 are also eligible, as “working” can also mean finishing your education to build a better future for yourself. If you are unsure if you qualify, please call.
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No. We are not an urgent care, we are a primary care home. We suggest a walk-in urgent care. You must live in Tennessee to use our clinic.
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Yes, we renamed the clinic on Jan 25, 2023 in honor of our founder, Dr. Tom Kim.
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KHC is a nonprofit clinic. We charge a nominal fee ($10 for a first visit and $5 for a follow-up visit) for services that can slide to zero cost if there is extreme financial hardship. We rely on our community of donors, grantors, and community partnerships to be sustainable. We are grateful to be part of the Safety Net program in accordance with the State of Tennessee, and to have community grant partners such as Aslan Foundation, Trinity Health Foundation, Sequoya Hills Presbyterian Church, Thompson Foundation, and the UTMC Health Equity Initiative. Our partnerships with UT Medical Center, South College, Wesleyan University, and Lincoln Memorial University help us provide service with medical providers who bring their expertise from all areas.
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FMCA/KHC is a stand-alone 501©3 nonprofit organization that is affiliated with The University of Tennessee Medical Center (UTMC) as part of their health equity initiatives. The affiliation with UTMC began in 2019 when the Founder of the Free Medical Clinic of America, Dr. Tom Kim, announced his retirement and approached UTMC with an opportunity to expand its work in health equity. UTMC has provided some grant funding, grant writing and fundraising support for specific projects and in-kind donations that help the FMCA maintain a low overhead and focus on patient services. A new Board of Directors was created that includes local health experts and community leaders. FMCA maintains responsibility for its own sustainability.
The community partnership began in 2019 when the founder of the Free Medical Clinic of America, Dr. Tom Kim, planned to retire and Dr. Keith Gray, Chief Medical Officer, saw an opportunity for UTMC to grow its health equity initiative in a targeted, meaningful way, while also continuing a vital service for the medically underserved. Dr. Gray assembled a new Board of Directors led by local community health experts such as Dr. Randall Dabs, Dr. Jack Lacey, and Dr. Bill Broome, and began the affiliation with FMCA by UTMC grant writing and fundraising to refurbish the clinic, add a dental unit, and negotiate in-kind donations to foster a low overhead environment, keeping the focus on patient needs.
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Dr. Tom Kim is the founder of the Free Medical Clinic of America, which is the original name of our clinic. He retired in 2019. In 2023, the clinic was renamed the Kim Heath Center in his honor. Dr, Kim was a successful oncologist who felt inspired by his Christian upbringing to give back to the community that had given him so much. He began offering free services in 1993 and was responsible for the start of multiple free clinics in East Tennessee.
Our Providers
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Dr. William S. Broome, III, has participated in several medical mission trips. He is a board certified physician with Valley View Family Physicians in Knoxville, Tenn. Originally from Knoxville, Dr. Broome attended the University of Tennessee for medical school and completed his residency at the University of Tennessee Medical Center. He is a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians and the Christian Medical Association. Dr. Broome enjoys working with patients at all ages. “I chose primary care because I enjoy the diversity of medical disease and all age groups,” he says. Dr. Broome and his wife, Amy, have four children. In his free time, Dr. Broome enjoys spending time with his family, hiking, running and going on the medical mission trips.
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Shannon Dickens is a native of Houston, Texas. She studied and received her Bachelor of Science degree from Prairie View A&M University and attended dental school at the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston. She began her career as an associate dentist until she and two of her classmates were driven to serve their communities in private practice. They would see their passion grow from one office to multiple locations. After working with mobile dental units (primarily serving school programs) and hosting free dental days throughout the city, her dedication to servant leadership became even more apparent. She enjoyed 15 years in private practice yet it was her passion for giving back to the community that led her to a Federally Qualified Health Center once she and her family relocated to Upstate New York. As dental director at Family Health Network, Shannon shifted her focus from early dental education to establishing trusting relationships with adult patients to help them overcome their dental fears and anxieties through her compassionate approach to dentistry. She is passionate about her career as a dentist and takes pride in the strong relationships she has created with her patients and colleagues throughout the years.
Shannon is inspired daily by her husband, Dr. Brian K. Dickens, CHRO at the University of TN System, and their three busy teenagers. She is an avid runner, loves reading, and spending time with family and friends.
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James Womack, PAC, has over two decades of clinical experience working with rural East Tennessee patients. Raised in the tradition of “giving back” to one’s community, Jim’s bachelor’s is in Physician’s Assistant studies, and he is a Certified PA from Drexel University. Prior to joining the FMCA, he worked at First Medical in Gatlinburg, Rocky Top Medical Center, and Dogwood Medical Practice. He is passionate about helping patients take control of their chronic health conditions. A father of two, he is an avid mountain hiker and motorcycle enthusiast.
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Eunice Rodriguez, Front Desk Manager, has been working in healthcare since 2011. She began her career as a Bilingual Patient Service Representative at Cherokee Health Systems, then as a Patient Service Representative at Rural Medical Services. Raised in Fajardo, Puerto Rico, Eunice and her family have always been service oriented. Her husband of 30 years is a retired Navy sailor after 23 years of active-duty service to our nation. She is the proud mother of two, and a brand new grandmother.
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Kelly R. Lay has over two decades of medical experience as a phlebotomist and medical assistant. She joined the center after a long career at LabCorp, as a reflection of her desire to help patients and respect her faith driven principles to aid the underserved. She recently celebrated 26 years fo marriage and is the proud mother of two. As a Grainger County native, she has grown up with and worked with East Tennesseans her whole life and brings respect and compassion to the workplace. When not working she can be found spending time with her family, friends, and her mini-schnauzer or relaxing with a good book at the beach.
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Erica Lyon, MPH, Executive Director, has been working in healthcare for over 25 years. She began her career in medical administration and shifted to specializing in Maternal Child Health. Her undergraduate degree is a Bachelor of Science in Human Behavior, and she has a Master’s in Public Health from George Washington University. In 2017 she shifted her focus to supporting wider access to healthcare services in response to community need. She is the mother of three, and loves hiking and cooking.
board of directors
Executive Committee
Dr Randal DabBs
Co-Founder, and President of Practice Development, TeamHealth
Dr Keith Gray
Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer, UTMCK
David Brace
Deputy Mayor and Chief Operating Officer, City of Knoxville
Dr Bill Broome
Medical Director of KHC and UTMCK Family Physician
Board of Directors
Anthony BurtoN
Lead Pastor, Bridge Church - South Knox
Pete Claussen
Chair, Gulf and Ohio Railways, Inc
Jeremy Cook
Senior Vice President, Pinnacle Financial Partners
Dr. Pablo Foncea
Owner, Sequoyah Dental Arts
Mary Beth Hooker
Breast and Gastrointestinal Disease Nurse Navigator,
University of Tennessee Medical CenteR
Katherine Killen
East Tennessee Foundation, Director of Fundholder Services
Dr. Jack Lacey
Co-Founder and Medical Director, Knoxville Area Project Access
Eddie Mannis
President and CEO, Prestige Companies
Dr. Troy Rebert
Director, Outpatient Pharmacy Operations University of Tennessee Medical Center
Steve South
Owner, South College
Dr. Anthony Wise
President, Pellissippi State Community College
Dale Amburn
President and CEO, London & Amburn
Location & Hours
Call today to schedule an appointment.
865-577-3733
6209 Chapman Highway
Knoxville, Tennessee 37920
Closed for lunch between 12:00-1:00pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays.
Monday 8:00AM-5:00PM
Tuesday 8:00AM-5:00PM
Wednesday 8:00AM-12:00PM
Thursday 8:00AM-5:00PM
Friday 8:00AM-12:00PM
Saturday CLOSED
Sunday CLOSED
Donate to KHC
help our cause
The Kim Health Center is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that uses 100% of financial contributions to provide medical care for the medically uninsured working members of our community.