JFC Impact Awards

This recognition was established to honor select individuals who embody, promote, and advance the mission of the clinic through their volunteering, partnership, or other commitment to the JFC! Recipients are honored at our annual gala.

2025 Impact Awardees

Dr. katie mcclendon

UMMC Pharmacy

Dr. Katie McClendon has led the Jackson Free Clinic Pharmacy as the Pharmacist in Charge since its licensing in the Fall of 2019. Her leadership and dedication have been crucial to the pharmacy's continued growth, marked by a significant increase in the number of prescriptions dispensed to patients. Under her guidance, the JFC pharmacy has thrived, and continues to achieve positive patient outcomes. Dr. McClendon is truly deserving of the JFC Impact Award due to her commitment to prioritizing underserved patient populations and her constant willingness to go above and beyond to assist when needed. Her compassion and dedication to others makes her an exceptional leader. The JFC Pharmacy is fortunate to have Dr. McClendon, whose contributions have made and continue to make a meaningful and positive impact on patients in the Jackson metropolitan community.

Dr. walter pang & the Mississippi optometric association

JFC Vision Clinic

Dr. Walter Pang and the Mississippi Optometric Association were fundamental to the development of the Vision Clinic at JFC in 2023. Through the generous donation of their time at monthly vision clinics, Dr. Pang and his colleagues have helped over 200 individuals in MS access optometric care and receive complete eye examinations. Our devoted optometrists have seen us through the many challenges of our first years of vision clinic, offering mentorship to the student volunteers working alongside them while inspiring us to continue working to improve access to specialty care for Mississippians. While Dr. Pang was unable to attend our 2025 Gala, we appreciate Dr. Emily Patterson for her dedication to JFC and accepting the award in Dr. Pang's place.

care4me Services

Jackson Medical Mall

Care4Me has been a huge supporter of the Jackson Free Clinic since 2021! Founded in 2014, Care4Me is an organization based in the Jackson Medical Mall with a mission to “improve the health outcomes of persons living with HIV and to serve as the bridge to prevent gaps in HIV educational and supportive services.” Care4Me has provided the Jackson Free Clinic with free HIV and syphilis screenings for our patients at outreach events and during clinic. Most recently, Care4Me has supported us in our Fall Resource Fair and has included the Jackson Free Clinic in their Fall Festival and National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness events. You can feel the passion in supporting our Jackson community when you talk with Mrs. Juanita Davis, the director and Antonyo Currie! Care4Me and JFC outreach have the same desire- to connect our amazing Jackson community with healthcare, and with their collaboration, we are able to do just that. We are excited to continue this partnership with Care4Me!

2024 Impact Awardees

Dr. Danny Burgess

Talk Therapy

One of the unmet needs of our patients was talk therapy, a way to help them through the challenges and stressors of life. Dr. Burgess not only helped start this clinic at JFC, but, since its inception, has come to the clinic every month after-hours and seen over 50 appointments. Each patient who walks out of their appointment tells us how much better they feel and improvements they’ve been able to make with Dr Burgess’ help and guidance.

Dr. Paul Sheffield

Family Medicine

In November of 2022, Paul Sheffield came to visit the clinic. When he excitedly agreed to volunteer with us, we had no idea the impact that he would have. Dr. Sheffield is constantly dedicating his free time to JFC. You can find him in the clinic teaching students, chatting with patients, or draining abscesses. He is a favorite among patients and students, alike, and we are so lucky for his dedication to medical care at the JFC!

the grace place

Galloway United Methodist Church

Grace Place is an outreach ministry run by the Galloway United Methodist Church in Jackson. They provide the unhoused Jackson community with a warm breakfast four days of the week and access to food, hygiene, and social resources. They have recruited us to provided health screenings and educational presentations to their community members. There is an air of welcome when we walk in for our monthly sessions. From the security guards greeting us with a smile and helping with set up to Reverend Till making sure everything is running smoothly for us, you can tell they support our efforts in promoting health awareness and providing continuity of care for our unhoused and vulnerable communities.

2023 Impact Awardees

Dr. Elizabeth Lutz

UMMC Obestrics and Gynecology

Women’s health services at JFC have exploded and it’s all due to Dr. Lutz’s "say yes" mindset. She's helped us increase Pap testing for cervical cancer, expand services to include endometrial biopsies for workup of AUB and placement of IUDs (contraception that is as effective as getting your tubes tied!), and increase our screening mammogram rate by over 133%! These services would be inaccessible to our patients without the work of Dr. Lutz. She truly embodies the spirit of service and equity at JFC.

Dr. Dustyn Baker

UMMC Psychiatry and Human Behavior

Dr. Dustyn Baker has been with the Psychiatry Clinic at JFC since its inception in 2016 during his fourth year of medical school. The continuity of care he provides and the relationships he’s built with our patients are simply inspiring. Without him showing up to nearly every Psychiatry Clinic day we’ve had for the past six years, there wouldn’t be a psychiatry services at JFC. These patients wouldn’t get the care they need, the students wouldn’t get the experience, and the clinic just wouldn't be complete. His involvement at Jackson Free Clinic has been life-changing for the patients and for the students who are fortunate enough to work with him.

Mr. Reginald Wiggins

Director of Stewpot Opportunity Center Day Shelter

Reggie has served as the Director of Stewpot’s Opportunity Center over the past year. He has worked tirelessly to provide a safe and welcoming environment for unhoused individuals in our community, while also serving as one of the biggest advocates and partners for JFC Outreach. We have loved working with him to host health screenings and more with the OC! We are truly grateful for Reggie's partnership and the impact he has had on our patients, and we are honored to present him with this well-deserved award.

2022 Impact Awardees

Dr. Shannon Pittman

UMMC Family Medicine

Dr. Shannon Pittman has shown dedication to the Jackson Free Clinic in her role as Chair of the UMMC Family Medicine Department by prioritizing resident and attending participation in the operations of the free clinic as part of the residency curriculum, by volunteering frequently as an on-site attending, and empowering students to complete quality improvement projects to improve overall patient care at the JFC. We thank Dr. Pittman and the Department of Family Medicine for their continued support!

Dr. Calvin Thigpen

UMMC Internal Medicine

Dr. Calvin Thigpen has shown his consistent support of the Jackson Free Clinic in his role as the Program Director for the UMMC Internal Medicine Residency by prioritizing resident and attending participation in the operations of the free clinic as part of the residency curriculum and supporting educational initiatives related to patient care at the JFC. We thank Dr. Thigpen and the Department of Internal Medicine for their continued support!

Luis Espinoza

Mississippi Immigrants Rights Alliance

Mr. Luis Espinoza has shown relentless dedication to improving the access to critical medical, legal, and social resources of Hispanic and immigrant members of his community and communities throughout the state of Mississippi through his work with Mississippi Immigrant Rights Alliance (MIRA). Mr. Espinoza fostered and championed the relationship with the JFC that has grown exponentially since its inception, providing access for thousands of immigrants to the services offered by the JFC. We look forward to continuing our partnership with MIRA for years to come!