An emotional Michael Jordan attended the opening of the Novant Health Michael Jordan Family Medical Clinic in Wilmington, NC late last week.
“Everyone is worthy of access to quality health care, no matter where you live or if you have insurance,” said Jordan in a press release. “I’m truly inspired by the many powerful stories of people who are now thriving thanks to the support of our Charlotte medical clinics. I am confident Novant Health’s new clinic will positively impact individuals and families throughout Wilmington. I’m profoundly grateful to help make this day happen for my hometown.”
This is the third clinic the two have partnered on, which was facilitated thanks to a $10 million gift from Jordan to the Novant Health foundations.
The success of the first clinic in Charlotte paved the path for the next two, including the first one in Jordan’s hometown of Wilmington.
“We are tremendously grateful to Michael Jordan for his philanthropic support of our efforts to close health equity gaps,” said Ann Caulkins, senior vice president, Novant Health, and president, Novant Health foundations. “The Novant Health Michael Jordan Family Medicine Clinics in Charlotte provided more than 9,000 patient visits last year and are delivering profound benefits in the community. We’re excited to expand this model in Wilmington, where the clinic team will provide life-changing care.”
The 7,800-square-foot facility includes a primary care team and a community health worker who will assist patients with community resources, helping to provide even more assistance to individuals and families in need, particularly those who are uninsured or underinsured.
This is extremely important as many of the patients have, per the release, “never had a primary care provider before” and have “praised the clinic teams for helping restore health and a sense of hope”
Now Wilmington residents will have a greater sense of hope through the one location that just opened and a second site that’s currently under construction.