HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – A new endowment at the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine will provide sustained support for Marshall Medical Outreach (MMO), a student-led initiative that delivers vital health care services to the region’s homeless and underserved populations. The endowment also honors the group’s retired long-time faculty advisor, Charles W. “Chuck” Clements, M.D.   

Initial funds for the endowment, created through the generosity of the MagMutual Foundation, Huntington Clinical Foundation and Adam M. Franks, M.D., vice deal for rural health and professor and chair of family and community health at the Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, will help ensure the long-term success of MMO, which has been serving the community since 2012. The program provides free medical care, including check-ups, medications, vaccinations and referrals, to individuals experiencing homelessness in Huntington and the surrounding areas. 

“The Huntington Clinical Foundation has always been a staunch supporter of MMO’s mission to deliver exceptional medical services to our community,” Torin P. Walters, M.D., member of the Huntington Clinical Foundation board of directors. “The decision by the School of Medicine to honor Dr. Chuck Clements is a testament to his unwavering dedication and remarkable contributions. It truly feels like a home run for everyone involved.”   

“Honoring Dr. Chuck Clements is a profound acknowledgment of his exceptional leadership in organizing and guiding the MMO,” Franks said. “His dedication has not only provided medical care to hundreds of disadvantaged individuals in Huntington but has also been instrumental in shaping the careers and professional skills of our medical students. Dr. Clements’ impact on our community and future health care professionals is truly immeasurable.”   

In 2011, a group of three medical students approached Clements to be the supervising faculty member of a new group that they were organizing called MMO. Now, more than a decade later, volunteers from across Marshall University continue to set up a mobile clinic on the third Saturday of each month in a downtown Huntington parking lot, providing physical exams, immunizations, over-the-counter medications, ophthalmology services and referrals to those in need. Students from the School of Medicine, alongside faculty and community volunteers, participate in MMO, gaining valuable experiences in both medical services and compassionate care.  

“MMO was started by students and is still completely student-led,” said Clements, who retired in 2023. “It is a chance for medical students to get outside the classroom and hospital, meet people, take their histories and vitals and then identify potential diagnoses and treatment. In many cases, it is the first opportunity medical students have to practice medicine.” 

The endowment will fund ongoing operations, including medical supplies, equipment and other necessities for the outreach program. It will also support the expansion of services to reach more individuals in need and explore new partnerships with community organizations. 

To help support MMO through the Dr. Charles W. “Chuck” Clements II, Marshall Medical Outreach Endowment, visit give.marshall.edu/project/31785/donate?des_id=633670. For more information about MMO, visit jcesom.marshall.edu/mmo. For more information about the endowment, contact Linda S. Holmes, associate dean of development and alumni affairs, at 304.691.1711 or holmes@marshall.edu.  

Date Posted: Wednesday, November 6, 2024