Pellissippi State Community College and Kim Health partner for health clinic for uninsured individuals

Pellissippi State Community College and Kim Health have partnered to open a dedicated health clinic for uninsured college students and uninsured community members alike on the college’s Magnolia Avenue campus. The permanent clinic location will open in the Fall 2026 semester and will provide primary healthcare services to all of the college’s uninsured students, not just those who take courses at the Magnolia Avenue campus. Its services will also be available to area residents who are uninsured.

According to an article on Pellissippi State Community College’s website, Stella Bridgeman, who serves as the dean of the college’s Magnolia Avenue campus, was quoted as saying of the partnership, “I am really excited about this amazing opportunity to collaborate with Kim Health Center. This will really help us to address student success in a different way, helping our students to be more healthy and safe. It will also help us to think about economic growth in this community.”

While the new permanent home for the clinic will not be open until the fall of 2026, its temporary space is already open and providing primary healthcare services for students and community members who do not have health insurance. The goal of the clinic is to provide healthcare, opportunity, and a trajectory toward successful lives. When the permanent space opens, it will have more exam rooms and the capability to provide services for more patients.

L. Anthony Wise Jr., the president of the college, noted that this new clinic is in line with the school’s mission of becoming a “career immersion college.” He said, “What we mean by that is, we want every student to have a clear academic pathway. We want every student to have the holistic support they need in order to be successful on that pathway. And this partnership really ties into that as we think about the mental and physical well-being of our students as they pursue their educational goals.”

Erica Lyon, who serves as the executive director at Kim Health, said that funding came from Trinity Health Foundation, UT Medical Center, the Bill and Crissy Haslam Foundation, the Lawson Family Foundation, Rogers Foundation, Monday Foundation, and the Rotary Club to support the building of the new space. 

For more information about Pellissippi State Community College, visit the school’s website.