Beersheba Springs Medical Clinic — Donor Funded Community Health Care

Dr. Garrett Adams’ family had a home in Beersheba Springs and had been visiting the small rural community for many years. As a physician, he saw the need for affordable and accessible health care there and in the surrounding communities in the area. He and physician’s assistant Norma Sparks and other community leaders founded the free medical clinic in November of 2010.

A dental clinic was added in 2019. It was headed up by Dr. Bruce Baird and dental assistant Diane Scarborough and funded with grants from Delta Dental’s Smile 180 foundation.

Up to now, the dental clinic has primarily done extractions; however, a grant has been obtained to add a dentures lab.

“We are unique in that we are completely donor funded,” said Mandy Eller, the new executive director of the clinic.

“We don’t take government funding. We are not Medicaid or Medicare run. We are donor run. Our doctors volunteer their time, and many are residents of some of the most prestigious medical schools in the nation, including Yale.”

Following is a listing of quick facts about the clinic that is helping to “build a brighter Tennessee.”

Providers

• Dr. Susie Andrews, M.D. Medical Director, Family Medicine, Murfreesboro
• Dr. Nick Pumilia, M.D. Asst. Medical Director, UT Chattanooga, Erlanger
• Chris Trabue, M.D., UT-Nashville/Ascension St. Thomas
• Pam Brunson, FTP-C Nurse Practitioner

Quick facts

• The medical clinic saw 850 patients with more than 2,200 patient visits from over 25 rural communities in 2021.
• Of those patient visits, 78.29 percent were from Grundy County, 11.93 percent from Warren County and 5.14 percent from Marion County; the remaining were from Coffee and other surrounding counties.
• The dental clinic treated 41 patients, performed 297 extractions and prepped six patients for dentures.
• Over $1 million in savings on pharmaceuticals was passed on to patients in 2021.

2022 goals

• Dental clinic expansion to include cleanings and maintenance.
• Expand Patient Assistance Fund called “Norma’s Purse” to assist patients with care not performed by the clinic.
• Introduce Friends of Beersheba Springs Clinic Club for sustaining donors.
• Begin fundraising for patient dentures. The high number of extractions results in a need for dentures.
• The main fundraising event for the year is the annual Dash to the Door 5K race on or near the Fourth of July each year. For details, visit beershebaclinic.org/ DashtotheDoor.
• Donations of any kind and any amount are always welcome and appreciated. To donate, go to
• beershebaclinic.org/donate.
• Through the SVECares Program, SVEC is proud to have donated upwards of $10,000 since the clinic’s founding.

Beersheba Springs Medical Clinic

19592 TN 56, Beersheba Springs; 931-212-1369; beershebaclinic.org

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