We are often asked about rising healthcare costs and what can be done to reduce them in Wake County. Nationally, there is a concept known as healthcare hot spotting—a data-driven approach that identifies patients with the greatest healthcare needs and highest healthcare costs, then addresses the factors driving those challenges.

“Whole-person” care really means seeing each person as more than a diagnosis. At Alliance Medical Ministry, patients arrive not only with medical concerns but also with housing instability, financial stress, anxiety or depression, and the heavy demands of caring for loved ones. Our teams listen first, learning about the complex realities that affect health—transportation barriers, food insecurity, language needs, legal concerns—and recognize that clinical treatment must be paired with practical, compassionate support.

The strength of our community is measured not just by its growth, but by how we care for those in need. We’re grateful to have a community that recognizes that—and helps make this work possible.

I thought I would share some data which really speaks to the value AMM brings to our community. AMM is a member of the North Carolina Association of Free and Charitable Clinics - a group of about 70 clinics across the state. Each year, we report the results of our clinic operations and the impact we have made on the community. Happy to share our 2025 impact.

Just this week, 3 volunteers started with us – including a First Year UNC School of Medicine student who is doing a rotation through AMM. Later this year, we will have several Kenan Urban Scholars come through for extended periods of time. And at the same time, we have 3 Medical Assistants leaving us to go to grad school – one to become a PA, the other 2 to receive MPH degrees from UNC. We are really proud to help shape the mindset of the next generation, as access to healthcare is going to remain one of the top issues facing our community.

In Wake County, the medical safety net is not sufficient to meet the growing needs of our most vulnerable neighbors. The human cost is profound. The economic cost is equally real—when uninsured individuals delay care, they often become sicker and rely on emergency rooms, placing strain on hospitals and the broader community.

We want to express our heartfelt appreciation for your unwavering support of AMM. Your generosity and commitment to community have allowed us to provide care to the most vulnerable populations in Wake County. It has been a challenging year, particularly when taking care of a population of patients like ours that has chronic disease on top of many other types of issues in their lives that do not lend themselves to good health.

As we enter this season of thankfulness and giving, I want to share my deep gratitude for you — our community of supporters who make healing possible at Alliance Medical Ministry.

Thanks to a generous grant from the William R. Kenan Jr. Charitable Trust, AMM is transforming care for uninsured patients with diabetes—helping prevent serious complications like kidney disease, blindness, and amputations.

At Alliance Medical Ministry, we rely completely on philanthropy—not Medicaid or insurance reimbursements. That independence keeps us flexible and ready to care for our patients, no matter what changes in healthcare policy come our way.

Thank you for supporting us through the good times and the tough times and for making Wake County a great place to live.

AMM is in a fortunate position because of our donors.  But we do not take that for granted.  As a nonprofit organization that does zero billing and accepts no reimbursement, we wake up every day thinking about how we can grow and expand access to Wake County residents who do not currently have healthcare or are about to lose theirs.

This summer, AMM is hosting two Kenan Urban Scholars from the UNC School of Medicine. The Kenan Urban Scholars are a group of medical students who provide targeted care for marginalized populations by addressing the specific needs of the community.