Dr. Jeffrey A. Jackson

First, there was a need. Then it was identified. Now, it has been filled.

Before the need was filled and even before it was identified in the eyes of many Temple citizens, there was a man who decided to try to do something about it.

Today, thanks to his efforts, the city of Temple has medical care available for those who cannot afford routine doctor's office visits and primary medical care.

The man with the idea was Dr. Jeffrey A. Jackson. His answer to the problem is the Temple Community Free Clinic. Jackson would be quick to tell you that he was not the first to see the need for a free clinic in Temple. He said as much when the clinic officially opened for business in October 1992.

Jackson was however responsible for putting in motion much of the activity which led to the Free Clinic becoming a reality. It was after he suggested such a project that leadership Temple got involved; he helped lead the way when the initial steering committee was organized; and later he was involved when the clinic's first board of directors was formed.

During its initial year Jackson has served as the clinic's first president and co-medical director.

And what a first year it has been - through August more than 3,000 client visits had been recorded with more than 1,000 more expected before the end of the clinic's first year.

So who does the clinic serve and what does it offer them?

According to Jackson, the clinic serves the working poor of Temple, that is those who have jobs and may even have some health insurance but still do not have the wherewithal to take advantage of the private health care system.

In some cases patients have no health insurance; others have high deductibles which keep them away from the doctor; others may have a large medical care.

The Free Clinic offers primary care with what Jackson has described as a “quite liberal” eligibility criteria for those who cannot afford private health care and do not qualify for government assistance. Because of this, patients can earn up to 200 percent above the poverty level and still qualify for service.

Specifically in addition to the opportunity to see trained medical personnel for initial diagnoses and treatment, the clinic offers free X-rays, laboratory tests and medications.

The 1993 recipient of the Frank W. Mayborn Humanitarian Award is a 38-year-old native of Indiana who graduated from high school in Grosse Point, Mich. He received both his bachelor’s and medical degrees from the University of Michigan where he participated in the University of Michigan Medical School’s Integrated Premedical-Medical Program.

He did postgraduate medical training with the department of Internal Medicine, Barnes Hospital-Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and at the Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit.

In 1981-82 he was general medical officer for Tenwek Hospital (World Gospel Mission), Bomet via Sotik, Kenya, East Africa. Dr. Jackson joined the staff of Scott and White Clinic in the Division of Endocrinology in July 1985. At the same time he was also appointed an assistant professor-internal medicine with the Texas A&M University College of Medicine.

Since 1987 he has been program director-Endocrinology Fellowship at Scott and White. Since 1989 he has been a consultant in endocrinology with the Olin E. Teague Veterans’ Center and in 1990 he was made an associate professor in internal medicine with Texas A&M.

Whatever else Dr. Jackson has done or will do in his career, the achievement of establishing the Temple Community Free Clinic is an outstanding deed which makes him a most worthy recipient of the third Frank W. Mayborn Humanitarian Award.

- - from award program Wednesday, November 10, 1993