The clinic serves uninsured residents, providing free, comprehensive care with a mission grounded in equity and prevention.
In the heart of Alamance County, the Open Door Clinic stands as a quiet but powerful response to combat issues related to access to care seen around the country, but especially in our own community.
“The mission of the Open Door Clinic is to promote good health and wellbeing by supporting patients through comprehensive and equitable health care,” said Volunteer Coordinator Makenna Grozis ’27. “For many patients, this care is essential, and without it, small health concerns can escalate into costly emergencies. This clinic aims to help the uninsured stay healthy and reduce potential emergency medical costs and other burdens on families through preventative care.”
The Open Door Clinic relies heavily on grants and operates with minimal paid staff, making volunteers the backbone of patient care.
“Volunteers play a huge role, acting as the primary liaison between the patients and the medical staff,” Grozis noted.
From the moment a patient walks in, student volunteers are there to greet them, check them in, answer questions and ensure the clinic runs smoothly. Beyond medical services, the clinic addresses broader disparities tied to financial and social barriers. Patients have access to free or low-cost medications, labs, vaccines, and even specialty care. The clinic also houses the “Closet of Hope,” providing clothing and toiletries at no cost. Together, these resources create what Grozis describes as “an equitable space where vulnerable populations can have an opportunity to achieve better health outcomes.”
For Elon students, the experience is both practical and deeply personal. Most begin in clerk roles, but even these positions carry meaningful responsibility.
“They are the first faces our patients see when they walk through the door,” Grozis said.
Over time, these repeated weekly shifts foster a special connection and much-needed consistency.
“Unlike many volunteer positions where students may go once a semester, volunteers at the clinic get to know the patients, staff, providers, and other volunteers,” Grozis said.
Grozis’s own experience reflects this sense of growth and initiative. Recognizing a language barrier among many Spanish-speaking patients, she enrolled in a medical Spanish course at Elon. That decision led her to help create a collaboration between the class and the clinic.
“The student volunteers as interpreters where they facilitate communication between the providers and the patient,” she explained.
This effort not only improved patient care but also expanded opportunities for students to engage more directly in the clinical setting. After nearly three years at the clinic, Grozis has witnessed both patient progress and volunteer dedication firsthand.
“I have seen numerous volunteers go out of their way to make sure patients feel heard and informed,” she said.
For her, and for many others, the Open Door Clinic is more than a place of service; it is a community. Even when language barriers exist, connection persists.
“Many of the staff members know almost every single patient by name,” Grozis shared. “A smile can carry a great deal of compassion and understanding.”