Groundbreaking set at Mountain Hope Good Shepherd Clinic
Mountain Hope Good Shepherd Clinic is celebrating its 20th anniversary with a groundbreaking for an expansion to its building.
Golden shovels go into the ground at 11 a.m. Friday, Nov. 8 at the Clinic, 312 Prince Street in Sevierville. The public is invited for the ceremony and a tour of the existing building.
“Expanding our building is a wonderful and practical way to celebrate our 20th anniversary,” said Executive Director Deborah Murph.
Since the first patient walked into borrowed rooms at the Pigeon Forge Church of God’s youth building in February of 1999, Mountain Hope has served more than 26,000 uninsured and residents and workers of Sevier County with quality medical, dental, and limited behavioral care.
Demand for services has exceeded the supply at the Clinic. New construction will add 2,400 square feet of space to the present 5,625-square-foot building. Having more exam rooms will make the Clinic more efficient so providers can see more patients. In addition, there will be training space for the many college and university students who currently train at Mountain Hope, including those from James H. Quillen College of Medicine at East Tennessee State University.
Local legislators and city and county leaders have been invited to the Nov. 8 celebration, as have representatives of local businesses and organizations that have supported and worked closely with the Clinic over the years. Attendees are invited to stay for tours of the Clinic until about 12:30 p.m. Parking is available at the nearby at King Family Library or at the Sevierville city complex.
Mary Vance, the Clinic’s former executive director began planning the additional rooms several years ago. “We were on a roll until the fires,” she said. “Rebuilding the community took priority at that point, but enlarging the Clinic building is now back on track.”
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