Free Medical Clinic Brings Hope and Healing to Community Near Chicago

Recently, the Lyons Township High School south campus in the Chicago suburb of Western Springs was transformed into a place of healing and hope as more than 100 community members received free medical care through the UChicago Medicine AdventHealth Free Health Clinic.

The event offered an array of essential health services completely free of charge to individuals and families who might otherwise go without care. 

From dental exams and cleanings to foot exams, flu shots, vision screenings, orthopedic evaluations and pediatric school, and sports physicals. The clinic provided compassionate, whole-person care for patients of all ages. Those attending also had access to physical therapy, laboratory screenings, free basic medications, nutritional counseling, and social service evaluations. Community partners offered additional resources, including access to affordable medications and specialty referrals.

Chaplain services were available to ensure that care extended beyond the physical. Every visitor also received a free bag of food from the food pantry, a reminder that health and healing begin when body, mind, and spirit are cared for together. 

This event marked the second free clinic of 2025 hosted by UChicago Medicine AdventHealth. The first took place earlier in the year in Glendale Heights. Together, these two annual clinics serve hundreds of individuals in need across the community, fulfilling the organization’s mission of extending the healing ministry of Christ through service and compassion. 

“As an organization, whole-person care is clearly very important,” said Dave Tkachuck, president and CEO of UChicago Medicine AdventHealth La Grange. “But there are limitations to what can be done within the four walls of a hospital. That’s why it’s critically important to step outside and come where it’s easier for people to access the care they need. We are ready to serve.” 

The clinic was staffed by a dedicated team of 100 volunteers, including 15 providers representing multiple disciplines. Volunteers took time from their weekend to care for their neighbors. “What I love most about our free mission clinics is how they bring people from all across our Great Lakes Region together to serve,” said Heather Hoffman, regional director of Mission Integration for UChicago Medicine AdventHealth. “God always shows up in a big way, and those moments are unforgettable.” 

Many attendees were able to find connections for lasting health and stability through local social service partners, learning about programs that could support them long after the clinic ended. Whether it was linking someone to a medical home, assisting with medication costs or offering counseling and spiritual support, every interaction was an opportunity to uplift someone in need. 

Events like the Free Health Clinic demonstrate how faith in action can transform lives. By providing care where people live, work and worship, these clinics remind the community that healing is not limited to a hospital setting—it is a shared mission of compassion, service, and love. 

The original version of this story was posted on the Lake Union Herald.