For many adults in Brunswick County a trip to the doctor isn’t just inconvenient — it’s often out of reach. Without insurance, without extra income, and sometimes without reliable transportation, basic medical, dental, and pharmacy care can feel impossible to access. That’s exactly the gap New Hope Clinic has spent years working to close.
I am pleased to share my conversation with Sheila Roberts the Executive Director of the New Hope Clinic.
You can also view this interview on our YouTube channel.
A Mission Rooted in Compassion
New Hope Clinic is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based in Southport, NC, dedicated to providing patient-centered healthcare and wellness services for underserved adults in Brunswick County. Its mission is simple but powerful: ensure that every individual — regardless of financial situation or insurance status — has access to quality medical, dental, and pharmacy care.
The clinic’s vision goes even further, imagining a healthy, thriving community where no one has to go without essential treatment because of financial hardship. That vision shows up in everything from the services offered to the way patients are treated when they walk through the door. Staff and volunteers take extra time with each patient, making sure questions are answered and concerns are heard — not just handled.
More Than Medicine
While primary care checkups form the core of what New Hope Clinic offers, the organization’s approach to health is holistic. Patients can access:
Primary care for routine and ongoing health needs
Dental care
Pharmacy and medication assistance
Wellness programs focused on prevention and long-term health
Just as importantly, the clinic connects patients to resources beyond the exam room — partnering with local organizations to help with utility assistance, food programs, and mental health support. Healthcare, in New Hope Clinic’s view, doesn’t stop at a diagnosis.
Meeting Patients Where They Are
One of the most significant developments in recent years has been the clinic’s investment in mobile care. The Wellness Wagon, a 170-square-foot mobile medical unit, now travels directly into communities across Brunswick County that have historically struggled with transportation access to the main clinic. A second mobile unit, the Care-A-Van, expands that reach even further, bringing checkups, screenings, and basic care to residents in more remote areas.
This shift didn’t happen by accident. In its 2024 Annual Report, New Hope Clinic described a year of significant change: North Carolina’s implementation of Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act meant that more than 500,000 additional residents statewide became eligible for coverage. Rather than see this as a reason to scale back charity care, the clinic made the strategic decision to enroll as a Medicaid provider — allowing it to serve both newly insured Medicaid patients and those who remain uninsured, all without breaking continuity of care.
A Community Effort
New Hope Clinic runs almost entirely on the generosity of its community. It’s a volunteer-driven organization, relying on physicians, dentists, pharmacists, medical assistants, front desk staff, and administrative volunteers to keep its doors open and its mobile units on the road. Donations fund everything from day-to-day operations to major investments like the Wellness Wagon and Care-A-Van.
For a county where too many adults have had to choose between paying a bill and seeing a doctor, New Hope Clinic offers something rare: a healthcare model built entirely around access, dignity, and community trust.
Get Involved
Whether it’s through a donation, a few hours of volunteer time, or simply spreading the word, there are many ways to support New Hope Clinic’s work. For patients, the message is straightforward — insured or not, help is available close to home.
Learn more or get involved at newhopeclinicnc.org.