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Jane Ackley & Bob Kirk, Jr.
Jane Ackley & Bob Kirk, Jr.
Back to Real People, Real Stories
Jane Ackley & Bob Kirk, Jr. "As human beings, we have to make sure that people dont slip through the cracks."
Continuing a Fathers Legacy
Jane Ackley & Bob Kirk, Jr.
Columbus, OH
Dr. Robert C. Kirk was a dedicated physician who spent more than 60 years of his life caring for others – regardless of their ability to pay for his services. His son, Bob Kirk, Jr., vividly remembers his father seeing patients knowing that many of them would not have the money to pay for their medical care. When he questioned his father why he would treat patients who couldn’t pay, Dr. Kirk simply said that whether or not someone could afford it, they deserved quality health care. Jane Ackley, Dr. Kirk’s daughter, emphasized that her father taught them that “as human beings, we have to make sure that people don’t slip through the cracks and that as a community we have to reach out to them.” That philosophy is evident on Monday evenings when those who need it, but don’t have insurance to pay for it, line up to have their health care needs met at the Physicians Free Clinic (PFC).
Dr. Robert Kirk’s spirit of compassion and caring is echoed in the actions of the many health care professionals who volunteer their time and talents at the Clinic. Established in 1993, the PFC is the largest provider of free health care in Franklin County. Dr. Kirk strongly believed in what the Clinic was trying to accomplish by providing care to those who could not afford it, as he had done throughout his medical career. Fostering those goals, he created the Robert C. Kirk, MD Fund in 1998 to support the ongoing operations of the PFC.
Although Dr. Kirk passed away in December 2001, his family is proud to continue his legacy of assisting those in the community who can’t always take care of themselves. “Dad truly believed in treating patients with dignity,” Kirk stressed, “and when my sister and I first visited the Clinic last year, we could see that same compassionate spirit alive in all the volunteers.” Both Kirk and Ackley were impressed by the operation but were struck by the significance of an often-overlooked dilemma — many who cannot afford nor have sufficient access to health care in Franklin County. “I was amazed by the sheer number of people waiting in line at the Clinic to see a doctor,” Kirk recalled. “This is a real need in our area and people just don’t know enough about it,” he added.
That is why both of Dr. Kirk’s children have pledged their family’s on-going support of the Clinic. According to Ackley, “I think we’re not cognizant that there are so many people in need of good health resources. And I’m sure enough people still don’t know about the wonderful network that the Physicians Free Clinic is to those who need care, but also to those who want to reach out and help others, whether it be financially as a donor or as a volunteer.”
Edward Bope, MD, PFC Volunteer Medical Director, knows too well the ongoing problem of health care disparities occurring both locally and nationally and the struggle to address them. Dr. Bope has been involved with the PFC and its unique operation since its inception. “There had long been a community need and desire for physicians to volunteer in a unified way to assist in reaching these who were most in need and were facing barriers when seeking health care,” he said. More than a decade has passed since Dr. Bope and others came together to offer a solution.
The PFC provides episodic care for walk-in patients on Monday evenings at the Columbus Health Department at 240 Parsons Avenue. Specialty care is provided by appointment at the Clinic and also at participating physicians’ offices. “We provide something truly unique at the PFC in that we have secondary and tertiary specialty clinics scheduled on a recurring basis,” Dr. Bope pointed out. “No one else is equipped like this to meet patients’ needs in Central Ohio and offer the same type of safety net.”
Dr. Bope estimated that more than 300 physicians currently participate in the health care services at the Clinic, both via volunteering their time and also through donations. “It’s a way for us, as physicians, to use our training and skills to help people in a very meaningful way,” Dr. Bope added. Medical students also have an opportunity to participate in the Clinic services. This provides them a tremendous learning opportunity to build their skills while “giving them a feeling, early on in their medical careers that they’re helping their community,” according to Bope.
The dedicated actions of the numerous physicians, clinicians and lay volunteers at the Physicians Free Clinic have provided free care for more than 30,000 uninsured people in Franklin County. As Jane Ackley learned from her late father, “No community works well without people giving back.”
The purpose of the Foundation is to continue to foster a unique partnership between physicians and the community to solve health problems. In order to continue to meet the unending needs of Columbus’ uninsured residents through the Physicians Free Clinic and to keep Dr. Kirk’s good health legacy alive, the Columbus Medical Association Foundation is seeking additional community partners. Contact the Foundation at 614-240-7420 to learn more about providing philanthropic support. Learn more at www.goodhealthcolumbus.org/cmaf
Dr. Robert Kirk’s spirit of compassion and caring is echoed in the actions of the many health care professionals who volunteer their time and talents at the Clinic. Established in 1993, the PFC is the largest provider of free health care in Franklin County. Dr. Kirk strongly believed in what the Clinic was trying to accomplish by providing care to those who could not afford it, as he had done throughout his medical career. Fostering those goals, he created the Robert C. Kirk, MD Fund in 1998 to support the ongoing operations of the PFC.
Although Dr. Kirk passed away in December 2001, his family is proud to continue his legacy of assisting those in the community who can’t always take care of themselves. “Dad truly believed in treating patients with dignity,” Kirk stressed, “and when my sister and I first visited the Clinic last year, we could see that same compassionate spirit alive in all the volunteers.” Both Kirk and Ackley were impressed by the operation but were struck by the significance of an often-overlooked dilemma — many who cannot afford nor have sufficient access to health care in Franklin County. “I was amazed by the sheer number of people waiting in line at the Clinic to see a doctor,” Kirk recalled. “This is a real need in our area and people just don’t know enough about it,” he added.
That is why both of Dr. Kirk’s children have pledged their family’s on-going support of the Clinic. According to Ackley, “I think we’re not cognizant that there are so many people in need of good health resources. And I’m sure enough people still don’t know about the wonderful network that the Physicians Free Clinic is to those who need care, but also to those who want to reach out and help others, whether it be financially as a donor or as a volunteer.”
Edward Bope, MD, PFC Volunteer Medical Director, knows too well the ongoing problem of health care disparities occurring both locally and nationally and the struggle to address them. Dr. Bope has been involved with the PFC and its unique operation since its inception. “There had long been a community need and desire for physicians to volunteer in a unified way to assist in reaching these who were most in need and were facing barriers when seeking health care,” he said. More than a decade has passed since Dr. Bope and others came together to offer a solution.
The PFC provides episodic care for walk-in patients on Monday evenings at the Columbus Health Department at 240 Parsons Avenue. Specialty care is provided by appointment at the Clinic and also at participating physicians’ offices. “We provide something truly unique at the PFC in that we have secondary and tertiary specialty clinics scheduled on a recurring basis,” Dr. Bope pointed out. “No one else is equipped like this to meet patients’ needs in Central Ohio and offer the same type of safety net.”
Dr. Bope estimated that more than 300 physicians currently participate in the health care services at the Clinic, both via volunteering their time and also through donations. “It’s a way for us, as physicians, to use our training and skills to help people in a very meaningful way,” Dr. Bope added. Medical students also have an opportunity to participate in the Clinic services. This provides them a tremendous learning opportunity to build their skills while “giving them a feeling, early on in their medical careers that they’re helping their community,” according to Bope.
The dedicated actions of the numerous physicians, clinicians and lay volunteers at the Physicians Free Clinic have provided free care for more than 30,000 uninsured people in Franklin County. As Jane Ackley learned from her late father, “No community works well without people giving back.”
The purpose of the Foundation is to continue to foster a unique partnership between physicians and the community to solve health problems. In order to continue to meet the unending needs of Columbus’ uninsured residents through the Physicians Free Clinic and to keep Dr. Kirk’s good health legacy alive, the Columbus Medical Association Foundation is seeking additional community partners. Contact the Foundation at 614-240-7420 to learn more about providing philanthropic support. Learn more at www.goodhealthcolumbus.org/cmaf
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