Remembering Meghan Hinger: The Heart of the Charlottesville Free Clinic
By: Maria Isabel Arostegui
The Charlottesville Free Clinic is a source of inspiration of the life changing impact kindness can have on our community. When reflecting on the clinic’s work, it is important to recognize the individuals who have worked to make the clinic’s vision reality. Meghan Hinger, CEO of Clinical Operations at the Charlottesville Free Clinic, continues to be remembered as a source of light for many through her transformative empathy and dedication to service.
The Free Clinic’s mission is to provide volunteer driven healthcare for uninsured and underinsured patients in Charlottesville, Albemarle, and the surrounding counties. The clinic provides a wide range of services all for free, including: mental health, primary care, dental care, pharmacy/medication access, and lab work. Volunteer medical residents, physicians, dentists, students, and members of the community work together to deliver these services effectively.
“Meghan was the heart of the Free Clinic,” said Dr. Will Knight, Chairman of the clinic. “Her contributions will reverberate forever… She molded us into probably the best medical clinic in town.”
Meghan Hinger’s work as CEO of Clinical Operations enhanced the effectiveness and strength of the organization. Hinger joined the Free Clinic in January of 2016. During her tenure, she helped maintain the exemplary quality of the clinic as it expanded its patient base. Her passion for equitable health care fueled the clinic’s resolve to remain open during the COVID-19 pandemic. Hinger ensured that the Free Clinic patient experience was at the heart of the organization’s operations. Whether it was ensuring a patient was taking the correct medication or had a place to sleep that night, Hinger was always there. In addition to her oversight in the Medical Clinic, she also widened the Clinic’s ability to offer dental care by leading the expansion of the Dental Clinic at 901 Preston Avenue, before passing in January 2025.
Hinger was truly a beloved member and champion of the Charlottesville and Albemarle community. Her legacy demonstrates that there are truly no bounds for being kind and how all of our passions can help build a more beautiful world for everyone. Through the kindness of individuals like Meghan Hinger, providing medical care has become a magical interaction that develops a level of closeness between doctor and patient, leaving both parties much more energized. Recognized for her hard work and dedication to others, Hinger was honored as a Trailblazer by the Virginia Nurses Foundation’s 40 Under 40.
The clinic operates under the ideal that healthcare is a human right. Receiving donations from individuals, foundations, and the community, the Free Clinic is able to make high-quality care accessible for all,at no cost to the patient. Although there are some ways for patients to access medications affordably, it often involves a lot of red tape that most may not have the resources to untangle. The Free Clinic helps by providing free critical medication to patients that struggle to afford or navigate the healthcare landscape. The Free Clinic’s model of kindness understands the needs of their patients and works with them by creating access to important resources.
Maintaining the clinic’s kindness model is deeply instilled within each of the Free Clinic staff members, physicians, and volunteers. They recognize that the strength of their kindness begins with being kind to themselves. “The most important thing we bring to this world is our own happiness and mental wellbeing.” Dr. Will Knight said. “If we have neglected our own mental health it can bring negativity to the interactions with our family, friends, or just the people we are meeting in our daily interactions.” Physicians at the clinic volunteer their time and skills to improve the lives of others while simultaneously building trust with their patients.
By remembering Meghan Hinger and the Charlottesville Free Clinic’s story, we can all be reminded that kindness starts within ourselves and that its impact can go beyond our original aspirations. To honor Meghan Hinger’s memory and support the Charlottesville Free Clinic’s model of kindness, learn more on their website.