When Dr. Carol Garvey was a medical student in New York City, she noticed something that deeply troubled her: the stark difference in care between patients who could afford treatment and those who could not. “It didn’t seem right to me that we should have a caste system when it comes to healthcare,” she recalls. “I see healthcare as a universal right.”
 
That conviction became a lifelong mission. In 1991, Carol met with Dr. William Flynt and Dr. Horace Bernton. Together, they shared a vision: to create a clinic that provided free, high-quality care to underserved populations. “It was extraordinarily lucky for me to meet both Dr. Flynt and Dr. Bernton,” Carol says. “They had the resources, knowledge, and energy to help pull this vision together. It really was a team effort.”
 
With Dr. Bernton’s encouragement, Carol and Dr. Mona Sarfaty of George Washington University’s family practice residency program submitted a proposal to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Their first grant application was denied—but persistence paid off. On their second attempt, they secured funding, officially launching what would become Primary Care Coalition (PCC). Soon after, PCC obtained 501(c)(3) nonprofit status.
 
Recruiting physicians was the next challenge. PCC turned to the Montgomery County Medical Society, asking doctors to volunteer their time. The response was overwhelming. Many physicians generously offered their services, laying the foundation for PCC’s collaborative, community-driven approach. 
 
Meeting Evolving Needs
PCC’s growth has always been driven by necessity. Early on, the team realized that diagnosing conditions wasn’t enough - patients needed access to specialists. Once again, the medical community stepped up, volunteering their expertise. At the same time, PCC identified another critical gap: medications. “There’s no point in prescribing treatment if patients can’t access it,” Carol explains. This insight led to the creation of PCC’s Community Pharmacy Program, now a lifeline for countless Montgomery County residents.
 
Even with the Affordable Care Act expanding coverage, gaps remain. “I wish we didn’t need PCC,” Carol admits. “That would mean everyone who wants and needs care has access to it. Unfortunately, that’s not the case—and I don’t see that changing anytime soon.”
 
Looking ahead, Carol sees challenges on the horizon. “I still feel very strongly that people should receive culturally appropriate care,” she emphasizes. “Patients need to feel comfortable in a health care setting. That’s the only way to truly understand their issues and help them.”

​Carol reflects on the journey with gratitude: “I was lucky that I met the right people at the right time—and that Montgomery County was willing to support us. Without that, I’m not sure any of this would have been possible.”

Today, PCC stands as a testament to what vision, collaboration, and community commitment can achieve. And while the work is far from over, the mission remains clear: ensuring that everyone—regardless of background or income—has access to the care they need.

Mobile Medical Care, Inc. (“MobileMed”) was founded 57 years ago in 1968 to improve the health of low-income people who face the greatest barriers to care access in Montgomery County. As one of the County’s longest-standing safety net providers, MobileMed continued its mission and became a Federally Qualified Health Center in 2017. “Providing high-quality healthcare to low-income individuals is not just a job for us—it is our history and our passion, says Executive Director, Charlotte Jenkins. "We provide services to the uninsured, Medicaid, Medicare, and commercially insured. In FY25, our staff providers and volunteers provided services to 4,400+ people through 17,000+ encounters.”
 
Growing Demand for MobileMed Services
MobileMed provides comprehensive primary and preventive care, chronic disease management, specialty referrals, and behavioral health services through its three fixed-site clinics and at two community locations via its Mobile Health clinics. MobileMed has experienced a steady rise in patient volume and service utilization. In the first quarter of FY26, the organization delivered more than 3,800 encounters, representing a 5.5% increase over the same quarter in FY25 and a 15.7% increase over FY25 Q4. These trends mirror MCares’ system-wide growth, where visits have risen 5.8% year-over-year and overall demand is expected to exceed the current budget before the fiscal year ends. Across all care sites, MCares participants continue to make up the majority of MobileMed’s patient population.
 
At the same time, MobileMed has seen a shift in how patients choose to access care. Increasing numbers are opting for services delivered through its mobile clinic sites in Gaithersburg and Aspen Hill, rather than traditional fixed locations. From its origins, MobileMed focuses on going into communities where the need is the greatest to offer Mobile Clinic services. Its new ADA compliant Mobile unit allows MobileMed to increase its services to seniors and people with mobility challenges in their communities. 
 
Improving Cancer Screening Through Bilingual Navigation
In FY25, MobileMed secured a competitive grant from the Maryland Department of Health’s Center for Cancer Prevention to strengthen cancer screening outreach and follow-up. With this support, the organization implemented a bilingual patient navigation model that included multilingual educational materials, text and phone reminders, and coordinated follow-up for breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screenings.
 
The results within a single year were significant:

• Colorectal cancer screening rates increased from 45% to over 52% (FY25 Q1–Q4).
• More than 1,000 screening orders were placed for breast, cervical, or colorectal cancer.
• Screening completion rates reached 80–95%, depending on the cancer type.

 
Although the grant funded only one year of navigation services, MobileMed is committed to sustaining this progress. “Cancer screening is now a part of MobileMed’s integrated care approach, and the organization will continue proactive outreach to ensure our patients receive timely, preventive cancer screenings," Jenkins says. "MobileMed’s commitment to accessible, patient-centered care, deep community partnerships, data-driven quality initiatives, and innovative outreach strategies support residents with the fewest resources in receiving the services they need." 
 
Strengthening Community Connections Through On-Site Outreach
MobileMed strengthens community connections by working closely with faith-based institutions, housing programs, area hospitals, and food distribution sites to bring health information, coordinated care, and needed support directly to residents. This supports MobileMed’s goal to be a primary care medical home while supporting the patient’s overall needs to live healthy and productive lives.

​Giving Tuesday is right around the corner, and there are likely a lot of questions going through your mind: Which organizations will I donate to? How much will I donate? Is this donation tax-deductible?

With the 2026 tax changes ahead from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), now is the time to be asking them.

Do you know how the new tax changes can impact your giving deductions?

Depending on how much you make and give, you could benefit from new tax incentives.

If, like most taxpayers, you’re a standard deduction-er, these tax changes may mean a small tax break! Beginning in 2026, those who file using the standard deduction can deduct $1,000 (single filers) to $2000 (joint filers).

These new changes provide an incentive for the many donors who don’t currently see a financial benefit from their giving.

Itemizers will also see new policies in place. Beginning in 2026, only charitable donations above .5% of your Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) can be counted toward itemized deductions.

That means if you earn an AGI of $300,000, you will need to donate $1,500 before any of your donations can be deducted from your income tax obligations. So if your total charitable contributions add up to $5,000, only $3,500 is deductible.

Another big change coming in 2026 for those who choose to itemize? Filers in the highest tax bracket will face a lower cap on charitable giving deductions.

What are the takeaways for you?

First and foremost, get advice from a tax professional. (Not us!) In general, though:

If you typically use the standard deduction, you might see a bigger tax benefit from giving on January 1, 2026 than on December 31, 2025.

If you typically itemize deductions, you may see a bigger tax benefit from participating in 2025 Giving Tuesday and End-of-Year donation campaigns.

Are you interested in doing a deeper dive into how these upcoming tax changes will impact you and your loved ones? Check out this article for more details.

Whenever you choose to give, your investment in communities—right here and beyond—is essential. It’s worth deciding what patterns optimize your dollars, but don’t let tax changes keep you from giving.

​The safety net is under pressure, with federal grant access withering as need for services grows—and all of that is before we see a wave of residents who lose access to Medicaid or plans on the Maryland Health Benefits Exchange. Realizing that planning cannot wait for the full scope of the damage to be clear, the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and the Primary Care Coalition have been convening a collaborative series around Access to Care. The sessions bring together partners in the health care safety net to envision ways of meeting current and coming capacity challenges.
 
“DHHS and PCC are hosting a series of conversations among community partners to establish a shared vision for serving uninsured adults and children in the Montgomery Cares and Care for Kids programs,” says Annice Cody, PCC's President and CEO. “As demand increases, we want to leverage all available resources to maximize health care access and effectiveness.”
 
Over the four sessions, participants will move from defining the vision, to understanding the gaps between that vision and our current reality, proposing solutions, and agreeing on an action strategy.

Themes that have emerged so far include:

• Navigating residents to the best available health program coverage—helping residents who are Medicaid eligible access those more robust benefits while directing those who are not toward safety net options.
• Expanding the scope of the current safety net for more seamless primary care, including better vaccine availability and more seamless transitions from cancer screening to diagnosis and treatment.
  
• Improving connectivity among levels and modes of care delivery—from DHHS-operated mobile clinics, to hospital emergency departments so that all roads lead back to health management in a primary care home.
  
• Increasing the shared infrastructure that supports primary care so health centers can use shared purchasing to create economies of scale around essential but outsourced services like imaging, lab testing, and more.

 
In other words, how can we create more of the day-to-day, operational collaboration that will best serve our community? There are no easy answers, but the opportunities are exciting.

This article has not been reviewed or approved by the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services.

What an unforgettable evening! Still Believin’, our 2025 Storytelling Show, brought together our community of friends and partners at the Silver Spring Civic Building for an evening that was nothing short of inspiring.

The night began in a festive atmosphere, with guests mingling over appetizers and cocktails. But the true magic happened when everyone gathered in the auditorium to hear stories that moved hearts and sparked hope. There was laughter, there were tears, and above all, there was a powerful sense of community perseverance.

Each storyteller shared a deeply personal journey—stories of overcoming fear, embracing resilience, and committing to making the world a better place:

• Wenjing Zhang revealed how she turned her phobias into strengths, using fear to fuel growth.
• Brigid Howe reflected on how the volunteer job that seemed to derail her high school summer is still shaping her sense of community today.
• Uma Ahluwalia shared her full-circle immigration story, from her own American dream to her daughter’s move abroad for further study.
• Razia Alizada captivated the audience with her determination to rebuild her life—and dreams—after escaping Afghanistan.
• Corey Smedley showed how sibling rivalry and determination propelled him to excel in fire and rescue.
• Nina Ashford spoke about overcoming the identity crisis of postpartum depression through long walks, antidepressants, and some well-timed musical intervention.

​Thank you to everyone who joined us and made this event so special. We hope you left feeling inspired by the incredible stories and reminded of the strength we have when we come together. Here’s to building an even stronger community—together!