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Cahaba Medical Care. Dr. Clements and Ms. Ross. (Nathan Watson / Bham Now)

Denise Davis, a Birmingham native and pharmacist of 30 years, was living her best life on the coast when her whole world changed. She was diagnosed with lupus, which led to progressive kidney disease, failed treatments and early retirement—all without medical insurance.

With the support of a new doctor, she was able to find her way back. This is her story.

Finding the right doctor at Cahaba Medical Care in Birmingham

With no job or insurance to support her and her health continuing to plummet, Denise moved back to Birmingham to be close to family.

“I felt like I had lost everything… my health, my career.”
Denise Davis, patient, Cahaba Medical Care

She knew she’d have trouble receiving the medical care she needed, but she wasn’t done trying.

Through a suggestion from her son, she discovered Dr. Ernestine Clements, DO, Physician at Cahaba Medical Care.

Cahaba Medical Care is a local, community-based nonprofit committed to providing compassionate, high-quality healthcare to everyone—regardless of their ability to pay. Rooted in a mission to follow Christ, it seeks to be an incarnation of His love, peace, and justice by caring for the whole person. Through a sliding fee scale based on income and family size, it ensures that no one is turned away due to cost.

This filled an important need for Denise.

“If you don’t have insurance, Cahaba Medical is wonderful. I was able to get vital medicine that otherwise would have been impossible to get due to high cost.”
Denise Davis, patient, Cahaba Medical Care

Another part of Cahaba’s mission is to provide compassionate, high-quality care—something Denise experienced firsthand with Dr. Clements.

“She’s so invested in her patients. I love her faith, it shows all over her face. She’s not in it for the money. She’s here because she cares about people, and it shows.

I was a pharmacist for 30 years all over Alabama. I’ve dealt with every kind of doctor there is. Dr. Clements is just the best.”
Denise Davis, patient, Cahaba Medical Care

Denise currently lives in Boaz, Alabama and has regained medical insurance, but chooses to continue seeing Dr. Clements at Cahaba Medical Care’s West End clinic in Birmingham—despite the nearly hour-and-a-half drive each way for every appointment.

“When you find a doctor you can trust and who cares about you, you stick with them. When I came to Cahaba Medical Care, my health was at rock bottom. But under Dr. Clement’s care over the past seven years, I’m better than I have been in a long time.”
Denise Davis, patient, Cahaba Medical Care

Cahaba Medical Care services

Cahaba Medical Care provides comprehensive care to people of all ages, whether they need chronic disease management like Denise, behavioral health services or dental care.

Here are some more medical services Cahaba provides: