In early 1999, Dr. Timothy M. Henschel, a board certified pediatrician from Vanderbilt University met with a group of community leaders to discuss their concerns about increasing healthcare access problems confronting children enrolled in TennCare (Tennessee’s Medicaid program) and children without health insurance. 

After several months of discussion, assessment, and validation of need, Dr. Henschel and an organizing committee emerged with a clear vision for Mercy Children’s Clinic. MCC was born out of the belief that individuals, businesses and churches- and not solely the government- should share responsibility for the care of uninsured or under-insured children who are unable to access the same sources for healthcare as those with health insurance.