All patients will be screened for COVID-19 symptoms upon arrival.

For inquiries, please leave a voicemail at 336-716-DEAC (3322) with your name, question, and a number that we can best reach you at. We will respond as soon as we are able to. This number should not be used for urgent medical needs and if this is a medical emergency, please call 911.


The DEAC Clinic is a student-run, physician-staffed free clinic for those who cannot afford health insurance and do not qualify for government assistance. At the same time, the DEAC Clinic gives Wake Forest University School of Medicine students valuable clinical experience and provides a teaching opportunity for faculty.

DEAC Clinic Gala

DEAC Clinic students will once again hold their annual fundraising gala on Friday, March 6, 2026.

How We Deliver Equal Access to Care

Students at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine are working to strengthen the health safety net here in Forsyth County. Watch the video to discover how our students are gaining invaluable clinical experience while helping those who are uninsured/without health insurance get the care they need.

Student-Driven Program

DEAC is a student-run, free medical clinic that provides high-quality care to local underserved communities in and around Winston Salem. DEAC is fully accredited by the North Carolina Association of Free and Charitable Clinics and maintains 501(c)3 status. 

Our Mission

The mission of DEAC is to provide high quality, free health care to underserved individuals within the Piedmont-Triad area in a sustainable manner, while creating a unique service-oriented learning experience for the students of Wake Forest University School of Medicine. 

Our Vision

To provide equal access to health care for those who would not otherwise receive treatment, while also striving to address social, economic, and cultural determinants of health by bridging access to existing community resources. 

Our Patients

Prospective patients must meet the following requirements: 

  • Residence in Forsyth, Davie, Stokes, Davidson, or Yadkin county (for at least 90 days)
  • No access to health insurance or government insurance programs

Our Services

The DEAC Clinic goes beyond most other student-run clinics by providing long-term continuity of care including:

  • Weekly Monday night clinic 5-9 pm 
  • Specialty clinics and health services
    • Orthopedics
    • Neurology
    • Dermatology
    • Pulmonology
    • Gastroenterology 
  • Limited free lab work
  • Smoking cessation counseling
  • Vision Clinic and Foot & Ankle Clinic in partnership with City With Dwellings
  • Monthly outreach events with various community organizations
  • Chronic disease education and medication management
  • Spanish interpretation services

History of DEAC

A small group of medical students conceived the notion of a student-run free clinic at the school of medicine in 2006. The goals were to:

  • Fill a health care gap in the local community
  • Provide hands-on learning in a clinical setting
  • Foster a culture that values providing health care to underserved populations

In 2008, DEAC held its first clinic. In 2009, it held its first fundraising gala, and in 2012 began the first of its Specialty Nights. In July 2017, the DEAC Clinic became the first student-run clinic to ever receive accreditation from the North Carolina Association of Free and Charitable Clinics (NCAFCC). This accreditation shows that DEAC Clinic is in compliance with the same high standards NCAFCC sets for any clinic.

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Community Impact

  • Partnership with Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Downtown Health Plaza to deliver high quality health care to patients 
  • Most patients report DEAC as their primary source of outpatient care 
  • Improved overall health 
  • Improved prevention and management of chronic diseases 
  • Decreased emergency department visits and hospitalization
  • Decreased work absenteeism

A community oriented vision drives the DEAC executive board to continuously improve the clinic and the services it provides. At its core, DEAC serves to increase healthcare access by serving the uninsured, providing late evening hours not traditionally available in primary care, and purposefully engaging in the needs of a diverse and socioeconomically disadvantaged population. While this community outreach is grounded in our Monday night clinics, we consistently aim to identify and address the needs of the community through outcomes reporting.

2024 DEAC Clinic Highlights

In 2024, DEAC Clinic continued to make a meaningful impact in our community by providing high-quality, no-cost care:

  • 96 patients received a total of 207 free clinic visits, with services valued at $65,867
  • 255 lab tests + 27 imaging studies were ordered, and 5 procedures were performed totaling $52,904 in value
  • Hosted 20 Specialty Night Clinics in Orthopedics, Neurology, Gastroenterology, Pulmonology, and Dermatology
  • The DEAC Vision Clinic saw 55 patients and provided 26 pairs of prescription glasses
  • The DEAC Foot and Ankle Clinic served 233 patients, distributing 186 pairs of new tennis shoes
  • DEAC Outreach conducted health screenings for 135 individuals at local community events
  • In collaboration with Campus Kitchen, 192 meals were provided to our patients