This year, Good Samaritan Health Centers of Gwinnett celebrates 20 years of service, marking two decades of providing primary care and dental services to uninsured and underserved individuals.
Founded in 2005 as a part-time medical clinic, the organization has since evolved into a cornerstone of community healthcare, responding to the growing demand for accessible and comprehensive services. Good Samaritan Gwinnett has welcomed more than 58,437 people through its doors more than 325,000 times within the last two decades.
“Good Samaritan Gwinnett in 20 years has worked really hard to help the community from having to go to the emergency room,” said Patty Thumann, board chair of Good Samaritan Gwinnett. “If you don’t have insurance and cannot find affordable healthcare or dental care, you can come to Good Samaritan Gwinnett and get that.”
“We have two clinics in Gwinnett County, but people come from all over the state,” she continued. “The opportunity to offer this in other clinics and grow it is incredible. And I can see that in the next 20 years.”
Anniversary video
Good Samaritan Gwinnett has released a special 20th anniversary video to commemorate this milestone. The video features board members, leaders and staff, who share reflections on the organization’s impact and mission to transform people and communities through accessible healthcare.
A Legacy of growth and service
The Good Samaritan organization has continually expanded to meet the growing needs of the community. From launching dental services in 2009 to tripling its facility capacity with a new location off Buford Highway in 2015, its impact has only deepened. In 2019, the organization added the East clinic location near Jimmy Carter Blvd. and Rockbridge Rd.
Recognizing the urgent demand for a dedicated facility to support patients with COVID-19 and other highly communicable diseases, Good Samaritan Gwinnett also opened the Screening and Prevention Annex (SPA) in 2021 at its Buford Highway location. The East clinic location followed suit with a new SPA in March 2025.
Beyond direct patient care, Good Samaritan Gwinnett is committed to equipping the next generation of healthcare professionals to serve underserved communities. Since 2012, the organization has mentored nearly 450 graduate students in medical and dental programs.
It received state authorization from the Georgia Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission (GNPEC) to officially launch Access Academy, a private, certificate-granting, low-cost postsecondary education program targeting students of low-income and/or minority households.
Looking ahead
Good Samaritan Gwinnett remains committed to transforming people and communities.
“The fact that we have been here 20 years has shown that God has really had his hand on this ministry,” said Shameka Allen, CEO of Good Samaritan Gwinnett.
“My hope for the next 20 years is that our footprint in the county can grow through training and development as well as healthcare through Access Academy and just being able to reach more people and give them an opportunity to get that foothold into healthcare that they might not otherwise have.”
“I also think we’ll continue to be a beacon in the community,” said Dr. Greg Lang, chief financial officer & former executive director of Good Samaritan Gwinnett. “[Good Samaritan Gwinnett] is the busiest nonprofit health clinic, [and it’s] the largest nonprofit dental clinic in Gwinnett County. As the county continues to grow, more and more people will learn about us.”
To learn more about Good Samaritan Health Centers of Gwinnett, visit goodsamgwinnett.org.
