The Migrant Clinicians Network originally was founded in 1984 thanks to the efforts of three dedicated clinicians: Willa Hays, RN from Northwest Michigan Health Services, Inc.; Gail Stevens, RN from Delmarva Rural Ministries; and David Smith, then a physician at Brownsville Community Health Center. The three met at the 1984 Annual Migrant Health Conference in Padre Island. Willa, Gail, and David found a common link as they shared their feelings of personal isolation and dismay at the lack of migrant-specific resources available to clinicians. As a result, a grassroots clinical network consisting of clinicians dedicated to improved healthcare for migrant farmworkers came into being.
MCN In Evolution
In 1985 with seed funding from the Migrant Health Program of the Bureau the Migrant Clinicians Network is formed. MCN gets its first home inside the National Migrant Referral Project (now NCFH).
In 1987 MCN hired its first full time employee, Karen Mountain, RN, MSN to serve as the Director and MCN holds its first Board of Directors meeting with John McFarland, DDS serving as the first Chair.
MCN has since evolved into a formal network and continues to flourish with numerous partnerships and associations, diversified funding, and an active membership.
In 2003 MCN broaded its mission to respond to the changing demographics of the mobile underserved. MCNs mission now is to positively impact the physical, mental and environmental health of Migrant and Seasonal farmworkers and other underserved mobile populations. MCN is dedicated to addressing the unique health care needs and barriers faced by migrant families through leadership, innovation, collaboration and support to health care providers.
Today MCN is comprised of 20 highly skilled staff members who continue to work for the cause of health justice for the mobile poor.
