Knox Clinic founder and longtime Board President Dr. Paul Klainer has been awarded the 2024 Dr. Wendy J. Wolf Health Leadership Award. This is Maine Health Access Foundation’s (MeHAF) highest statewide honor, given to only one leader each year to recognize extraordinary impact on health equity, according to Knox Clinic.

Dr. Klainer, a board-certified internist and emergency physician, founded the Knox Clinic in 1999 after recognizing the urgent need for accessible medical care among Midcoast Maine’s working families. What began in a borrowed office with four uninsured patients has grown into a vital community institution that has provided more than 40,000 visits for over 6,000 uninsured and underinsured neighbors — and saved patients more than $25 million in prescription costs, according to Knox Clinic.

"For over 25 years, Dr. Klainer has been both a frontline caregiver and a systems-level change maker — serving thousands of patients himself while simultaneously redesigning how care is delivered in rural Maine," said Knox Clinic "His strategic leadership has guided the Clinic’s transformation from a part-time, all-volunteer free clinic into a Community Health Center, a move that will permanently expand access to integrated, affordable care for Midcoast Maine."

Dr. Klainer’s leadership is defined by a combination of hands-on care, advocacy, and collaboration. He has chaired community health initiatives, served in leadership roles across Penobscot Bay Healthcare and MaineHealth, and mentored future healthcare providers to serve rural and underserved populations.

"Paul’s impact is perhaps most deeply felt in the lives of his patients," said Knox Clinic.

One longtime patient shared, “Dr. Klainer’s a fabulous man. I don’t trust most doctors, but he’s awesome. We connect—he got me through a lot.” Another stated simply, “Dr. Paul saved my life. I even quit smoking for that man.”

As part of the award, MeHAF has made a $10,000 gift to the Knox Clinic, which will directly support the organization’s expansion into a Community Health Center — advancing its mission to provide accessible, high-quality healthcare to all.

"The Knox Clinic congratulates Dr. Klainer on this extraordinary, well-deserved honor and extends our profound gratitude for his decades of leadership, vision, and unwavering belief that healthcare is a right, not a privilege," said Knox Clinic.

For more information, contact Jesse Lucas, Communications and Outreach Coordinator, at jesse@knoxclinic.org

For 26 years, the Knox Clinic has provided affordable, accessible healthcare to Midcoast Maine residents. What began as a volunteer-driven free clinic is now a growing nonprofit health center offering medical, dental, mental health, and wellness services. The Clinic accepts all ages, all major insurances (including MaineCare and Medicare), provides sliding scale options, and continues to expand programs that address community health holistically.