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A Legacy of Care :

How Two Women Changed Healthcare in Collier County

by Jamie Ulmer, CEO Healthcare Network

n the heart of Immokalee, where the fields stretch toward the A New Chapter for a Historic Place
horizon and the spirit of community runs deep, a small but Their vision didn’t just build a building; it built trust, access, and a
Ipowerful shift in healthcare began nearly five decades ago. It healthier future. And that legacy continues today.
started with two remarkable women whose compassion and leadership Nearly 50 years after our founding, the MEF center remains the
transformed not just a community, but the future of healthcare for only comprehensive healthcare option for many Immokalee residents.
thousands of families. It’s where families turn for adult and senior care, dental services, x-rays
A Vision Takes Root and lab work, HIV and infectious disease treatment, and even in-house
In 1948, Marion E. Fether moved to Immokalee with a passion pharmacy support. It’s also home to critical programs for women and
for service and a drive to make a difference. She quickly became a children, thanks to our partnership with the Florida State University
cornerstone of the community, serving as a home-school liaison, College of Medicine next door.
treasurer of the Immokalee Migrant Committee, and coordinator of But time has taken its toll. Some parts of the original building, like
clothing and toy drives for families struggling to make ends meet. But the roof, have never been replaced. That’s why we’re embarking on an
Marion’s greatest impact was still to come. ambitious renovation project that will double patient capacity, add more
By the early 1990s, the need for healthcare among Immokalee’s exam rooms, integrate new technology, and enhance the overall patient
agricultural workers and their families was urgent. Many were experience for the more than 10,000 people we serve every year.
uninsured, undernourished, and without reliable access to even basic Renovations began in early 2024 and will be completed in phases
medical services. At that time, our organization, then called Collier to ensure uninterrupted care. The total cost of this transformation is
Health Services, operated out of just two trailers staffed by volunteer estimated at $5 million, and we’re closing in on that goal, just $900,000
doctors. remains to bring this vision fully to life.
Marion knew the community deserved more. Through tireless Continuing a Legacy of Compassion
advocacy and leadership as chair of our board, she helped turn a dream From two humble trailers to a thriving network of care, our story
into reality. And in 1993, thanks to her determination, our very first is woven into the fabric of Collier County’s history and its future. Just
medical facility opened its doors. as Marion E. Fether and Isabel Collier Read laid the foundation for
A Legacy of Generosity this mission decades ago, we remain dedicated to building on their
The new center wouldn’t have been possible without the legacy, ensuring that every person in Immokalee, no matter their
extraordinary generosity of Isabel Collier Read, a philanthropist whose income or insurance status, has access to the healthcare they deserve for
family helped develop Collier County. Isabel shared Marion’s deep generations to come.
love for Immokalee and her commitment to healthcare access for all. About the Author
Through her family foundation, she donated the land and funding that Jamie Ulmer is President and CEO of Healthcare Network. An advocate
made the facility possible. for health equity, he leads a $100 million health system dedicated to ensuring
The result was the Marion E. Fether (MEF) Health Center, a that everyone, regardless of income or insurance, has access to quality,
lifeline for a community in need. On its opening day, we were already compassionate care. He serves on the boards of the National Association of
serving more than 15,000 patients, a testament to just how vital this Community Health Centers and the Florida Association of Community
new center was. Health Centers, where he helps shape the future of community healthcare
locally and nationally.
Learn more about Healthcare Network at HealthcareSWFL.org

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