Free faith-based clinic in Oklahoma City is set for expansion

He said he was a longtime clinic volunteer and now, through the grant, has become the clinic's first paid medical director. Loper said service hours for the appointment-only clinic are expected to expand in March.

On a recent Tuesday, Loper gathered the volunteer doctors, nurses and medical students (most from the nearby University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center) for a heartfelt prayer.

He said the clinic was born out of the Christian faith principles of loving and serving others.

He said besides additional office space and teaching areas, he would like to see a small chapel constructed as part of the clinic expansion effort.

Ingram agreed.

“Our goal is to minister to the whole person,” she said.

“People come with multiple health issues, and our goal is to bring a holistic approach to their needs.”

Rita Nonnen, of Del City, one of Loper's longtime clinic patients, said she can attest to the caring attention he and clinic volunteers have lavished on her over the years.

“Dr. Loper is really a good doctor,” Nonnen, 32, said, smiling.

“I've never seen anyone who cares for his patients as much.”

Hearing the woman's words, Ingram nodded her head in affirmation.

“It says that we're doing what we indeed to do — and that is to treat people as people and not numbers.”