For Dr. Jim Hines, Cleburne's HOPE Medical and Dental Clinic represented a fulfilling third act to his medical career.
"I've always felt comfortable here," Hines said after completing his Tuesday shift at the clinic. "I've always felt grateful too for this opportunity to continue seeing patients. So, I'm going to miss this, going to miss all of you and miss the patients."
HOPE staff members feel much the same about Hines.
"We all love him," HOPE Medical Clinic Manager Gidget Delaune said. "Our patients all love him. They don't want to see anyone else and just brag about him. He's so full of grace and kindness and we're definitely going to miss him."
HOPE Executive Director Diane Westcott agreed.
"Dr. Hines has been volunteering and coming out here weekly since 2019," Westcott said. "So his leaving is going to leave a huge hole because he's been so dependable and nice and helpful over these past several years for us and all our patients here."
A Corpus Christi native, Hines practiced medicine for 32 years in that city then went on to spend eight years working with people in need in Guatemala.
"My wife said I'm going and you can come if you want," Hines said with a laugh. "Because our grandsons are here, which is why we moved to Burleson six years ago. But other than that, my wife and I were both born and raised in Corpus."
The decision to pursue a medical career hit in high school, Hines said.
"I was 16, a junior in high school and just decided I wanted to be a doctor," Hines said. "I don't know why for sure. I think it was just the combination of I liked science and liked dealing with people.
"But anyway, I knew from that point that's what I wanted to do so I focused, changed my school study habits and did it."
Hines went on to graduate from the University of Texas Medical School in Galveston before returning to Corpus to open his private practice.
"The people," Hines answered when asked his favorite part of being a doctor. "I remember one gentleman I saw my first month of practice. He came in then a month later came in for chest pains and I worked him for that. We became very good friends and I ended up taking care of all of his family, brothers, sisters and kids. I've had that with other patients where we became friends and where I took care of them for 30, 40 years and that's meant a lot."
In addition to medical work, Hines and his wife worked with abused and abandoned girls and raised money for them to go to school.
"For some that means getting a GED and a job," Hines said. "For others going on to training or college. It's important because if they don't get an education they're doomed to repeat that cycle of poverty."
In addition to being personally rewarding, the work and fundraising made a difference, Hines said.
"One girl two years ago got a masters degree in psychology and two others recently graduated from a major Guatemalan university. One earned a degree in international business and the other is now going on to work on her masters degree in human resources."
Hines said he heard about HOPE Clinic from his son, Mark Hines, a Cleburne attorney.
"I've really liked it here," Hines said. "God has put us in a really great church here in the county and we've made some really good friends in a short amount of time."
Among hugs and thanks from staff members for his six years of service to the clinic on Tuesday, Hines promised to keep in touch and visit often but added that he and his wife also plan to continue their work in Guatemala.
"Between fundraising and all the administrative stuff that consumes a lot of our time," Hines said. "And we go down there once or twice a year. We actually went three times this year to attend graduations. But it's good work and important and I hope to continue with that."
Cleburne's Dr. Tony Torres established the Hope Clinic more than a decade ago.
The clinic serves the needs of low-income residents in Johnson and Hill counties as well as those who lack insurance and/or otherwise fall through the cracks of being able to afford medical care or being eligible for assistance.