At least 1.4 million North Carolinians are without health insurance, while many others are not insured enough. Thanks to some ordinary doctors doing extraordinary things for the uninsured and underinsured those people are getting the care they need.

Dr. Phillip Stover established Franklin County Volunteers In Medicine about a year ago. It serves some 200 patients for free in the evening, only taking care of chronic illnesses. Everything, including the building, was either donated or paid for with grants and donations. The entire staff of more than 100 people is volunteer.

Dr. Susan Weaver runs Alliance Medical Ministry in Raleigh. It's a primary care facility that serves around 9,000 patients. They pay a small fee. Other operating expenses come from donors, corporations and grants. Eight staff members are paid. There are about 300 volunteers.

Many of the patients are like Alice Walker who lost her health insurance when she had to quit working for medical reasons. She says the Franklin County clinic is a godsend and without it she doesn't know where she'd be.

Doctor Stover told me "In a small community, all it takes to make an impact is being willing to do it." And Dr. Weaver said, "It's the greatest gift I've ever been given. I tell people I don't think of it as a job."

Thank goodness these doctors are using their talents and gifts in this way.