ORANGE PARK – As The Way Free Medical Clinic now accepts patients at its new clinic at 302 College Dr., Executive Director Don Fann decided it was time to retire.

The Board of Directors quickly moved to promote Associate Executive Director Andrea Crowder to replace him, effective on Jan. 1. Fann will remain with the nonprofit that provides free medical and dental services to residents to improve the overall health of those who are within 300% of the federal poverty guideline that are uninsured or underinsured into the spring during the transition period as the Interim Development Director until one is hired.

Andrea Crowder has more than 20 years of experience in healthcare and has been serving as Associate Executive Director for The Way for the past two years, running the clinic operation in Green Cove Springs while Fann managed The Way’s new clinic facility project on College Drive. “I can’t think of a better person than Andrea to replace me. She is well-loved by the community and will make a great leader for the organization,” Fann said.

During Fann’s tenure at The Way, he has overseen a major expansion of the clinic's resources and programming and successfully established its new permanent home on College Drive.

“I leave The Way with a good feeling in my heart—this has been the best work experience in my entire career,” he said.

The Way was originally at 479 Houston St. in Green Cove Springs, but a surprising gift by Karen King of an expanded lot and building allowed Fann to start planning a move.

It took more than four years and $2.6 million to complete the mission, but The Way closed its 3,300-square-foot building in Green Cove Springs the last week of November and opened its new 7,300-square-foot clinic a few days later.

“Clay County is such a unique community,” Crowder said. “You put an ask out, and someone is there to answer it. I truly enjoyed this community. Since I moved here from South Florida, there's no looking back.

“While they were working on the building, Don, I and (Board Member) Bob Olson would come here every week just to see the construction. It was unbelievable during the last two years, especially after the walls went up. We knew it would be larger than the other clinic, but when you saw it, it was amazing.”