How Penn State’s ‘tailgate medicine concept’ continues to grow in reach, impact
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Lion Mobile Clinic serves Centre and neighboring counties at community events.
- Clinic screens, educates and helps connect uninsured patients to long‑term care.
- Program served 2,814 people last year and plans to sustain outreach in 2026.
A Penn State mobile medical unit that was created four years ago to bring vital health services to Snow Shoe after the community lost its only local medical clinic continues to expand its reach, one community event at a time.
As spring approaches, the Lion Mobile Clinic is set to boost its operations, offering services to communities across Centre and neighboring counties. They operate as a responsive unit, where community partners can request their pop-up medical setup during community events or to address general medical needs, said Dr. Michael McShane, a State College-based assistant professor of medicine.
The medical unit is staffed by students in medicine career pathways and volunteer resident medics who are supervised by faculty members functioning together as a classroom and service unit. They are trained with a “tailgate medicine concept,” McShane explained Wednesday during an event in Bellefonte. They either travel on a pick-up truck or bring along one of their two Airstream units, disembarking anywhere and providing care with all essential equipment in a backpack.
“We understand that health care systems are intimidating for folks, especially if they have been disenfranchised by the system,” McShane said. “We want to make health services approachable by bringing it down to the basics, a truck with the tailgate down, and tools in a backpack.”
While Lion Mobile Clinic’s initial focus centered on early detection screenings and preventative measures for prevalent cardiovascular health issues such as diabetes, high cholesterol and hypertension, the clinic has since expanded its scope. Over the past four years, it has established collaborations with health institutions like the Pennsylvania Cancer Institute. This allows them to offer practical and cutting-edge cancer-related screenings, such as for skin and cervical cancer, McShane said.
They include services based on the need for them, he added, noting they recently added oral health and preventative education.
“We not only focus on what (services) the community partner requested, but also try to understand what those needs might be so we can re-adjust and plan better the next time around,“ McShane said.
The clinic offers free services, and patients do not need insurance. For specialized or long-term care beyond the clinic’s scope, staff assists patients in connecting with established, permanent clinics.
“I think we really view it as a resource hub,” McShane said. “It’s not just a clinic, it’s a platform for access to resources that may benefit those in the community.”
At Wednesday’s event outside the Trinity United Methodist Church in Bellefonte, the clinic not only offered services but also gifted the church a new cooking stove to replace a broken one. It was a significant donation for the church that offers a free lunch to anyone who needs it, five days a week.
Church Pastor James Conway said the clinic has been attending their events for over a year to help people with disabilities who don’t have the ability to navigate the system. “It’s been a blessing to our community,” Conway said.
Operating from an Airstream Base Camp unit, the clinic serviced 16 people in two hours. Patients were met with a warm and hospitable medical professional inside the spotless interior. Essential resources like blood pressure cuffs and gun locks were distributed. McShane deemed the day a success, noting that caring for even one patient fulfills their goal.
McShane sees the clinic eventually traveling across the state to meet the recognized and increasing demand for its services, especially in rural areas.
“I really view this as a land grant mission in motion of trying to provide service, education and research to communities across the state,” he said.
Last year, the Lion Mobile Clinic went to more than 100 events and served a total of 2,814 people, primarily in Centre County, according to their Clinical Impact report. McShane and other leaders plan to maintain the pace in 2026.
The clinic’s next event is scheduled for 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Moshannon Valley YMCA in Philipsburg, offering free preventative screening tests for both blood pressure and blood sugar.
Community leaders can request the clinic’s services by finding more information on their website: med.psu.edu/education/student-life/lion-mobile-clinic. Interested attendees can also find the clinic’s calendar of events for the entire summer and beyond on the same site.
This story was originally published April 9, 2026 at 3:59 PM.
