HealthCore Clinic co-founder’s legacy will continue to impact thousands of Wichitans

When 17-year-old Arneatha Martin became pregnant in 1961 and received substandard hospital care because she was a young Black woman, she made a decision that would not only change the trajectory of her life but thousands of lives in northeast Wichita.

“It had been her life goal to have a place for the underserved to go and get health care,” said Cynthia Martin, one of her two daughters.

“Her slogan was ‘Care good enough for me.’ ”

Arneatha Martin, who died Aug. 27 at age 77, became a nurse and obtained a master’s degree from Wichita State University.

Businessman Bud Gates, then CEO of Thorn Americas, heard she had a vision for health care in the northeast community.

“We sat down for a one-hour lunch, and four hours later the vision for what was then the Center for Health and Wellness was born,” Gates said.

Today, it’s known as HealthCore Clinic and serves almost 11,000 patients annually regardless of their ability to pay. A second $35 million HealthCore Clinic is in the works on the south side.

“She had great passion . . . and clarity for what she wanted,” Gates said.

He was the one who could open doors to businesses and banks, but Gates said it was Martin who would “spew her passion out, and people would say, ‘OK, I’ll give you x.’ ”

Martin was CEO of the clinic until her health — she eventually was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease — forced her to retire.

Current HealthCore president and CEO Teresa Lovelady called Martin a superheroine who taught her to follow the data and “do the very best for the community even if the community doesn’t believe what I’m doing is best.”

Lovelady said Martin was petite and tough.

“She had a certain presence. When she came in the room, you knew she was in the room.”

Lovelady said Martin “planted a seed, and she has a legacy that lives on and on and on, and I’m so proud to stand on her shoulders.”

Martin was part of Lori Dennis-Johnson’s church family at St. James Missionary Baptist Church as Dennis-Johnson was growing up, and she remembered the way Martin valued everyone.

“She was always a great listener, and she was also always a great observer of people.”

Martin was born in Malvern, Ark., and moved to Wichita just before sixth grade. She graduated East High School at age 16.

“Because she’s just that phenomenal,” Cynthia Martin said.

Then Arneatha Kennedy, she was still 16 when she married her high school sweetheart, Dwain Martin.

In addition to what happened to her when she was pregnant, another seminal moment came while she was still in school, and a guidance counselor told her that instead of going to nursing school, she should take up a trade.

“That just put fire under her,” Cynthia Martin said.

It took Arneatha Martin years to obtain her degrees while also raising her children, including Regina Martin-Lynch, and working in nursing homes among other jobs.

Eventually, she became a lieutenant colonel in the Army, where she served from 1978 to 2000.

“She was stern but loving,” Cynthia Martin said. “She preached to us that education is the key.”

The daughters did community service with their mother and were involved in pursuits with the Wichita Black Nurses Association.

Martin eventually became an advanced registered nurse practitioner, and Dennis-Johnson said she was “one of the most beloved community nurses” in the area.

The family is working to establish a nursing scholarship at WSU in Martin’s name.

Martin lived in Jacksonville, Fla., at the time of her death. She is survived by her husband and daughters.

A family visitation is from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, and a celebration of life service is at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at St. Mark United Methodist Church.

Gates said the world is a better place because of Martin.

“Think about how many lives she’s impacted. It’s amazing.”