Memphis health watch: free dental care, St. Jude expansion, and new GLP-1 cancer questions
Memphis, TN – February 23, 2026 – Free dental care events, a major St. Jude research tower, and a UTHSC GLP-1 cancer study lead local health news.
Access to care: free dental services in Memphis
Several Memphis-area headlines this week focused on access to basic dental care. The Mid-South Mission of Mercy hosted at Bellevue Baptist Church is offering walk-in dental services with no appointment, and organizers say the event fills quickly. If you plan to go, arrive early, bring a list of your medications, and be ready for first-come, first-served triage (the clinic typically prioritizes pain and urgent needs).
Community impact: Mission of Mercy marks its 10th year
Organizers said the two-day clinic relies on a large team of dental, medical, and pharmacy volunteers, and that the goal is to reduce pain, restore function, and help people get back to smiling. Reports also highlighted the scale of the effort, with thousands helped on day one and a multi-year track record of serving many thousands of Mid-South residents who are uninsured or underinsured.
Research capacity: St. Jude’s new tower takes shape
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital also made news with plans for a major new research facility on its campus: a 17-story, roughly 865,000-square-foot Advanced Research Center II. St. Jude said the project represents an $810 million investment and is expected to expand lab space and staffing for life-saving research, with completion targeted for 2029. For Memphis, this is a reminder that local healthcare isn’t only clinics and hospitals—it’s also the science and infrastructure that fuels new treatments.
Weight, medications, and cancer: a Memphis study to watch
At the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, researchers are exploring a question many patients are asking: if GLP-1 medications help reduce obesity, could they also lower risk for some obesity-related cancers? The coverage emphasized that these are prescription medicines with side effects and monitoring needs, and that they’re not a substitute for cancer screening or other prevention basics.
What you can do right now
- If you need dental care, consider a free clinic option—but go early, expect lines, and bring your medication list.
- If you’re considering a GLP-1 medication, ask your clinician about benefits, side effects (including GI symptoms), and a follow-up plan.
- Keep prevention simple: don’t delay routine checkups, oral hygiene, and age-appropriate cancer screening.
- If cost is the barrier, ask clinics and hospitals about sliding-scale options and financial assistance programs.
Sources
https://www.actionnews5.com/2026/02/20/free-dental-services-available-this-weekend-bellevue-baptist/
https://www.actionnews5.com/2026/02/21/10th-annual-mid-south-mission-mercy-kicks-off-bringing-free-dental-services-locals/
https://www.actionnews5.com/2026/02/20/st-jude-investing-810m-new-17-story-research-tower-pinch-district/
