Our History

In 2011, The Caring Place and United Way conducted a survey to determine the most pressing needs in Bradley County. The survey concluded that adult dental care was the most unmet need in the community. A task force was formed, and Dr. James Ohlsson, who practiced dentistry in his private practice, was approached to address this need. He began volunteering at monthly extraction clinics coordinated by his wife, Kelly, and the need for a full-time clinic quickly became apparent. In 2015, Karis Dental opened its doors full-time in downtown Cleveland, offering life-changing restorative dentistry. Karis Dental has provided over $8 million in dental services since its opening.

Over the years, Kelly and Dr. Ohlsson realized that many dental patients had other health issues that went untreated due to a lack of health insurance and financial resources. At the same time, Dr. Madison Torrence was working in the Tennova emergency room, but his heart began to turn toward the underserved members of our community. His passion for this population, combined with Karis's vision to expand services, led to a partnership to address access to affordable healthcare. Karis Dental changed its name to Karis Community Health, and after much perseverance and collaboration, Karis Medical opened its doors in 2021, right next door to Karis Dental. Karis Medical offers primary care services focused on chronic disease prevention and health education.