Care. For Every County.

Our East Tennessee story began in 1961 with the founding of the Planned Parenthood Association of the Southern Mountains in Oak Ridge, followed by an affiliate in Knox County in 1976. As the movement grew, these organizations began joining forces - first in 1981, when the Southern Mountains and Knox County affiliates came together as Planned Parenthood of East Tennessee, expanding care across nine counties.

In 2000, the Middle and East Tennessee affiliates merged to form Planned Parenthood of Middle and East Tennessee. In 2018, PPMET united with Planned Parenthood Greater Memphis Region to become one statewide organization - Planned Parenthood of Tennessee & North Mississippi - extending services across all of Tennessee as well as 22 counties in northern Mississippi. 

In December 2021, the Knoxville Planned Parenthood clinic was burned down by an anti-abortion agitator, leaving a gap in care for our East Tennessee patients and supporters. Refusing to leave Knoxville patients without vital health care, Planned Parenthood of Tennessee and North Mississippi operated a Mobile Health Unit until our brand new Knoxville health center reopened in October 2024. 

PPTNM’s story in Middle and East Tennessee is one of steady growth and uniting for a stronger impact.  Together, these mergers created a stronger, more connected organization ready to serve even more communities with compassionate, accessible care. Even an arson could not stop our unwavering commitment to Standing Strong for patients.