Midlothian Clinic to celebrate grand opening

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

Midlothian Free Health Clinic on Wick will celebrate the grand opening of its new location in the lower level of First Presbyterian Church, 201 Wick Ave., from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday.

Light refreshments will be served.

The clinic is offering a new service, Penguin Physical Therapy, in collaboration with the Youngstown State University doctor of physical therapy program.

The clinic had been located in Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 388 E. Midlothian Blvd., which closed late last year. The clinic began at the church as a community outreach project in March 2008. Organizers were Pastor Robert Johnson, formerly of Bethlehem, and Carol Beard of Christ Lutheran Church in Struthers, a registered nurse.

Maureen Cronin, executive director, and Jim Benedict, board president, said the downtown location is a good fit. The lower level of the expansive church has been remodeled to suit the clinic’s needs, and the church assumed the cost.

The church is on the WRTA bus route and has ample parking.

The clinic provides free health care, including diabetes education, EKG, blood tests, blood-pressure checks, blood sugar and foot checks, HIV testing and healthful-cooking classes.

Patients are seen by appointment from 6 to 9 p.m. the second and fourth Thursdays of the month. Call 330-788-3330. Those eligible must be from 18 to 64 years old, uninsured and have annual income of less than 200 percent of Health and Human Services poverty guidelines.

Dr. Thomas E. Albani Jr., a family physician, is medical director. Ten doctors volunteer and rotate at the clinic. On appointment nights, there are from 10 to 12 nurses and 10 to 15 lay volunteers at the clinic. To volunteer, call the office at 330-787-4193. Visit www.MidlothianFreeHealthClinic.com.