The Positive Voices

Catherine’s Health Center is a non-profit, community-based free clinic dedicated to well-ness and preventive care. Named after Catherine McAuley, the foundress of the Sisters of Mercy, its mission is to provide health education, screening, and primary care medical services to low-income uninsured and medically under-served residents of Grand Rapids. “We aim not only to serve our patients’ immediate medical needs, but to establish relationships and partnerships within the community, to continue to meet the growing health care needs of the under-insured” says Executive Director Karen Kaashoek. Housed in 1200 square feet of basement space in St. Alphonsus Church, the clinic is recognizable for the bright blue doors facing Leonard Street. Established in 1996 as a partnership between St. Mary’s Hospital, St. Alphonsus Parish, and the Creston Neighborhood Association, Catherine’s operated as a combined program of the three organizations until 2005, when the clinic acquired its own non-profit status. Initially established as a volunteer nurse-run clinic open a few hours a week, the focus was education, triage, and childhood immunizations. Because of the growing need for primary health care services for the working poor, Catherine’s has grown over the years and is now open four and a half days a week, providing general Flu shot clinic at Calvin family practice care to more than 400 patients per month. The clinic functions with a core of paid staff and many volunteers including doctors, nurses, therapists, and many other skilled people who provide services in professional and lay capacity. The slow local economy has resulted in a large increase in the numbers of uninsured, many of whom find their way to Catherine’s doors. Today the clinic operates at peak capacity, making full use of every square inch and still turning away more than 20 potential patients each day. They have outgrown the current space and not only must decline offers of medical volunteers, but cannot even use the ones they have efficiently. In response to the enormous need, Catherine’s Health Center made the public announcement of its Opening Doors Campaign on April 13th. This $1.275 million fundraising effort will renovate six classrooms in the former St. Alphonsus School, giving the new clinic 6500 square feet. This will solve the space issue by more than quadrupling the footage, tripling the number of exam rooms, providing easier access, and creating overall an even more efficient and effective clinic. The planned expansion will triple the number of patient visits each year from 5,000 to nearly 15,000. The community has responded with enthusiasm in spite of tough economic times, according to Janet Zahn, Development Director of Catherine’s Health Center. “We have had beautiful financial support from area Foundations, corporations and individuals. Leadership from our co-chairs Dr Tom Gribbin, Medical Director of Lacks Cancer Center and his wife Dr. Denise Gribbin, Medical Director of Network 180, Kim Horn, CEO of Priority Health, and Jack & Rita Kirkwood, owners of Bulman Products, along with an energetic group of campaign volunteers have brought us to this point.” The campaign has raised just over $1 million so far, and seeks to complete fundraising this summer. For information on donating to the Opening Doors Campaign, call 616-233-0992, visit http://www.catherinescare.org/ or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .