Congratulations Marin City Health and Wellness Center!

Everyday Vesper Society links arms with leaders and communities to uplift through service, break down barriers, and elevate community voices. We are thrilled to celebrate the opening of Marin City Health and Wellness Center (MCHWC) flagship clinic and its new Women’s Health Clinic in San Rafael!

Marin City residents through their grassroots efforts fought to make primary care accessible for low-income families in this historically African American community dating back to 1942.  During World War II many African American shipyard laborers migrated from the South and eventually settled in Marin City by choice or due to racial discriminatory laws limiting housing opportunities.

The new 23,629 square foot facility on Phillips Drive replaces a 17-year old temporary clinic space and doubles the patient capacity. Here are some quotes from MCHWC’s leadership.

Nancy Johnson, Chair, Board of Directors states: “The opening of these two new centers is consistent with MCHWC’s mission of providing innovative health and wellness services to all, with the goal of African American health equity. They are key components of our overall expansion plan, which included the previous opening of the Bayview Clinic in San Francisco. Now, after 17 years providing care at Drake Ave., we have …these new centers in Marin. It’s a dream come true.”

Harold Wallace, CEO, explained that “The new clinic is night and day compared to Drake Ave. It’s twice the size and a modern, highly functional facility. We have added staff, more medical exam rooms and dental chairs; have expanded behavioral health spaces and installed an emergency generator. Plus, we have implemented new technologies – including a 360-degree dental x-ray machine, an intraoral dental x-ray system, telemedicine for behavioral health, a fiber-connected IT system, and wireless technology inside the building.”

“In addition to making this a highly functional facility, it was important to offer a more attractive, patient-friendly clinic. As examples, we have installed a new AT&T Call Center that will streamline patient calls and make appointment scheduling and referrals much easier, we have also built an attractive glass enclosed breezeway waiting area with planned décor that will include artwork and historical depictions of Marin City – all to make patient waiting more pleasurable.”

“Now the community has what it deserves.”

The new 2,800 square foot Women’s Health Center in San Rafael has 4 patient exam rooms. MCHWC has partnered with Vivalon to provide transportation for patients who need assistance. Routine well woman care will be provided by family medicine practitioners, including nurse practitioners.

Congratulations Marin City Health and Wellness Center! We are one step closer to a world where everyone is well and treated with respect and dignity.