
The J. C. Lewis Primary Health Care Center (JCLPHCC) in Savannah, Georgia, has a history of serving the city's most vulnerable populations, specifically the homeless and uninsured.
Established in 1999, the center began as a鈥疢edical Respite and Out-Patient Care Program鈥痜or the homeless under the鈥疷nion Mission to address the health and healthcare needs of Savannah's homeless population. The center was named after鈥疛ulius Curtis Lewis Jr.鈥�(1926鈥�2005), a former Savannah mayor and philanthropist who donated over $100 million to local charities, including the founding of this health center. JCLPHCC expanded its services to include dental services while also receiving a formal "Healthcare Center for the Homeless" designation from 2000-2004. The center received 鈥淐ommunity Health Center鈥� status for primary care in 2009 and transitioned from a Union Mission program to a completely鈥痠ndependent 501(c)(3) nonprofit鈥痗orporation and FQHC in 2011.
Originally operating out of its downtown location, JCLPHCC, has since moved in 2020, to a new comprehensive main center facility to accommodate expanding services and patient volume. This FQHC鈥檚 services include adult medicine, pediatrics, behavioral health, women鈥檚 health, obstetrics, pharmacy, dental, imaging, optometry mobile health delivered by a team of providers to include physicians in (family medicine, pediatrics, internal medicine/cardiology, and psychiatry), optometrists, dentists and dental hygienists, pharmacists and family nurse practitioners. A location for pediatric services has been established as well as 鈥渟tation locations鈥� at the Salvation Army, Old Savannah City Mission, Tiny House Village Clinic and Pennsylvania Avenue Resource Center.
JCLPHCC鈥檚 clinical practice is recognized as a Patient Centered Medical Home by the National Committee for Quality Assurance, delivering health care to residents of Chatham County鈥�, including those who are underserved, uninsured, and underinsured.
J.C. Lewis Primary Health Care Center鈥檚 interprofessional comprehensive primary care clinical settings provide multiple learning opportunities for MCG students to experience and participate in the delivery of care to underserved communities and populations. As an MCG FQHC/CHC Educational Affiliate, they will provide a variety of student educational options under the supervision of physician members of their staff who also serve as MCG Community Clinical Faculty members.

Rena Douse, DNP

Michael Adams, MD

Kearra McKinney, MD