Wooster’s free clinic expands into new building
PHOTOS PROVIDED
Above, dental hygienist Sue Roe with two of the Viola Startzman Clinic’s pediatric patients. The center has expanded into a second building, allowing more space for both dental and medical services.
Dr. Robert Burns and dental assistant Josie Schrock
CEO Jaime Parsons
WOOSTER The largest free clinic in Ohio has grown into a new location.
The Viola Startzman Clinic not only stepped up to challenges COVID-19 threw at the clinic in Wooster and remained open during the pandemic, but also moved its medical services into a second building this past summer to further meet patients’ needs.
Dental services remain at the 1874 Cleveland Road location, which is now referred to as the Viola Startzman Clinic Dental Center. Medical services moved 100 yards down the road and are now housed at 1739 Cleveland Road, the VSC Medical Center, which was formerly the Cleveland Clinic’s Wooster Women’s Health Center.
Work also continues this year by the clinic’s 16 staff members, more than 400 volunteers, and countless community collaborators to offer more services to patients to meet top needs – such as newly installed “food pharmacies” – and to take medical and dental care on the road.
Between all of the clinic’s sites and programs, the Viola Startzman Clinic makes contact with about 10,000 patients each year. The majority of patients are from Wayne and Holmes counties, but the clinic also has patients from surrounding counties. The clinic sees about 800-900 patients from the Dalton and Kidron and eastern Wayne County area.
The mission is a noble one: “to eliminate barriers to healthcare for vulnerable patients in Wayne County and surrounding communities.”
