Yale's Free Health Clinic Marks 5th Anniversary With Community Celebration

For more than five years, the HAVEN Free Clinic has been providing health care to members of the New Haven community. HAVEN, run by Yale students in the health professions, is an invaluable resource for the Fair Haven community, which has large numbers of uninsured residents and many health-related risk factors.

For more than five years, the HAVEN Free Clinic has been providing health care to members of the New Haven community. HAVEN, run by Yale students in the health professions, is an invaluable resource for the Fair Haven community, which has large numbers of uninsured residents and many health-related risk factors.

On Saturday, August 6, HAVEN will celebrate its fifth anniversary with a community celebration that also commemorates the 40th anniversary of the Fair Haven Community Health Center. The gathering will take place from 11 A.M. to 3 P.M. at the Fair Haven Community Health Center, 374 Grand Avenue, Fair Haven

The celebration will be focused on activities that promote a healthy lifestyle such as a sampling of fresh fruits and vegetables, learning simple chair exercises for strength, jumping rope, stationary bike riding, Zumba demonstrations and more. Yale School of Nursing’s Linda Pellico will also make an appearance with Have Bones Will Travel, a fun, interactive way to teach adults and kids about the human body (for more, see related story).There will also be music, entertainment, raffles and information about both the HAVEN Free Clinic and the Fair Haven Community Health Center.

HAVEN’s model is unique, in that it includes students from all the Yale health disciplines: medicine, nursing, physician associates and public health. Since opening its doors in November, 2005, HAVEN has conducted more than 2,000 adult patient visits. Patients are seen by teams of senior and junior students, with guidance from Yale faculty members. Its programs are completely free, and are supported entirely by donations of time and services, including diagnostic tests donated by Yale-New Haven Hospital.

“The HAVEN Free Clinic is a successful reciprocal relationship between the Yale Health Professional Schools and the Fair Haven community,” said HAVEN lab director Rachel Popick, YSN ’12. “We are able to fill a gap in healthcare for the uninsured in Fair Haven by offering not just medical services but also assistance on social services, health education, referrals to specialists and other free or low cost services in the community.”

The students gain as well, Popick said, “As students, we get the opportunity to improve our clinical skills, learn about running a health center, and learn from our patients and their experiences.”

HAVEN operates Saturdays from 9am to 12 Noon at the Fair Haven Community Health Center. For more information on the HAVEN free clinic, visit their web site.

Yale University has high resolution photographs of the HAVEN free clinic, which may be downloaded and used with proper credit: Courtesy: John Curtis, Yale School of Medicine.  Download high resolution photographs.

Also contact: PRESS CONTACT: Rachel Popick 401-447-5233