History
In 1999, the medically uninsured was an invisible population, but two medical practitioners and members of St. Vincent de Paul Church in Germantown felt called to respond to the need for health care for this population, particularly the poor that lived in the parish neighborhood. In the spirit of St. Vincent de Paul, these two women, with only their stethoscopes and their medical expertise, decided to take action and offer primary health care, including medications, solely to those with no other access to care, the poor and uninsured.
The weekend nursing center in the parish hall was offered for use during the week, and Face to Face, a non-profit that runs many of the outreach programs at St. Vincent’s, agreed to take the clinic under its umbrella. On November 1, 1999, with little fanfare, St. Vincent’s Medical Office opened its doors. With curtained spaces for exam rooms, a $600 budget, and staffed only by its two founders, Sheila Davis, D.O. and Michele Palos-Samsi, PA-C, word of the clinic slowly spread, initially drawing referrals from the nursing center, and slowly spreading into the surrounding community. Volunteers helped to staff the fledgling clinic, and with an ad in the local paper, the clinic began to grow. An EKG machine and a laboratory license soon advanced the level of care offered.
St. Catherine Labouré lived in the mid-1800’s, and was a Daughter of Charity, an order of nuns started by St.Vincent. Her vision of Mary became the Miraculous Medal, the assistance of which the co-founders felt would undoubtedly be needed as they moved forward with their mission, fresh off of the sidewalk. With the shrine of St. Catherine Labouré in Germantown, they felt that the name would be familiar to people in the area, while keeping the Vincentian connection. St. Catherine Labouré Medical Clinic celebrated its first anniversary with a two year, $50,000.00 award from the Ascension Health Foundation.
By 2001 St. Catherine’s had outgrown its small space at St. Vincent’s and moved into the Germantown Women’s Y building just one block away. Although still with curtained exam rooms, the clinic was growing a positive reputation, and the patient population grew steadily. In June, 2002 the clinic incorporated as an independent entity, and in March 2003 the IRS approved its status as a 501c-3 non-profit.
In January 2004, with the imminent closure of the Y, the clinic relocated a half-block away, maintaining its visibility on Germantown Avenue just two blocks from the heart of the business district and putting it in a building with exam rooms (walls and doors), heat, and air conditioning. After four years the co-founders were finally able to offer their uninsured patients the dignity of a real doctor’s office.
From 2005 to the present, the clinic has continued to enjoy steady growth, met many challenges, and accomplished the goals it’s of its co-founders and the goals articulated in the mission statement. One of our most recent accomplishments was the receipt of the 2009 GlaxoSmithKline IMPACT Award. After an intensive review, winners were determined based on a strong demonstration of ongoing success in providing access to healthcare; commitment to serving people in need; facilitation of healthcare delivery, education, creative partnerships and policy development; and a solid record of achievement, management and leadership.
“All of the GlaxoSmithKline 12th Annual IMPACT Award winners are committed to the idea that everyone should have better access to healthcare and that no one should fall through the cracks. These organizations are on the front lines as change agents, working to build stronger and healthier and communities. They are all deeply committed to their work and clients,” said Mary Linda Andrews, GlaxoSmithKline Director, Community Partnerships.