PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The Black Doctors COVID-19 Consortium now has a brick-and-mortar building to call home.
Over the last nearly two years, the group has expanded from providing COVID-19 testing to vaccinations, and now its own health care center in North Philadelphia. The new facility, called the Dr. Ala Stanford Center for Health Equity, will do more than just deal with the COVID-19 crisis.
“It feels wonderful to see it come to fruition,” said founder Stanford. “We’re going to see newborns through our seniors. If someone needs blood work done, we’ll be able to offer that here on-site, as well as your analysis.”
Stanford was prepared to go back to the operating room this fall, but feedback from people at the group’s COVID-19 clinics showed there was more work to be done.
“It has been all about listening to the people, and they let us know this is what they needed,” she said.
Liz Grant was one of the center’s first patients when it opened its doors for business Wednesday morning at 2001 W. Lehigh Ave. She said having this resource in her neighborhood — which is also connected to the adjacent church — is a true blessing.
“Mostly Blacks, we have underlying conditions as it is. A lot of us don’t trust in doctors, we don’t believe in them,” she said. “But I do believe in God and I believe in the doctors because God controls them as they treat us.”
The clinic accepts insurance but will also work with uninsured patients to help get them the care they need.
Stanford hopes to eventually grow the center to multiple locations across the city.