HOPE, HEALTH, HEALING — People with the Ohio Valley Well being Middle celebrated the free clinic’s Nineteenth-annual gala at St. Florian Occasion Middle Sunday. From left are Jeff Oechslein, grasp of ceremonies; Wilma Ching of the Ching Household Belief, group associate of the 12 months; Government Director Ann Quillen; Susan Tarr, volunteer of the 12 months; and Medical Director Dr. Charn Nandra. Sister Mary Meyers was named medical supplier of the 12 months. — Christopher Dacanay
WINTERSVILLE — Employees, volunteers and supporters of the Ohio Valley Well being Middle uncovered the thriller behind well being care entry throughout the free clinic’s Nineteenth-annual gala Sunday at St. Florian Occasion Middle.
The masquerade-themed gala acknowledged pivotal contributors, raised cash and acknowledged the OVHC’s influence on the group, offering well being take care of uninsured and underinsured residents of the Ohio Valley no matter their potential to pay.
“Right here on the Ohio Valley Well being Middle, every day begins just like the opening chapter of a thriller,” mentioned Government Director Ann Quillen. “Not a darkish one, however the variety crammed with promise — a narrative ready to be revealed one particular person at a time. We by no means fairly know who will stroll by means of our doorways, what burdens they’ll carry or what sort of therapeutic they’re hoping to search out. However we do know this: They gained’t face these unknowns alone.”
Because the OVHC opened its doorways 19 years in the past, it has served greater than 5,000 particular person sufferers, representing greater than 26,000 affected person visits, Quillen mentioned. Final 12 months alone, the clinic supplied greater than $1.5 million price of free medical providers and prescriptions.
Almost 300 sufferers have been logged to this point this 12 months, every one in every of them a “story of braveness, resilience and transformation,” Quillen mentioned.
A type of 300 sufferers was Jeff Williams of Bloomingdale, whose experiences with the OVHC was advised by means of a video message. After dropping his job and medical health insurance, Williams turned to the OVHC for testing, spurred by his household historical past of coronary heart issues.
Persevering with heart-related signs in early 2025 led Williams to return for additional checks, together with an echocardiogram, which the clinic supplied by means of its personal grant-funded machine. Medical suppliers adjusted his drugs, bettering his situation and permitting him to proceed dwelling totally for his household.
Diagnostic checks are one of many OVHC’s capabilities, together with most cancers screenings, prescription help, case administration, meals dietary supplements and transportation help, Quillen mentioned.
Such an influence wouldn’t be doable with out the OVHC’s devoted crew, Quillen mentioned. Audio system supplied phrases of gratitude all through this system, acknowledging employees, medical suppliers, volunteers, the board of administrators and sponsors.
Amongst these acknowledged have been Sister Mary Meyers, physician of nursing observe and medical supplier of the 12 months; Susan Tarr of A&B Pharmacy, volunteer of the 12 months; and the Ching Household Belief, group companions of the 12 months.
Mark Judy, vice chairman of the OVHC’s board, mentioned the clinic generates $2.50 price of providers for each $1 that runs by means of its price range. He added that the yearly gala is the OVHC’s largest fundraiser, having supplied 35 p.c of the clinic’s revenue final 12 months.
