The Gateway Health and Wellness Center

On November 29, 2011, I attended an event, The Fourth Annual Excellence in Healthcare Banquet sponsored by The Community Property Development Corporation. This event recognizes the contributions of African American physicians in the central Ohio area. The honorees are given the Cheryl Boyce Excellence in Healthcare Award for their significance in addressing healthcare within the African American community and the community at large.

This year’s keynote speaker was Dr. Roderick McDavis, President of Ohio University. He addressed Ohio University’s medical college expansion into the central Ohio area and the impact it will have in producing primary care physicians within Columbus’ most underserved communities and groups. The expansion was made possible by a grant from the Ohio Osteopathic Heritage Foundation in the amount of 105 million dollars.

At last year’s Excellence In Healthcare Banquet, Dr. Steven Gabbe, CEO of Ohio State University Medical Center announced that the Medical Center would be relocating it Diabetes and Endocrinology Department to the near eastside of Columbus within the CarePoint East complex. The near eastside ranks among the highest rate of diabetes in Ohio and among African Americans living on the near eastside nearly eighteen percent are affected by diabetes and prediabetes. The epidemic rate of diabetes among African Americans warranted Dr. Gabbe’s leadership and the resources of OSU Medical Center to address this disease at ground zero.

The Community Property Development Corporation is an affiliate of St. Paul A.M.E. Church sponsors the banquet and highlights its contribution towards addressing health and wellness within the African American community of central Ohio. Through the Gateway Health and Wellness Center, CPDC has established a facility that offers primary care and dentistry. The Gateway Center builds upon a legacy that Dr. William Method, an African American physician, known as the dean of the negro physicians and founder of the Alpha Hospital located on the corner of Long and North 17th Streets. This hospital established in 1920 provided African Americans with primary care, surgery and dentistry. Dr. Method’s legacy is the Gateway Health and Wellness Center and as a former trustee of St. Paul A.M.E. his church has taken the responsibility to build and operate such a facility in these most challenging economic times.

Just as noteworthy, was another St. Paul A.M.E. Church member, Isabelle Ridgeway who opened in 1916 the Old Folks Home, now known as the Isabelle Ridgeway Care Center. Both Dr. Method and Mrs. Ridgeway laid the foundation for medical care that continues to serve the community till this day. The physicians at the Gateway Health and Wellness Center provide medical support and treatment to patients at Isabelle Ridgeway Care Center. Over ninety years later, Ridgeway’s and Method’s legacies have produced an infrastructure of care that will remain through the year 2100.

With the expansions of Ohio State University East Medical Center and Ohio University’s Medical College these medical institutions would serve well to invest in Dr. Method’s legacy, the Gateway Health and Wellness Center. Other institutions support is required to ensure that the health and wellness of a community will be met for generations to come. In order for the Gateway Health and Wellness Center to continue to meet the community health and wellness needs and expand upon Dr. Method’s pioneering contributions, I urge Ohio State University Medical Center, Ohio University College of Medicine, Ohio Health and other institutions to form a meaningful sustainable relationship and collaboration with Gateway Health and Wellness Center.