History of the H.O.P.E. Clinic

Since 2008, the faculty and students of the Department of Physician Assistant Studies and Practice have partnered with various community clinics in under-resourced areas suffering from substantial health disparities.

Over the years, clinical partners have been located in Perth Amboy, Newark, New Brunswick, and, most recently, Plainfield, NJ. In 2016, the Rutgers PA faculty and students partnered with Saint Mary’s Medical Clinic (SMMC) in Plainfield, increasing its operations from every other week to weekly. Due to the COVID pandemic, this location closed in March 2020 leading to a vital service being needed in the community.

To fill this void and continue a legacy of service, the Rutgers H.O.P.E. Clinic was launched as an independent, pro-bono practice in July 2021 at a new Plainfield site purchased and refurbished by Charity Works, LLC. Patient records from SMMC were entrusted to Rutgers providers and the clinic opened once a week, offering free primary care services to any uninsured patients.

Thanks to the generosity of a multitude of donors and partners, Rutgers H.O.P.E. Clinic is happy to be expanding access from one to two days a week as of July 2023.