STURGIS, MI — The Corner Health Center has hired Johanna Orca-Handyside as its certified physician assistant at its Sturgis School-Linked Clinic. The Sturgis site is the Corner’s newest school-based health site.
Orca-Handyside will join medical assistant Brianna O’Brien at Sturgis’ health center.
“I am so excited to be practicing in Sturgis, caring for the children of a community that helped raise me,” Orca-Handyside said in a statement. “My practice is based on forming meaningful connections with my patients and ensuring that all medical care is provided in an atmosphere of mutual trust and understanding without judgment.”
Growing up in Sturgis, Orca-Handyside earned her bachelor’s degree at the University of Michigan and her master’s at Western Michigan University. Prior to her work at the Corner, Orca-Handyside served as a care provider for Oak Street Health (CVS Health) in Mishawaka, Indiana.
“As a long-time resident of the area, I understand the needs within our community and I’m looking forward to being able to meet those needs and to uncover other areas in which our young and adolescent population can be supported,” she said.
Corner Health Sturgis School-Linked Clinic, formerly known as The Student Help and Healing Center, can accommodate same-day appointments to children and young adults between 3 and 21. The clinic is located at 1555 E. Chicago Road in Sturgis. Hours are 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, and closed for lunch noon to 1 p.m.
Services include physical exams, dental and vision screenings, point-of-care tests, crisis intervention, sports physicals, sick visits, immunizations, sports injuries, and referrals for resources such as food, shelter, financial issues and transportation. The center accepts and bills all insurance but will not turn any young person away. Support can also be provided in Spanish.
Appointments may be scheduled by calling (269) 216-9170.
This article originally appeared on Sturgis Journal: Sturgis school clinic hires new physician assistant
Reporting by Dan Cherry, Special to Sturgis Journal / Sturgis Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
