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Samuel U. Rodgers Historical Timeline
2008 The Samuel U. Rodgers Health Center celebrates 40 years of service as a healthcare provider in June and launches the public phase of the capital campaign.
2007 The Health Center receives an $11.6 million state of Missouri appropriation to support capital expenses.
2006 Rodgers–Lafayette Dental and Health Center moves into the 4 Life Center, a new facility in Lexington, MO.
2005 Ms. Hilda Fuentes joins the Health Center as the Chief Executive Officer in September.
2004 Rodgers–Independence Dental Center opens in February, providing comprehensive dental care for students of the Independence School District.
2003 The Health Center expands school-based clinic at McCoy Elementary to include comprehensive dental care.
2001 The Health Center expands to serve rural communities and the Farmworkers’ Project with the opening of a primary medical and comprehensive dental facility in Lexington, MO.
1999 The entire Health Center family and people in Kansas City communities suffer a great loss in the passing of its founder, Samuel U. Rodgers, M.D., M.P.H. on December 19.
1996 Dr. Rodgers becomes executive director emeritus of the Health Center. Medical Director Rita Rodgers-Stanley, M.D. becomes interim executive director.
1995 The Health Center begins providing counseling for compulsive gamblers through a contract with the Missouri Department of Health.
1993 The Health Center celebrates its 25th year and opens an Adult Day Care Center at the Palestine Senior Citizen Activity Center at 3325 Prospect in KCMO. The T.B. Watkins Initiative Program begins to provide substance abuse prevention and counseling service for residents of public housing.
1992 The Comprehensive Substance Abuse and Rehabilitation (C-STAR) program begins to provide a continuum for up to three years of non-residential care. Services are provided seven days per week with a 24-hour hotline.
1991 A women's support group meets at the Health Center for the first time to help victims of abuse.
1990 The fight against AIDS is targeted with a new early intervention treatment program. Primary healthcare is provided to families of drug users to help combat the spread of HIV/AIDS. An expanded substance abuse treatment program is located at 31st and Montgall and is named Rodgers-South.
1989 The Health Center and the American Cancer Society co-sponsor the dedication of the Health Center's new mammography unit for prevention and early detection of breast cancer.
1988 To celebrate 20 years, the Wayne Miner Health Center (WMHC) is renamed Samuel U. Rodgers Community Health Center in honor of its founder and Executive Director, Dr. Samuel U. Rodgers. The Health Center establishes HIV counseling and testing services. A new prenatal program opens to improve access to care for pregnant women. The Health Center airs a new health education news program titled, Highlights on Health on KPRT 1590 AM Gospel radio.
1986 WMHC assumes management of the Adult Day Care program, which provides services to adults who are 55 years of age and older. 1985 More than 450 people attend WMHC's first citywide Cancerama Health Fair. The fair featured free cancer and cardiovascular screening tests.
1984 A school-based clinic opens at Northeast High School. This program encourages regular preventive healthcare and provides education to reduce excessive and unnecessary emergency room visits.
1980 WMHC is the first center in Missouri to become accredited by the Joint Commission of Hospitals, (now, Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations/JCAHO) Home Health Services begin providing services to homebound patients.
1977 More than 98,000 patient visits are recorded this year with a total patient population of 32,000 people. 1975 WMHC launches "Reachin' Out," an adolescent health program that provides primary care, teenage pregnancy prevention and counseling on substance abuse, sexuality issues and other teen concerns. WMHC is featured in Ebony magazine for its successful efforts in "Project Hi-Blood." The National Association of Community Health Centers establishes the Samuel U. Rodgers Achievement Award, which is given annually at its national meeting.
1973 For the first time, WMHC receives funding to provide hospitalization for its patients at private hospitals. WMHC records 103,000 patient encounters, and a group of physicians from China visit to learn about community health outreach services. 1972 Podiatry and physical therapy services are added to WMHC. More than 18,000 people are registered as patients.
1971 WMHC in Kansas City, Missouri moves to 825 Euclid a new 47,000 square foot facility designed specifically for healthcare services. It is directly across the street from the former Wayne Miner Housing Project. That year, WMHC draws 5,000 new patients.
1970 WMHC is selected to become a healthcare project for underserved populations through the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare. WMHC initiates "Project Hi-Blood," a nationally recognized model of preventive health programs for high blood pressure. More than 10,000 patients receive care at WMHC.
1968 Dr. Rodgers opens the fourth community health center in the nation, the first in the state of Missouri, in the 911 Michigan building of the Wayne Miner Housing Project, which was named after a black soldier who died defending his country in World War I.