OGDEN — More people will be able to obtain free medical and dental care at Seager Memorial Clinic in the near future.

Support from the Michel Foundation and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has allowed the clinic to purchase property at 539 E. 24th St. that will permit the health care center to expand substantially.

The clinic, currently located in the basement of the Ogden Rescue Mission, 2775 Wall Ave., serves the homeless community and those who live in shelters or low-income housing.

“Right now, we have a waiting area, front desk, three exam rooms and one dental room and we are working in 750 square feet,” said Jerika Mays, executive director of the clinic. “The new building is nearly 10 times bigger and will allow us to have 10 to 12 exam rooms and three to four dental rooms.”

The clinic provides a broad range of medical services that include primary and specialty care, eye exams, medication, lab work, diabetes management, cancer screenings and more, said Dr. Chelsea Slade, executive administrative officer for the clinic and a hospitalist at McKay-Dee Hospital.

“Everything we do is totally free, and over the past six months we’ve really seen an increase in the amount of patients needing care,” Slade said. “The new building is so exciting because it will allow us to grow and expand the services we offer and we are even looking to have our own pharmacy down the line.”

The new building, formerly the LDS Family History Library, has opened its eye clinic. However, the rest of the clinic will take about a year or so to renovate.

“We are looking for architects to create the layout, and last Saturday we organized an outdoor clean-up day to clean up an existing homeless camp, garbage and yard waste on the property. We filled over 80 large black garbage bags,” Mays said. “We had 30 volunteers show up and it was heartwarming to see strangers come together to beautify the landscape for a good cause.”

The new clinic will also be equipped with community education rooms, a mental health medication clinic, diagnostic testing, a podiatry clinic and hopefully extended hours, Mays said.

The clinic was founded by Dr. Floyd Seager and his wife, Dauna, in 1988.

“Dr. Seager was attending a medical meeting at the Union Station and he saw a man collapse in the street,” Mays said. “When he went out to help him, he discovered the man was homeless. This experience is what prompted him and his wife to open a free clinic for the homeless and underserved community.”

The clinic provides services that are 100% free and it does not screen for income or residency, Slade said. Many of the patients are homeless, live in shelters or low-cost housing or are just exiting the jail system. Approximately 179 volunteers work at the clinic and include physicians, nurses, dentists, pharmacists, phlebotomists and medical assistants. Days and hours of operation are Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 3-5 p.m.

“I did my family residency at McKay-Dee Hospital and we had the opportunity to volunteer at the Seager Clinic,” Slade said. “I got involved and joined the board of directors while I was still in residency. It’s one of the best causes in Ogden.”

The clinic is accepting donations from volunteers and the community at large to purchase medical supplies, medication, eyeglasses, medical equipment, immunizations and cleaning supplies. A formal capital campaign will be launched later this year to raise funds for renovations to the new building. To donate, go to seagerclinic.org, or you can mail a check to Seager Memorial Clinic, P.O. Box 150143, Ogden, UT. 84415.

Newsletter