On Wednesday — after nearly four decades of operating in around 750-square-feet of the Ogden Rescue Mission’s basement — the ribbon was cut on the clinic’s Karl & Erika Michel Center on 24th Street.

Jerika mays, Executive director of the Seager Memorial Clinic, told the Standard-Examiner that the clinic was originally established by Dr. Floyd Seager in 1988.

“He witnessed a man experiencing homelessness collapse right there by Union Station on Wall Avenue and he decided to do something about that,” she said. “He rallied the medical community in Ogden — both McKay-Dee Hospital and Ogden Regional Medical Center — to gather like-minded medical professionals to start a free clinic.”

She said around 80 volunteers contribute to the clinic each month.

Rob Nielsen, Standard-Examiner

“These are physicians, providers, dentists, pharmacists, front-desk volunteers all giving to help run the clinic,” she said. “We provide free medical, dental, vision, mental health and pharmacy services for the underserved.”

Mays said a need arose for more space as time went on.

“When we have multiple clinics going on — we have a general clinic, a mental clinic and many volunteers — it’s very tight,” she said. “We were looking for a larger location and we were able to acquire the old family history library in Ogden in 2021, and we’ve been working for some time to renovate this space to be a much larger free clinic.”

She said in addition to providing free medical, dental, vision, mental health and pharmacy services, the new space will allow the clinic to expand its hours in the near future and provide additional services such as mental health counseling, preventative dental care and health education.

“When our patients walk through our doors, we are giving them dignity,” she said. “They’re entering a space that’s beautiful, modern with new equipment and we’re so excited to show that we care and that we are here for them in their time of need,” she said.

A short ceremony was held ahead of the ribbon cutting on Wednesday featuring several dignitaries speaking about the clinic, its purpose and Dr. Seager’s legacy.

Among them was Dr. Johnnie Cook, the clinic’s board chairman.

We have lots of different people who come to the clinic,” he said. ‘We have homeless people, we have people who are recently released convicts, we have addicts, uninsured, under-insured, a lot of people who have insurance but don’t have the money for medicines. Through the Seager Clinic, they’re able to get kind, compassionate, non-judgmental care.”

He noted that the Seager was the first free clinic opened in the state of Utah, that almost 10 have been formed statewide since and that Seager Clinic is the only one operating a pharmacy.

“I am excited for the prospect that, instead of the 2,700 visits we had this last year, we’ll have many more as we’re able to increase our capacity,” he said. “We’ll be going from 750 (square) feet in the basement of the Ogden Rescue Mission to this beautiful structure behind me which is over 7,000-square-feet.”

Dr. Stephen Seager — son of the late Floyd Seager — spoke about the origins of the clinic and what it and its volunteers mean to the community.

“Because of this clinic, and because of all of you, the suffering of countless people has been relieved,” he said. “Because of this clinic and because of all of you, scores of lives have been saved. Because one night, say 40 years ago, my father — now you — made the decision to treat their neighbor like themselves. He would be so proud of you. I’m proud to have his name, proud to be here.”

Elder Stephen Sargent of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said there were two questions he intended to answer — why does The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints support this project by donating funds to the Seager Memorial Clinic and why should we care for the underserved in our community?

“I believe the answer to both of those questions is the same — it’s love,” he said. “Jesus commanded us to love our neighbors. And not only did he command it, but He then showed us by His actions what love looked like.”

Uwe “Shaun” Michel of the Michel Foundation said this new structure’s mission has only begun.

“Unfortunately, this is not the end,” he said. “This only the beginning because this building is useless until it’s filled with people that need our help.”

Mays said the new facility will begin seeing patients on Monday and will be open Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 3-5 p.m.