By ROLI DWIVEDI, MD, CEO
Starting in April, neighborhood residents will see major changes on the corner of Bloomington Ave and Franklin as the University of Minnesota begins construction on a new, state-of-the-art clinic building for the Community-University Health Care Center. The new CUHCC will have two stories, be nearly twice as big, and include new services such as physical therapy and imaging. Its new, onsite pharmacy will allow patients to fill their prescriptions after their medical, dental, or mental health appointment, adding to the clinic’s one-stop shop service model.
A community institution for 60 years
In addition to work beginning on the new building, 2026 also marks CUHCC’s 60th Anniversary. Started by two UMN Pediatricians and the Minneapolis Health Department in 1966, CUHCC first operated out of a small apartment building built in the 1800s. It lacked an elevator and air conditioning. The University constructed its current building in 1991. In 1994, CUHCC began pursuing designation as a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC). The clinic achieved full FQHC status in 2002 and receives federal funding to provide comprehensive healthcare services to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay. As an FQHC, the majority of CUHCC’s Board of Directors are current patients and the clinic offers a discount program that bases the cost of care on patients’ income and family size.
CUHCC’s current services
Today, the clinic pursues its mission – Transforming care and education to advance health among the patients and communities we serve– by providing comprehensive medical, dental, and behavioral health care for people of all ages. Services include:
- Primary care: Pediatric, OB and midwifery, geriatric services, medication therapy management for substance use disorder, chronic disease management, and more.
- Dental: Preventive and restorative care, emergency services, and root canals.
- Mental health: Individual and group therapy, and case management and rehabilitation services for patients with severe and persistent mental illness. CUHCC is one of two Minnesota FQHCs that offer psychiatry services, which are difficult to access for low-income residents.
- Supportive services: Medication management and pharmacy counseling, dietetic counseling, care coordination, pro bono legal assistance, assistance applying for health insurance and other benefits, advocacy services for victims of sexual assault and domestic violence, and health education.
For more information, visit cuhcc.umn.edu. To schedule an appointment, call 612-301-3433. CUHCC also offers same day visits and walk-in services for urgent medical, dental and therapy needs. Virtual care is available for many appointments.
Need for bigger, better space
After 35 years, the building is outdated and inadequate for its 12,000 patients and the 175 future healthcare professionals from UMN’s Schools of Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Nursing, Social Work, and Public Health who annually train at the clinic. There are too few exam rooms. The lobby is crowded and lacks privacy for patients checking in and the tiny breakroom is inadequate for the 146+ staff working there each day.
The new clinic will accommodate an estimated 10% increase in patient volume by 2029 in a setting that promotes dignity and healing for patients, fosters interprofessional collaboration across medical, dental and mental health departments, and provides staff with adequate, comfortable space for meeting, breaks, and self-care.
Open during construction
Continuing to provide high quality care to residents of the Phillips Community and beyond is CUHCC’s highest priority during construction. To achieve this, the contractor, JE Dunn will build the new clinic in CUHCC’s current parking lot while CUHCC continues operating out of its current building. To lessen the parking impact on streets around the clinic, CUHCC will expand its small parking lot on the building’s south side and rent dedicated parking spaces for staff on University’s West Bank. Beginning mid-April, patients can park in this expanded lot and across the street at the Fond Du Lac building on Bloomington Avenue. During construction, the clinic’s Fresh Food Wednesday free produce distributions will be suspended to conserve parking spots and minimize foot traffic around the construction.
Once the clinic opens in late 2027, JE Dunn will demolish the current building and replace it with a new parking lot.
Interesting Details
CUHCC’s 12,049 patients collectively speak 57 languages.
CUHCC’s 226 team includes 210 UMN employees and 16 doctors and midwives contracted through University of Minnesota Physicians, a multi-specialty group practice for the University of Minnesota Medical School faculty.
Through competitive processes, UMN selected HGA Architects to design the building and landscaping and JE Dunn to construct it.
The $45 million cost of the building is funded through annual institutional support and other contributions from the University of Minnesota and philanthropic support from generous donors.
