WILLIAMSBURG — Olde Towne Medical & Dental Center turned 30 years old on Thursday, July 6, and the nonprofit organization is embarking on a year of celebration to mark the occasion.
Olde Towne noted in an announcement that it began in 1993 as a result of a needs assessment conducted by what was then the James City County Community Services Department, now JCC Department of Social Services, and the local hospital. At that time, Williamsburg had only one hospital emergency department that was being overwhelmed with non-emergency care needs of patients lacking insurance or the means of affording traditional health care options. In 1993, the nearest health department was in Hampton.
That assessment was led by the manager of the Community Services Department at that time, Tony Conyers. The results indicated that there was a definite need for affordable health care in greater Williamsburg that could provide for uninsured and underinsured as well as Medicaid and Medicare-eligible patients. The community was experiencing high incidences of chronic illnesses and teen pregnancies at that time, so establishing a primary care facility to assist with the needs of the growing population was key.
Olde Towne was created as the solution.
“From day one, Olde Towne was an integral part of health care in the area. It was wonderful to be one of so many people who made Olde Towne successful. The need was so great and the vehicle to meet that need finally existed. The outpouring of community support was truly extraordinary,” said former director Judy Knudson.
Currently, the facility has expanded to offer primary care integrated with behavioral health, a full-service dental practice, a vision suite for optometry care, pre-natal, maternity and OB/GYN services, multi-specialty care including nephrology, pulmonology, sports medicine, counseling and other specialties, chronic health management and education and a Medication Access program that allows patients to receive low-cost and often free prescriptions to manage their health.
The center also connects patients to other resources as needed for issues such as food insecurity, housing insecurity, physical abuse incidents and other issues to help alleviate certain health stressors and narrow the gap of health disparities for specific populations in the Williamsburg community.
The center has five full-time nurse practitioners, a full-time dentist along with multiple volunteer specialty providers and various administrative positions that allowed 3,788 patients to be seen in approximately 12,724 visits last year, it said.
“As we celebrate the 30th Anniversary of Olde Towne Medical & Dental Center, we reflect on our journey with immense pride and gratitude. Over the past three decades, we have been committed to providing quality healthcare services to our community,” said current Executive Director Aaron Thompson.
“Our success is a testament to the dedication of our staff, the trust of our patients, and our unwavering commitment to excellence,” Thompson added. “As we look forward to the future, we remain dedicated to our mission of assuring access to quality health and wellness care to the greater Williamsburg community.”
Olde Towne will be celebrating the anniversary with multiple events throughout their fiscal year, which began on July 1 and will run through June 30. The largest celebration will be the 30th Anniversary Gala on Sept. 30 at the Williamsburg Lodge.
The 30th Anniversary Gala will include dinner, dancing, an awards program recognizing those that have made a significant impact on the organization, a live and a silent auction including trips and other fun items as well as champagne toasts to recognize the 30 years of services to the community. The event will serve as a fundraiser to continue those services for years to come, it noted. Tickets may be purchased at otmdc.org and sponsorships to support the event are available.
For more information about Olde Towne Medical & Dental Center, visit its website at oldetownemedicalcenter.org or call 757.259.3244.
