About Us

Upham’s Corner Health Center (UCHC) opened for patient services in January 1973. The first site was located at the Municipal Building at 500 Columbia Road. UCHC offered adult medicine, pediatrics, and laboratory services. In June of 1973, their first director, Edward Grimes was hired.

Over the next several years, UCHC added OB/GYN, family planning, optometry services and opened one of the state’s first Women, Infants, and Children’s (WIC) program. The health center also opened a dental facility, obtained a license to operate a home health care program visiting home bound seniors in Dorchester, and developed a health education program, which sponsored health fairs and prenatal classes.

In 1980, the health center surpassed 40,000 patient care visits. Additional space was acquired at 547 Columbia Road. The health center expanded its programs of care for pregnant women, newborns and young children.

One of UCHC’s dedicated founding members, Ethel Lennox, passed away in 1984. The health center received a donation of land and building at 636 Columbia Road; in the late 80’s, the grand opening of the new health care facility, officially named “The Ethel W. Lennox Health Care Facility,” took place and housed the eye care, dental, guidance and counseling departments.

New programs continued to be added and services expanded throughout the neighborhood, including HIV/AIDS services and addiction treatment to curtail the spread of AIDS and devastation of drug abuse.

The Elder Service Plan of Mutual Health Care (ESP) was launched in 1996 at 1140 Dorchester Avenue. ESP, a Medicaid-managed care program for elders’ eligible for nursing home placement, is designed to improve the quality of life and health care for the elderly, while allowing them to live within the community. In the same year, an adolescent health clinic was developed to meet the health and social service needs of area teenagers.

In September of 1999, UCHC hosted a Grand Opening Celebration of the new health center facility at 415 Columbia Road. Mayor Thomas Menino and Rep. Marie St. Fleur, joined by board members and local officials, cut the ribbon, officially opening the new building, which became the new home for expanded primary care and home care services.

During this decade, partnerships with Brigham & Women’s Hospital/Partners Health Care and Boston Children’s Hospital were executed. UCHC also became a member of the Boston HealthNet, one of 8 health centers associated with Boston Medical Center, to offer a single standard of high quality health care.

In collaboration with Commonwealth Care Alliance, Inc., a Senior Care Options (SCO) program was started, and two new Elder Service Plan (ESP) locations were opened, one in Jamaica Plain and one in Roxbury.

In 2015, Ed Grimes retires after 42 years of service to UCHC. Jay Trivedi is appointed as the new CEO/Executive Director of the health center. Jay was previously the Director of Operations for the Upham’s Elder Service Plan. Since 2015, UCHC has operated as a Federally Qualified Health Center and continues to grow and expand its services and programs.