A new health clinic is coming to Utah Valley University’s Orem campus that will provide vital health and wellness services to residents, regardless of their financial status.

The Bingham Family Clinic, a free, full-service community medical clinic, is planned for UVU’s Orem Campus and is slated to open sometime this winter.

The new clinic is a partnership between UVU and the Marc C. and Deborah H. Bingham Foundation. It will be located on the school’s west campus in the Health Professions Building near the Orem Frontrunner station.

Founded in 2015, the Bingham foundation, a nonprofit organization, is dedicated to furthering charitable organizations that share similar philosophies of bettering higher education, medical research and wildlife conservation, according to its website.

According to the university’s July 10 news release, the clinic aims to provide a place of “healing and education,” to people who otherwise may not have access to the medical attention and care they need.

Dr. Kirk Woodward, a family physician in the Uintah Basin for 25 years, along with his wife Sherilee, will oversee operations at the new clinic.

Woodward said the clinic is more than a health care facility; it is a testament to public and private entities coming together for a significant purpose.

“It’s a commitment to every hardworking individual who has fallen through the cracks of a complicated system,” he said. “From the uninsured subcontractor to families choosing between food and medicine — we are here for them.”

The clinic is designed to serve individuals who currently do not have access to medical insurance, with no obligation to pay for the care they receive.

“We’re really committed to a healthy community — through accessible services, preventative care and just really a significant effort on that group of people, supporting them and lifting them,” he told the Daily Herald.

According to the Utah County Health Department, around 58,000 residents in the county are uninsured, KUER reported.

In addition to prioritizing the needs of underserved residents of Utah County, the clinic will also serve an educational purpose.

The facility will be staffed by volunteers, including experienced health professionals, as well as nursing and medical students from UVU, Rocky Mountain University and the new incoming medical school at Brigham Young University. 

“It’s an entire community effort,” Woodward said. “So although our collaboration and affiliation with UVU is very important, it is certainly not our only collaboration.”

Marc and Deborah Bingham said the effort is one that is deeply personal to them.

“Our vision is simple,” Marc Bingham said. “Health care for everyday people — regardless of financial situation. My own life was saved because of access to care, and we want to make sure no one in our community is left behind.”

People visiting the clinic will be able to access comprehensive services such as medical exams, chronic care management, preventative care, dental hygiene and on-site pharmacy services.

“With a mission to ‘promote health and wellness for everyday people,’  the Bingham Family Clinic is poised to become a cornerstone of compassionate care and educational excellence in Utah County,” UVU’s media press release reads.

Woodward said the current facility, located at 951 S. Geneva Road in Orem, is being remodeled in preparation for the new clinic. 

The new clinic is anticipated to open late this year or early next year, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the new health and wellness resource in Utah Valley.