Hamilton Health Center’s story began in 1969 with a shared vision of providing accessible healthcare to the greater Harrisburg, PA area. The initiative was spearheaded by dedicated community leaders including Mrs. Sarah Jones, Mr. Lorenzo Roland, Sr., Mrs. Coleen Ivey, Dr. Claude Nichols, Mr. William Schirmer, and Mr. Peter G. Alapa, who launched a part-time clinic in the basement of Augsburg Lutheran Church. This early endeavor, staffed by Harrisburg Hospital personnel, laid the foundation for a health center rooted in community support and responsiveness.
By 1972, with the technical assistance and support of Harrisburg Hospital, Hamilton had secured a $1.25 million grant from the Federal Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW). This funding allowed Hamilton to transition from a part-time clinic to a full-service community health center. Hamilton purchased the Augsburg Lutheran Church Education Center, and with the support of community volunteers, opened its newly renovated site in 1973. This location would serve as the health center’s home for 40 years.
In 1976, Hamilton introduced the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) supplemental nutrition program, serving all of Dauphin County. By 1988, it became the first community health center in Pennsylvania to offer managed care to Medical Assistance recipients, demonstrating its flexibility and dedication to addressing evolving healthcare needs.
The 1990’s ushered in a period of substantial growth as Hamilton expanded its sites and services to serve Dauphin County, opening the Walnut Street facility in 1993 to provide medical, dental and WIC services in the Allison Hill area. Additionally, with support from former Pennsylvania Governor George Leader, Hamilton launched school-based clinics in 1995 and 1996. This expansion continued in to the next decade. In 2002, the health center obtained a DHS grant to provide HIV/AIDS counseling, testing, and treatment services for hard- to-reach members of the community. Hamilton partnered with the Harrisburg Housing Authority in 2004 to offer care to seniors and with Medicine Shoppe to provide on-site Pharmacy in 2006.
As community needs grew, Hamilton’s leadership engaged in a strategic planning process and launched a two-phase capital campaign. The health center opened a new state-of-the-art 67,000-square-foot facility in 2012, expanding access to a range of services, including dental care, pharmacy, and laboratory. Phase Two of the expansion, completed in 2014, allowed the health center to expand pediatrics, mental health services, and add support for its HIV/AIDS program.
Hamilton’s evolution did not stop there. The health center and community celebrated the Grand Opening of Hamilton Family Eyecare in 2018 and its first rural site, the Hamilton Health Center of Perry County, in Newport, Pennsylvania. In 2019, Hamilton assumed ownership of UPMC Pinnacle at Millersburg, opening new opportunities for Medicaid patients in Northern Dauphin. An innovative Workforce Development Program developed in conjunction with The Harrisburg University of Science and Technology offers training for Certification as a Clinical Medical Assistant.
Fostering a culture of community responsiveness and support, the health center remains true to its history and steadfast in its mission to improve the health of Central Pennsylvania’s residents. As Hamilton Health Center celebrates 55 years of service, it continues to plan new initiatives and future expansions to promote and ensure the community’s health and wellbeing.
