Community Health Northwest Florida is thrilled to announce that on Monday, Jan. 9, they will be opening the doors and accepting new patients at the new pediatric clinic at Pine Forest High School. Located in a stand-alone building on the high school’s campus, Community Health Northwest Florida at Pine Forest High School is open to all children and youth in the surrounding community, providing comprehensive primary care for ages 0 to 18.

About the Pediatric Clinic at Pine Forest

The pediatric clinic at Pine Forest High School is a key component of the innovative Community Partnership SchoolsTM model, which includes core partners Community Health Northwest Florida, Children’s Home Society of Florida, Escambia County School District and the University of West Florida. This model was developed with the intention of supporting students and their families through expanded access to health and wellness support, along with a wide range of new and integrated learning opportunities.

“What a blessing it is to have the opportunity with multiple community partners, Children’s Trust of Escambia County and the University of Central Florida, to support this effort,” said CHS Regional Executive Director Lindsey Cannon. “We are very proud of the new clinic and our work with Community Health Northwest Florida to ensure our children have access to quality healthcare.”

Board-Certified Pediatrician John Lanza, MD, FAAP, will transfer from Community Health’s Jackson Street Pediatrics to take the lead at the Pine Forest Clinic. He offers compassionate care backed by a myriad of diverse experience, education and accolades. Prior to joining the organization, Dr. Lanza retired as the Director and Health Officer of the Florida Department of Health in Escambia County, where he served in that role for more than 24 years. Previously, Dr. Lanza worked as a pediatric emergency department physician and was in private pediatric practice. Rest assured, the young patients of Community Health Northwest Florida at Pine Forest will be in very capable hands.

“As a Federally Qualified Health Center, we are driven not only to make healthcare accessible to all, but also to truly impact the heart of our community on multiple levels“, said Chandra Smiley, CEO of Community Health Northwest Florida. “We view this partnership as an opportunity to bring real change to Pine Forest and the families in the surrounding neighborhoods. We’d like to take this time to thank everyone who worked with us to make the clinic a reality. ”

For additional information or to schedule an appointment at Community Health Northwest Florida at Pine Forest High School, individuals should call the clinic directly at (850) 665-3252.

About Community Health Northwest Florida

Since 1992, Community Health Northwest Florida has served residents of Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties and surrounding areas. Since 2007, it has been the area’s only Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC). A Florida Medicaid and Medicaid managed care provider, the organization also accepts Alabama Medicaid as well as many private health insurances and DentaQuest dental coverage. A sliding fee scale program for those individuals who do not have insurance coverage is available to eligible patients. Eligibility is based on household income. For more information, visit Community Health Northwest Florida’s web site at HealthcareWithinReach.org.