National University of Health Sciences (NUHS) announced that it will open the doors to a new integrative health care clinic in Pinellas Park, Florida, on September 1, 2012. “The $1.9 million facility will offer comprehensive chiropractic care and integrative medical services to the Tampa Bay community. It will also provide a dynamic new clinical internship option for students in the university’s doctor of chiropractic program,” says Mr. Ron Mensching, Vice President of Business Services for NUHS.

The newly constructed 7,000 square foot clinic will boast 10 treatment rooms, a physical rehabilitation room, a classroom, and will be just four blocks away from the main academic facilities used by the university and its DC students in Pinellas Park.

Artist’s concept of the NUHS Whole Health Center exterior

The NUHS Whole Health Center – Pinellas Park will be the second Florida clinic served by National University’s clinicians and interns, and will be the only Florida clinic open to the general public.

The university’s first and current Florida clinic opened at the same time as the university’s Florida DC program in 2009, and is housed in the Caruth Health Education Center of St. Petersburg College (SPC). Unlike the new clinic opening in September, the current SPC clinic location exclusively serves faculty and students within the SPC system. National University is part of SPC’s University Partnership Center, which is a unique alliance of 16 colleges and universities.

Dr. David Parish, dean of clinics for NUHS says: “We’ve been doing a great job in our first clinic taking care of a large number of SPC students and faculty. Now we are eager to expand that care to the community nearby. We expect a solid patient base, as many of our existing SPC college patients have asked for a way to recommend extended family and friends to our chiropractic care. Our new clinic will be able to accommodate their referrals as well as new patients from surrounding neighborhoods.”

The university is currently searching for a new DC clinician to staff the new Pinellas Park clinic ahead of the planned launch date. However, the new clinic will eventually house two or more DC clinicians, as well as 20 student interns. “The university has also planned the facility in a way that it can easily accommodate the future addition of MD or DO clinicians. We are discussing the future addition of acupuncture and oriental medicine services in the new clinic, as well,” says Dr. Parish.

“As our Florida campus continues to grow and thrive, we are continuing to invest in facilities and educational opportunities for our DC students there while we seek to provide patient centered care to residents of the area,” says President James F. Winterstein of NUHS. “By adding an eighth clinic to our university’s Whole Health Center system, we are also strengthening our commitment to excellence in clinical education, as well as our commitment to bringing excellence in integrative medical care to the Tampa and Saint Petersburg area.”