The Thomas Judd Care Center will christen its new location at 3529 W. Front St. with a public open house Monday (June 27) from 4 to 7pm. The center promotes wellness, works to prevent transmission of HIV, and provides holistic-based services to improve the quality of life for individuals affected by HIV/AIDS.

The clinic’s opening takes place on National HIV Testing Day.

A ribbon-cutting with Munson Medical Center President and Munson Healthcare Chief Operating Officer Al Pilong and Vice President of Patient Care and Chief Nursing Officer Jim Fischer is set for 5:30pm.
 
The clinic offers free HIV testing by appointment. Clinic Manager Nicholaus Erber, Ph.D., LPC, CAADC, said the new space is a boon to regional HIV-prevention and treatment efforts. “We are really pleased to have the expanded space, staff and services,” he said. “These exciting changes will help achieve our goal of helping as many northern Michigan residents as possible who are living with HIV.”
 
The staff includes a nurse practitioner who provides primary care access to clients. The center’s case managers connect clients with access to health care, nutritional support, pharmacy support, tobacco cessation, counseling, mental health services and more. The Thomas Judd Care Center serves about 150 clients in northern Michigan; the CDC reports Michigan has 850 cases of people living with HIV. “Our hope is that with increased awareness of our services and increased community connections, we will be able to help more people get into care,” Erber said.