(COLUMBUS, Ohio) – Nationwide Children’s Hospital’s school-based health center at KIPP Columbus is expanding to a new building on campus and increasing health care offerings beginning Monday, August 11. This expansion is part of ongoing efforts to increase access to primary care and mental health services for students across the community.
The new facility, located at 2800 Inspire Drive, allows for increased access to already established pediatric primary care services – including sick visits, check-ups, vaccines, blood work, medication management and more – as well as expanded services such as primary care mental health care and sports medicine. Services like pediatric dental care and pediatric vision care will also be available on varying dates starting in the fall.
“The KIPP Columbus community has greatly benefited from the presence of Nationwide Children’s Hospital on our learning campus. We are thrilled to see this vital partnership expand to include enhanced access to optical and vision care, behavioral health services and comprehensive primary care,” said Ciji Pittman, executive director of KIPP Columbus. “Too often, the impact of health factors – such as annual check-ups and vaccinations – is overlooked in the conversation about education. This expanded health center will be a powerful support for our students and families as we continue to partner in proving what is possible in public education.”
The expanded facility will serve KIPP Columbus staff, students and family members, starting at infancy through adult care. Adult primary care services for individuals associated with KIPP Columbus will be offered on select weekdays through a collaboration with The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. This marks Nationwide Children’s first partnership to offer adult services with a school-based health center.
“We’re excited to deepen our existing collaborations with Nationwide Children’s by supporting this endeavor. By working together, we can enhance the already great work happening at KIPP by expanding access and services to KIPP faculty, staff and community,” said Ryan Haley, senior director of ambulatory services at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.
Since first opening in 2016, more than 4,000 visits have been completed at the Nationwide Children’s school-based health center at KIPP Columbus, including 1,100 well care visits, 1,700 sick visits and more than 2,000 administered vaccines vaccines.
"Forty-two percent of patients did not have a medical home, or a primary care doctor, before using our services during the 2024-2025 school year,” said Mary Kay Irwin, EdD, senior director of school health services for Nationwide Children’s. “We know that healthier children are better learners in the classroom, and we are excited about the impact this expansion will have on the greater community in the years to come.”
To learn more, visit NationwideChildrens.org/SchoolHealth. To schedule an appointment, call (614) 355-2590 and choose option three.
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About KIPP Columbus
KIPP, the Knowledge Is Power Program, is a national network of free, open-enrollment public schools. There are 278 KIPP schools in 20 states and the District of Columbia collectively. They prepare 125,000 students with the skills and confidence to create the future they want for themselves, their communities, and us all. KIPP Columbus, the only set of KIPP schools in Ohio, was founded in 2008 with 50 students in the 5th grade and now educates nearly 2,500 students in grades K-12. Located in Northeast Columbus, the 150+ acre KIPP Columbus learning campus is equipped with the latest technology that will advance learning, enable superior programming, and serve as a teaching and leadership lab for schools nationwide. With a confidence to pursue the paths they choose – college, career, and beyond – KIPP has maintained excellence in its growth, and will improve upon that standard – proving what is possible in public education. More information is available at kippcolumbus.org.
About The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center
One of the nation’s leading academic health centers, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center offers health care services in virtually every speciality and subspecialty in medicine. Thousands of patients come to us each month for treatments and services they can’t find anywhere else. Providing access to health care information is central to our research, education and patient care mission. At Ohio State Wexner Medical Center, we’re dedicated to improving health in Ohio and across the world through innovation in research, education and patient care.