The Unity Clinic at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center (OUHSC) is making waves with its innovative approach to educating future healthcare providers while delivering vital care to underserved populations in Oklahoma. The College of Allied Health is excited to announce that the Unity Clinic’s first on-campus clinic location is operating within our building’s walls at the John W. Keys Speech and Hearing Clinic.  Established in the spring of 2019, this student-led initiative aims to bridge the gap in healthcare access while providing an avenue for student leaders in fields such as audiology, speech-language pathology, social work, nursing, and occupational therapy to come together to provide free allied health services to uninsured and underserved patients, specifically adults diagnosed with aphasia. 

Under the guidance of a dedicated Planning Committee comprising student leaders from the colleges at HSC and social work students from OU Norman, in collaboration with the Office of Interdisciplinary Programs at OUHSC, Unity Clinic is on a mission to promote clinical interdisciplinary collaboration among current and future healthcare professionals. Their focus is on providing patient-centered, high-quality healthcare to underserved communities across Oklahoma.

Unity Clinic's vision is built on three key objectives:

• Creating a sustainable, replicable, and standardized clinic model that actively engages all students.
• Cultivating institutional support for the clinic model, with plans to integrate Unity Clinic into the OUHSC infrastructure.
• Utilizing the mobile outreach unit to extend services to communities across the state.

Thanks to a generous $25,000 gift from the Josiah Macy Jr. Foundation, our faculty will also be developing, implementing, and assessing a yearlong didactic interprofessional leadership development curriculum for students participating in the Unity Clinic. This program will focus on diversity, equity, and belonging; emotional intelligence; communication styles; influencing others; team dynamics; and leading change. The overarching goal is to deliver comprehensive care while fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation for healthcare professions outside of one's own.

Unity Clinic emphasizes teamwork and encourages students to collaborate, drawing on each other's skills and strengths to formulate patient care plans. Faculty members serve as invaluable resources, offering guidance and support while facilitating a conversational learning process. Their role is to encourage students to voice their opinions and questions, ensuring that all perspectives are heard and considered.

Unity Clinic's commitment to inclusivity extends to all team members, both students and faculty, and faculty members actively encourage their students to engage with professionals from other healthcare disciplines.

The Unity Clinic leadership team is always available to address any concerns, ensuring a positive and educational experience for all involved.

This unique initiative highlights the dedication of OUHSC students and faculty to improving healthcare access and education in underserved communities across Oklahoma. Unity Clinic is not only providing vital care but also shaping the next generation of healthcare providers to be more collaborative and patient-centered in their approach.