About Us

History

Chiricahua Community Health Centers, Inc. was founded in August of 1996. Jennifer "Ginger" Ryan worked with local community members in the development of a grassroots movement to bring quality affordable healthcare to the residents of the Sulphur Springs Valley, a rural agricultural area located in Southeast Cochise County.

This group of dedicated individuals received their first grant in 1996 which enabled them to form a 501c3 non-profit, with a volunteer board of directors. This in turn allowed the organization to initiate health services in the Elfrida Community Center. The local community center was "creatively redesigned" to create a clinic like atmosphere with reception, administration, patient rooms, laboratory and support services under one roof.

It wasn't until 1999, that the first permanent clinic was built on the property to the north of the existing Community Center/Clinic site. On August 12, 2003, this facility was dedicated to one of the founding board members, Cliff Whetten.

In 2001, our second health center opened in Douglas, Arizona. In 2003, Chiricahua Community Health Centers, Inc. added an additional clinic in Bisbee, Arizona as well as a Mobile Medical Unit that traveled throughout Cochise County enabling patients who faced geographic as well as financial barriers to receive quality affordable healthcare.

In December 2005, Chiricahua Community Health Centers, Inc. expanded its services again by opening its newest and largest clinic in their system, the Jennifer "Ginger" Ryan clinic. This facility enabled the organization to provide extended hours as well as extended services such as pediatric care.

In the summer of 2006, Chiricahua Community Health Centers, Inc. added a Mobile Dental Unit in order to provide preventive dental services to the children of the Sulphur Springs Valley.