Curtis V. Cooper Primary Health Care
Curtis V. Cooper Primary Health Care, Inc., a Federally Qualified Health Center provides assessable comprehensive primary care services to improve the health status of all individuals in Savannah-Chatham County, especially those with limited financial resources and in high-risk populations.
In 1971, a group of citizens in West Savannah expressed concern that health care in that side of town (Savannah, GA) was almost nonexistent, particularly for residents with little or no financial resources.
This concern was underscored by the exodus of hospitals and physicians to the more affluent parts of the city. At that time, a young biologist with the Department of Agriculture in Savannah, Curtis V. Cooper, was asked to take a leave of absence from his job in order to complete a feasibility study, which eventually led to the birth of Westside Comprehensive Health Center. The Center saw its first patients in 1974 from a makeshift building on West Bay Street. In 1975, a newly constructed Roberts Street location became operational with Curtis V. Cooper serving as Executive Director. In 1977, a group in downtown Savannah established the Urban Health Center at 115 E. York Street in a stately, nearly 100-year-old building which served citizens in Savannah-Chatham County, GA until 2003.
Curtis V Cooper Primary Health Care Savannah Georgia
Information about Curtis V Cooper Primary Health Care in Savannah, Georgia
Urban Health Center, which was also federally funded, was a separate organization from Westside Comprehensive Health Center. In 1981, federal authorities announced that they would fund only one health care entity in a city the size of Savannah but would support a merged organization. This led to the combined organization, Westside-Urban Health Center, Inc. Dr. Cooper’s tenure as leader of the organization was distinguished by his multiple local and state civic leadership engagements continuing until his death in January of 2000.
On March 12, 2004, a ribbon was cut on a brand-new state-of-the-art health care center at 106 E. Broad Street bearing the name of Curtis V. Cooper in honor of the significant impact of his efforts in service to Savannah-Chatham County and beyond.
Curtis V. Cooper Primary Health Care, Inc.’s interdisciplinary team of providers consists of physicians (family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, OB/GYN), nurse practitioners, physician assistants, licensed clinical social workers, dentists and dental hygienists. These providers deliver adult and pediatric primary care, women’s health, dental, podiatry, pharmacy, laboratory, imaging, and mobile health services. Curtis V. Cooper Primary Health Care, Inc. is certified as a Patient Centered Medical Home since 2013 and has a continuous quality assurance/improvement program.
Unique Educational Experiences
Curtis V. Cooper Primary Health Care, Inc.’s interprofessional comprehensive primary care clinical settings provide multiple learning opportunities for MCG students to experience and participate in the delivery of care to underserved communities and populations. As an MCG FQHC/CHC Educational Affiliate, they will provide a variety of student required educational options under the supervision of physician members of their staff who also serve as MCG Community Clinical Faculty members.
Contact Information
Albert B. Grandy, Jr.
- Chief Executive Officer
Fariborz Zaer, MD
- Chief Medical Officer