- UF Health Archer Family Health Care celebrated its 25th anniversary, growing from a small house in 2001 to a 5,000-square-foot clinic in Archer, Florida.
- The clinic operates an integrated model combining primary care and mental health services and plans to expand hours to evenings and weekends.
A light drizzle couldn’t dampen the energy at UF Health Archer Family Health Care on Thursday afternoon, as staff, city leaders and other supporters joined together to celebrate the health clinic’s 25th anniversary.
In an interview with Mainstreet, Denise Schentrup, who serves as clinic director of UF Health Archer Family Health Care, said the clinic started in 2001 in a small house and has grown to a roughly 5,000-square-foot building located at 16939 SW 134th Ave.
“For a quarter century, this clinic has served as far more than a healthcare facility,” she said while offering remarks. “It has become part of this community fabric. Families have trusted us with their care through every stage of life, and we have watched children grow into adults, care for generations of families, and build relationships rooted in compassion, trust and consistency.”
Schentrup said the clinic is owned by the UF College of Nursing, with all roughly 15 staff and employees being a part of the College of Nursing. The 25-year celebration of the clinic comes as the College of Nursing commemorates its 70th anniversary and 10 years of its Jacksonville campus Accelerated Bachelor of Science Nursing program.
Schentrup said the clinic operates under an “integrated model,” combining primary care and mental health services.
“We do well visits, we do baby checkups, we do cancer screenings, all of the things that you would think of in a primary care office,” she said. “And then we also have mental health services, too. So, our patients who are our primary care patients can utilize mental health services for things like anxiety, depression, things like that. So, it’s an integrated model. We work together.”
Attendees at Thursday’s celebration could get free health screenings on UF Health’s mobile cancer screening bus, which launched in October 2024. The event also included BBQ – catered by Heavy B’s Barbeque – games, music and more.
In addition to Schentrup, several others also shared remarks about the clinic underneath a large, white tent outside the building, including the College of Nursing’s Dean Emerita, Dr. Kathy Long. Long retired as dean of the College of Nursing in 2013 after 18 years in the role – the longest tenure in the college’s history.
Long served as dean of the College of Nursing when UF Health Archer Family Health Care first opened in 2001.
“The College [of Nursing] invested in Archer Family Health Care because we saw the opportunities,” she said while giving remarks. “An opportunity for an innovative teaching site for students, an excellent place for faculty practice and a base for healthcare studies. Most importantly, 25 years ago, UF [College of] Nursing faculty members and Archer community leaders saw unmet healthcare needs, and they did something.”
Long said support for the clinic has come from “local and state funds, a Florida Blue grant,” four Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) grants and several private gifts.
In 2010, Long said UF Health Archer Family Health Care was named a “national model of nurse-managed healthcare” and received “one of the highest patient-satisfaction ratings” of all UF Healthcare facilities.
“Archer Family Health Care was built on the belief that every person, regardless of income or location, deserves good health care,” she said. “The College [of Nursing] is proud of its commitment to that belief.”
After Long finished her remarks, Mary Church, senior director of advancement for the College of Nursing, announced a gift of $100,000 from Long to support the clinic.
“On behalf of everyone at Archer Family Health Care, I want to extend our deepest gratitude to Dean [Emerita] Long for this incredibly generous gift,” Schentrup said while giving remarks. “Your support and belief in our mission mean more than words can express. This investment is not only a gift to the clinic, but to the patients, the families and the community we serve.”
Schentrup said in the interview with Mainstreet that the clinic is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday-Friday. She added that they’re working on expanding the clinic’s hours to evenings and weekends due to community needs.
“Not sure when that’s going to happen…but that’s in our future of what we want to do,” Schentrup said.
Nick Anschultz is a Report for America corps member and writes about education for Mainstreet Daily News. This position is supported by local donations through the Community Catalyst for Local Journalism Fund at the Community Foundation of North Central Florida.
