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(WNY News Now) – Community Inclusion, Inc., formally the Resource Center’s Community Health Center, a primary care and dental facility located on 2nd Street in Jamestown, recently announced Christine Schuyler’s appointment as their new CEO and Executive Director.

Jamestown, N.Y. – Community Inclusion, Inc. is an independent not-for-profit organization located at 890 E. 2nd Street in Jamestown, N.Y. that provides primary care and dental care as a NYSDOH-licensed Article 28 Diagnostic & Treatment Center.

Their mission statement is to provide comprehensive, high quality primary and preventative care to the community regardless of one’s ability to pay. Patients without insurance can receive their services on a sliding fee scale based on their annual income, providing healthcare access that they may otherwise be unable to receive.

Community Inclusion recently announced the appointment of Christine Schuyler, BSN, RN, MHA, as their new CEO and Executive Director. With over 30 years of leadership experience in both the public and private sectors, including her most recent tenure as the Director of Emergency Services at UPMC Chautauqua and her previous service as the Public Health Director and Social Services Commissioner for Chautauqua County from 2008 to 2022, Schuyler’s leadership is sure to serve the community well by advancing their stated goal of providing more inclusive and accessible care to the underserved.

“I really thought that in my background and my work that I did with the Health Department and Social Services, I feel like I have a really good grasp on our community, what our needs are, and what the barriers are. And then my time in the emergency room just really opened my eyes even further to really what’s going on in our community and what people are struggling with and what they’re coming to seek ER care for.” Schuyler stated in an interview with WNY News Now. “I know that there’s a lot of people who don’t know that they have other options and they think the ER is the place to go. In reality, we really could be one of those options. We have walk-in hours every day, so people can walk in to be seen here. They don’t have to have an appointment and we’ll squeeze you in to get your needs met.”

Community Inclusion has much to offer the community, and they have specialized equipment for wheelchair-bound patients and those with special needs. One of the biggest things that Schuyler wanted to emphasize to viewers is that Community Inclusion is separate from the Resource Center. Though they lease their clinic space from the Resource Center, they are no longer a part of the Resource Center and are their own independent entity.

The facility is currently looking to increase the healthcare providers they have available to expand the care they can offer to the community. “I’m a firm believer in health in all policies and health for everyone. And that’s what we try to do here. And I’m really hoping we’re going to be able to recruit more providers to come in here to want to help me make that dream come true because we know the need is here.” Schuyler said. “We know there are so many people who need our services. We don’t care who you are. We just want to help people.”

For their dental care, they currently have a part-time dentist and a full-time dental hygienist, Brittany Carlson, who is a preventative specialist who provides dental cleanings, perio charting to assess gum health, and x-rays. Carlson also educates aspiring dental hygienists at the Chautauqua Center through Monroe Community College, with 5 matriculating students set to graduate in the spring.

Community Inclusion currently has about 600 active dental patients that they have seen over the past two years, and they hope to increase that number as they attempt to expand their workforce. Carlson, who previously worked in a private practice, expressed the sense of fulfillment that she has gained through her work at Community Inclusion and encourages healthcare providers to consider whether they themselves might want to make the switch. “Honestly, I worked in private practice for 10 years before this, and I finally made the move over to community health and it has really been life changing.” Said Carlson. “I feel like I’m changing peoples’ lives and making a real impact in the community, and I think that any provider could grow here and really see that they’re making a dentist.”

Schuyler’s appointment seeks to usher in a new age of community healthcare, and we encourage viewers and community members to show their support by spreading awareness about the work being done by Community Inclusion and encouraging those in need to seek their services.