SHELBY – Avita Health System employees worked until the last second Monday to ensure their new site in Shelby was ready to welcome visitors.
An open house and ribbon-cutting ceremony Monday afternoon marked the grand opening of Avita’s Shelby Walk-In Clinic and medical offices, located at 24 East Whitney Ave.
Kim Winkle, Avita Health System vice president of operations, said teamwork helped make the new site special.
“You would not believe all of the different departments that came together,” she said.
“Just when I got here an hour ago, I saw so many departments in the back mopping, dusting, doing everything to get those last minutes.”
The clinic, scheduled to officially open Thursday, will see patients Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. It will include a walk-in clinic, family medicine office and multi-specialty office.
‘You’re going to see this clinic grow’ says Morasko
Jerry Morasko, Avita Health System president & CEO, said the East Whitney Avenue building was purchased in September 2023.
“We could see that there’s a shortage of certain specialities and access to care in this community,” he said. “We’re going to create about 25 new positions right away in this building.”
Morasko said additional specialities will be offered at the clinic beginning in February and early March, including cardiology and urology services.
Through Avita’s partnership with Women’s Care of Mansfield, OB-GYN and advanced practice provider services will also be available at the Shelby clinic starting in March.
“We’re excited to bring these services to Shelby,” Morasko said.
“I think you’re going to see a big difference in the community and you’re going to see this clinic grow. It’s going to be moving pretty good.”
Bringing healthcare to ‘where it’s needed’
After becoming the parent company of hospitals in Galion and Bucyrus, Mark Schneider knew Avita’s work was far from finished.
Schneider, chair of the Avita Health System board of directors, credited expansion to “bringing healthcare to where it’s needed.”
“We brought state-of-the-art service lines to Ontario and today, we’re doing the same thing for Shelby,” he said.
“It’s our pleasure to be here and to bring the level of care that Avita Health Systems brings, to the Shelby area.”
Avita has been ‘great corporate citizens’ says Gribben
Jessica Gribben, Shelby and Northern Richland County economic development manager, said she’s happy to see the East Whitney Avenue building back in use.
Added bonuses include new job creation and downtown foot traffic, she said.
“(Avita) truly is involved (in Shelby),” she said. “The community shows out because they have been great corporate citizens.”
Shelby Mayor Steve Schag said the clinic will provide a quality healthcare resource for residents of Shelby and Northern Richland County.
Seeing the building brought back to a “prime” condition, with “purpose and productivity,” is something he’s glad to see.
“I truly want to thank the Avita Healthcare System for being persistent, looking around and strategically, and generously, making a huge investment in the city of Shelby that will yield positive results for years to come,” Schag said.
Other local leaders in attendance Monday included State Rep. Marilyn John, Bellville Mayor Teri Brenkus, Ontario Mayor Randy Hutchinson, Crestline Mayor Linda Horning-Pitt and Richland County Commissioners Tony Vero, Cliff Mears and Darrell Banks.
