Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic
The Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic (YVFWC) was founded in 1978, in Toppenish, Washington, with the help of a federal grant to serve migrant and seasonal agricultural workers. Today, YVFWC is one of the Pacific Northwest’s largest community health centers, with more than 50 unique service locations providing medical, dental, behavioral health, and social services across Oregon and Washington. They also oversee a fleet of mobile health units that bring medical and dental services to rural residents in Yakima Valley.
YVFWC CEO, Christy Trotter, had this to say about our partnership:
“Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic and Pacific Northwest University have collaborated on developing health care professionals in rural and medically underserved areas for nearly two decades. Since PNWU’s founding, we’ve been partners in and supporters of revolutionizing community health.”
“Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic and Pacific Northwest University have collaborated on developing health care professionals in rural and medically underserved areas for nearly two decades. Since PNWU’s founding, we’ve been partners in and supporters of revolutionizing community health.
This new partnership further develops our shared belief that the best health care is comprehensive and includes medical, dental, and more. The dental school is the manifestation of our early promise to develop health care professionals who understand the unique challenges of rural health, the communities and cultures we serve, and appreciate the value of whole-person health.
Our partnership with Pacific Northwest University’s School of Dental Medicine is key to improving dental access in the Tri-Cities and developing the next generation of dental providers. We’ve seen our dental residency’s impact on Yakima Valley and we’re eager to bring that success to the Tri-Cities as we partner with PNWU.”
“Christy, YVFWC Corporate Dental Officer Dr. Steve Davis, and the entire YVFWC team have been amazing partners as we create our new dental program,” explained Dr. Fotinos Panagakos, Dean of PNWU-SDM. “Our clinic in Kennewick, which will be adjacent to the existing YVFWC primary care clinic, will provide needed oral care to the community and permit true dental-medical integration as we work to improve the overall wellness of our patients. We are grateful for YVFWC’s support, partnership, and friendship.”
Christy Trotter and her family moved to Granger from their farm in Minnesota. She is proud to have grown up in the Yakima Valley and has made it a personal mission to improve the well-being of our communities through improved health and job opportunities YVFWC can provide. She sees this partnership with PNWU as another way to train and attract healthcare talent to the communities YVFWC serves. Christy has been with Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic since 1994.