Sixth grader MiKiyah Walton has asthma, and sometimes it gets so bad that the school nurse wants to send her to the emergency room. That means not only does she miss school, but her mother has to take off work to pick her up.

Not anymore. Now, she can go to the new health clinic at Hilsman Middle School for treatment. In fact, Walton, who spoke at the ribbon cutting ceremony for the clinic Oct. 22, was the first patient ever treated there.

The clinic looks just like any other doctor’s or dentist’s office, with a front desk, a waiting room and a couple of examination rooms. It is staffed by the Athens Neighborhood Health Center.

In addition to medical and dental care, it also offers mental health care through Advantage Behavioral Health Systems. 

“When I saw it, I thought it was beautiful,” said Chief of Policy and Student Services Dawn Myers. “My second thought was, ‘This is what our students deserve.’”

Myers, along with Director of Nursing Amy Roark, spearheaded the project. They obtained grants from Emory University and Piedmont Athens Regional to fund it. Former Chief of Community Engagement and Strategic Partnerships Claire Suggs was also involved, as was Director of SPLOST John Gilbreath, Superintendent Demond Means said.

The clinic is not open to the public; it only serves students and staff at Hilsman and Gaines Elementary School next door. A second clinic is planned for the old West Broad School, which is slated to be turned into a pre-K and early learning center.

On the same afternoon, CCSD officials also cut the ribbon on the newly rebuilt middle school, although technically it’s been open since August.