University of Minnesota leaders and faculty, state officials, clinic staff and patient board members will break ground today on a new Community-University Health Care Center building. Twice the size of the current clinic, the new, advanced facility will expand patient access, enhance care delivery and strengthen the University’s health professional training programs.
Founded in 1966 by University of Minnesota Medical School faculty, the center is the state’s first and longest-running community health center, providing health and wellness care to low-income community members, refugees and immigrants. In 2025, the clinic served more than 12,000 patients through more than 53,000 visits.
“The Community-University Health Care Center is where our University of Minnesota land-grant mission comes to life — expanding access to high‑quality, community‑centered care while training the next generation of health professionals alongside and within the communities they will serve,” said Dr. Carol Bradford, interim dean for the University of Minnesota Medical School and interim University executive vice president for health affairs. “This new clinic strengthens our ability to meet patients where they are today and prepare our students to deliver compassionate, real‑world care for Minnesota’s future.”
The Center offers a full range of medical, dental and mental health services, including pediatric care, midwifery and psychiatry. It also provides access to critical social services, including financial navigation programs, food support, interpreters and pro bono legal services offered in partnership with Stinson, LLP. In addition to medical and social services, the clinic conducts and shares research that brings together community members, researchers and healthcare providers to advocate for and transform community health.
The new clinic will add patient exam rooms and dental stations, on-site pharmacy services so patients can fill prescriptions on-site and new offerings such as physical therapy and imaging. With the expansion, the clinic will be able to accommodate an additional 36,500 patient visits over the next decade.
"This expansion offers current and future patients an improved, warmer space for health and healing,” said Dr. Roli Dwivedi, Community-University Health Care Center CEO. “More space, a pharmacy and new services will enhance our ability to provide fully integrated, whole-person care to the community we’ve served for 60 years. Beyond healing, this project strengthens the center’s role as a place for learning — preparing the next generation of health professionals to deliver team-based care in partnership with the diverse communities they will serve.”
The Community-University Health Care Center is one of the largest urban primary care training sites in Minnesota, annually providing interprofessional, experiential training to 175 residents and students from the University’s College of Pharmacy, Medical School, School of Dentistry, School of Public Health, School of Social Work and others. The new clinic will be able to expand its training opportunities in areas such as physical therapy, radiology and pharmacy.
That educational mission is grounded in real-world care for a diverse and underserved community. The clinic provides care to a diverse patient population: its patients collectively speak more than 55 languages and most rely on public healthcare coverage. As a Federally Qualified Health Center, the center provides accessible, affordable care regardless of ability to pay.
That commitment extends beyond the exam room: the Community-University Health Care Center is jointly governed by the University of Minnesota and a community board of directors that includes patient representation, ensuring community voices shape what services are available and how care is delivered.
“I have been coming to the center since 2000, and my daughter had her first visit to the clinic when she was one week old,” said Kim Hayden, a patient board member. “The expansion reflects what patients have asked for — a more welcoming lobby, bigger exam rooms and calming features that support people receiving care. It will also create a better workplace for staff. The new building shows what’s possible when a university and community work together to remove barriers and improve health for everyone.”
The new facility is made possible by a $45 million renovation and expansion approved by the University of Minnesota, a $20 million capital campaign by the University of Minnesota Foundation and support from the Twin Cities philanthropic community. The building was designed by the design firm HGA and will be constructed by JE Dunn Construction. The current clinic will remain open during construction, which is expected to be completed by July 2027.
For more information about the clinic, visit cuhcc.umn.edu.
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About the Office of Academic Clinical Affairs
The Office of Academic Clinical Affairs is reimagining health by driving innovation and discovery through collaborations across the University of Minnesota, advancing interprofessional care and training, and being a strong partner to the state, industry and community. Learn more at clinicalaffairs.umn.edu.
About the University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, with campuses in Crookston, Duluth, Morris, Rochester, and the Twin Cities, is driven by a singular vision of excellence. We are proud of our land-grant mission of world-class education, groundbreaking research, and community-engaged outreach, and we are unified in our drive to serve Minnesota. Visit system.umn.edu.
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