About
History

The New Life Volunteering Society (NLVS) is a national and secular non-profit service organization developed at the University of Illinois at Chicago in 1999. In October 2003, students from Loyola University, Northwestern University, Rosalind Franklin University, Rush Medical College, University of Chicago, and the University of Illinois at Chicago helped to develop the first-ever student-run free clinic in West Ridge, Chicago, where a significant portion of the population lives 200% below the poverty line. NLVS partnered with the Indian American Medical Association Charitable Foundation (IAMACF) to open the free clinic on Saturdays. The clinic has run weekly since then and currently, students from six Chicagoland medical schools are provided with an equal opportunity to engage in collaborative service of the uninsured and underinsured community.

Our Mission

The NLVS free health clinic serves as a comprehensive medical care facility dedicated to serving the uninsured and underinsured of Chicago in primary and secondary prevention of chronic medical conditions and also training future health care professionals by providing an educational setting to learn and practice clinical skills.

Our Services

We empower our patients to manage their health with one-on-one nutrition and lifestyle counselling. Our medical students and clinicians provide culturally sensitive and informed health education. We also offer health fairs throughout nearby communities.

Medications for both acute infections and chronic conditions, such as diabetes and high blood pressure, are provided at no cost to patients. Every effort is made to provide free medications and help patients purchase low-cost medications.

Bloodwork, including complete blood count, complete metabolic profile, fasting lipid profile, HbA1c, liver function tests, and thyroid function tests are available at no charge. Urinalysis and EKGs are also free to our patients.

Shared Medical Appointment

Shared medical appointments (SMAs) are an opportunity for patients to see a doctor along with other patients who have the same health condition. Patients are provided with an educational workshop providing them with general information about the disease. After the workshop, patients are individually assessed by medical students and physicians. This program involves multiple providers including physicians, pharmacists, dietitians, and behavioral providers in a group setting with multiple patients.

 

Contact us to see when there are available appointments.

  • Call Us! (773) 275-8630

2645 W Peterson Ave, Chicago, IL 60659