Skip to content
  • University Home
  • Academics
  • Admissions
  • Campus Life
  • Research
  • About
  • Apply
  • Giving
Clemson News

Clemson News

  • Topics
    • OUR Clemson
    • Impact and Innovation
    • Student Success
      • Spring of 2024 President’s List
      • Spring of 2024 Dean’s List
    • Faculty and Staff Achievements
    • Alumni Accomplishments
    • Infectious Disease Research
    • Commentary And Analysis
    • All Stories
    • Clemson In The News
    • Celebrating Our Graduates
    • Military Traditions
  • Colleges
    • College of Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences
    • College of Architecture, Art and Construction
    • College of Arts and Humanities
    • College of Behavioral, Social and Health Sciences
    • College of Education
    • College of Engineering, Computing and Applied Sciences
    • College of Science
    • Harvey S. Peeler Jr. College of Veterinary Medicine
    • Wilbur O. and Ann Powers College of Business
  • Divisions
    • Office of the President
    • Office of the Provost
    • Advancement
    • Marketing and Communications
    • Clemson Computing Information Technology
    • Community, Engagement, Belonging and Access
    • External Affairs
    • Finance and Operations
    • Clemson Libraries
    • Institutional Excellence
    • Public Service and Agriculture
    • Research
    • Student Affairs
    • Athletics
  • For Journalists
    • Our Experts
Clemson.edu Resources
  • University Home
  • Academics
  • Admissions
  • Campus Life
  • Research
  • About
College of Behavioral, Social and Health Sciences

New clinic brings health care to South Carolina’s underserved Orangeburg-area community

Shelley Gordon

Share:

A group of health care providers wearing scrubs and white coats stands outside a brick medical facility.
Download image
May 24, 2023May 30, 2023

Clemson Rural Health continues to expand health care services to South Carolinians with the opening of a new clinic in Orangeburg. The Clemson Health Clinic at Orangeburg (CHC-O) is the third Clemson-run clinic to open and will provide life-saving services in a largely underserved part of the state, both through fixed health care facilities and mobile health units.

Elected and appointed officials who attended a May 25 ribbon-cutting hailed the partnerships that made the clinic a reality and celebrated its opening as transformative.

I am so thrilled Clemson Rural Health is in our community. I am very passionate about access to care in rural South Carolina, and with this rural health program from Clemson, we are going to be able to collaborate with existing providers and expand our program offerings. The way to success in rural South Carolina is to pool our resources and work together – not in silos. We all have a role to play, and we are going to do it together.

South Carolina State Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter
Representative Gilda Cobb-Hunter speaks at the ribbon-cutting event for the new Clemson Rural Health Clinic at Orangeburg.

Clemson Rural Health is part of the Clemson University College of Behavioral, Social and Health Sciences and an extension of the University’s land-grant mission.

Clemson Rural Health has served the Lowcountry for over a decade through mobile health clinics but was restricted by travel distances from their home base in Walhalla. This new hub clinic, located at 1181 Hutto Street in Orangeburg, will allow Clemson to have a consistent and elevated impact on the health and well-being of Orangeburg, Bamberg, Barnwell and Calhoun counties.

Clemson Rural Health’s three-fold mission to train students, advance research and provide clinical outreach supports the College’s overall mission to build people and communities. Through a combination of teaching, research and patient care – we are confident our new Orangeburg clinic will transform health outcomes within the community and beyond.

Leslie Hossfeld, dean of the College of Behavioral, Social and Health Sciences

The full-time, fully staffed primary care facility will provide in-person appointments, telehealth and remote patient monitoring along with two mobile health units for outreach into rural counties, and a highly qualified, multidisciplinary team to the community. Led by nurse practitioner, Donna Atkinson, a prominent certified diabetes care and education specialist in the region, the clinic will heavily focus on chronic disease prevention and management.

Treating South Carolina

There are 220% more excess deaths due to cancer in South Carolina’s rural counties than in its nonrural counties.
National Center for Health Statistics, 2006-2015

The May ribbon-cutting event included tours of the brick-and-mortar clinic and its brand-new mobile health units, free blood pressure checks, a healthy cooking demonstration and refreshments.

The opening of the Clemson Health Clinic at Orangeburg represents a long-term commitment by Clemson University to increase access to health services and improve health outcomes for rural and underserved communities. This clinic will serve as a hub for high quality clinical care, educational partnerships and clinical research – cumulatively impacting chronic disease outcomes and regional challenges for Orangeburg and the surrounding counties.

Ron Gimbel, Director, Clemson Rural Health

More information about the future of the CHC-O and Clemson Rural Health’s impact on the state of South Carolina can be found in the 2022 Fiscal Year Impact Report.

The Clemson Health Clinic at Orangeburg is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. To schedule an appointment, call 803-516-4227. Learn more at clemsonruralhealth.org.

More information about the future of the CHC-W and Clemson Rural Health’s impact on the state of South Carolina can be found in the 2022 Fiscal Year Impact Report.

Want to Discuss?

Get in touch and we will connect you with the author or another expert.

Or email us at news@clemson.edu

    This form is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

    Related Posts

    Two men talk inside a new mobile health clinic unit operated by Clemson Rural Health

    New primary care Clemson Rural Health primary care clinic opens in Walhalla

    Clemson Rural Health opens third primary care clinic in rural South Carolina

    Clemson Rural Health mobile clinic.

    College of Behavioral, Social and Health Sciences launches Fresh for Life; produce prescription program led by Clemson Rural Health in Abbeville County

    Clemson Rural Health

    Clemson News

    Clemson News is the go-to source for stories and news about the innovations, research and accomplishments of the Clemson Family.

    • Contact Us

    Media Resources

    • For Journalists
    • Find an Expert

    Clemson Publications

    • Clemson World
    • Decipher
    • Orange. The Experience.
    • Clemson TV

    Policy/Terms of Use

    • Web Accessibility
    • Title IX
    • Non-Discrimination & Anti-Harassment Policy
    • Ethics/Safety Hotline
    • Privacy Policy

    Copyright © 2025. All Rights Reserved.

    Clemson University