Brand New Comprehensive Care Clinic at Rosedale School is One of the First of its Kind

By Mira Mathur

Rosedale clinic (Photo Credit: Dell Childrens)

Recently, I was lucky enough to attend the grand revealing of Dell Children’s new clinic that serves children with complex medical histories. This unique clinic is attached to Rosedale School which provides high-quality education for children of special needs. Austin ISD’s partnership with Dell Children’s Medical Center is the first in the country to have an on-campus full-service medical clinic and will positively impact the entire community. Rosedale opened its doors after a new renovation on February 1, 2022, and currently has 169 students varying from ages 3-22.

This state-of-the-art health care center will allow school staff and clinic executives to collaborate on any medical support the children may need throughout their day. This clinic is not exclusive to Rosedale students, but it greatly impacts their lives by eliminating the struggle of loading and transferring patients to the hospital. In her grand opening speech, Principal Elizabeth Dickey of Rosedale claims “years ago it seemed like an amazing dream we didn’t know could happen”, five years later “we are here, this is real!”. This brand-new space is designed to be bright and inviting resembling the nature of a tree house. With many examination rooms and several sensory gadgets, this space was designed to fit every need of its patients.

Kimberly Johnson, the mother of 17-year-old student Blake Johnson at Rosedale School, is among the first to see the clinic; she is proud to be a part of this project and says, “the convenience of having a school and a clinic in the same building is phenomenal”. A personal interview with Mrs. Johnson reveals that her son suffers from cerebral palsy, blindness, autism, and is non-verbal. Because of Blake’s condition, Kimberly shares those appointments are hard to get to, especially when he sees “about eight to ten different doctors a year”, participates in horseback riding, and does physical therapy twice a week. Blake’s gastroenterologist and Medical Director of the Children’s Comprehensive Care Clinic, Dr. Berhane, says “On behalf of my colleagues at the clinic I commend to everyone here today, that we will apply ourselves to the work inspired by the love we have for each other, the children we serve, and the community that supports us.”

Sources:

“Curriculum: Pediatric Residency.” Dell Medical School. Accessed August 12, 2022. https://dellmed.utexas.edu/education/academics/graduate-medical-education/pediatric-residency/curriculum.

Cantu, Fred. “Dell Children's Offers Unique Full Service Health Care at Rosedale School.” KEYE. KEYE, August 12, 2022. https://cbsaustin.com/news/local/austin-isd-offers-unique-full-service-health-care-at-rosedale-school.