Thomas Ziering, MD, FAAFP

WHCC was originally established in April 1973 as the Somerset Neighborhood Health Clinic, the medical arm of the Somerville Youth Development Project. The agency provided family planning services and a "Kids' Klinic." In its first year of services, the agency served 600 clients with a staff of four. In 1985, as the Somerset Family Planning Service, Inc, the agency obtained certification as a tax-exempt non-profit agency. In 1994, the agency changed its name to Women's Health & Counseling Center to more accurately reflect the full compliment of services offered by the agency. In January 1997, WHCC launched its Women's Primary Care Initiative to include primary care services for the treatment of minor acute illnesses, common chronic illnesses, health maintenance, and preventive care. Over the past 35 years, programs and services have expanded due to the changing needs of the local community. In addition to family planning and primary care, the agency currently offers sexual assault support services, cancer screenings for eligible women and men, and educational and counseling programs for at-risk adolescents. While WHCC's programs encompass a wide range of services, the commitment to healthy women remains as strong as ever. In May 2005, the agency moved to a new, larger building which offers the space needed to provide the best quality healthcare to our existing clients and to expand our programs to meet the growing healthcare demands in our community.