Keuka College has opened a Rural Community Outpatient Clinic backed by $1.6 million in federal funding and expected to serve about 1,000 Yates County residents.
The clinic will offer nursing care, occupational and physical therapy, social work counseling, athletic training and wellness coaching while providing hands-on clinical training for about 100 Keuka College students each year.
U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer joined college leaders for a ribbon-cutting Aug. 17. Schumer said he began seeking the federal support in 2023, and the money was included in the fiscal 2024 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration appropriations law.
College President Amy Storey said the clinic is intended to expand access to clinical services in rural communities while preparing students for health care careers.
The clinic is designed as a central location for health and wellness services in an area that officials said lacks sufficient care within a 30-mile radius. A 2025 report examining health professional shortages in 16 rural counties, including Yates County, identified low provider rates and limited access to basic care.
Keuka College said the clinic will also support enrollment in its health care programs by giving students required training opportunities. About 85% of the college's graduates remain in New York, according to the school.
Schumer said the project is intended to address current access gaps while helping build the region's future health care workforce.
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to news@fingerlakes1.com.