By Michael P. Walsh
Special to the Voice
The Cornell Scott-Hill Health Center held a ribbon-cutting Oct. 6 to celebrate the grand opening of its 9,500-square-foot care site at 410 Campbell Ave.
The late-morning ceremony, outside the center’s main entrance, featured public officials and representatives of health and social services organizations, as well as community members.
The event included remarks by CEO Michael R. Taylor; Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz; state Sen. James J. Maroney, D-Milford; state Rep. Charles J. Ferraro, R-West Haven; and Mayor Nancy R. Rossi.
“Our new West Haven facility demonstrates our continued commitment to the city of West Haven, to the thousands of West Haven-area residents who we’ve served over the years, and to the thousands more who we now have the capacity to serve,” Taylor said.
Bysiewicz said, “This facility means that more people have access to great health care.”
Rossi added: “I’m so excited that we have a state-of-the-art health care facility in West Haven. It is an honor to have you.”
According to Taylor, the new practice location triples CS-HHC’s capacity to improve community access to the health center’s integrated primary medical, medical specialty and behavioral health services.
“We are absolutely delighted to expand our fully integrated services at this critical time in our West Haven location,” said Dr. Ece Tek, the chief medical officer of mental health and addiction services, noting the growing need for mental health services in general. “We will continue to build on serving people in this community with an eye on improving access to mental health care.”
After cutting the ribbon with a pair of oversize scissors, Taylor led officials on a tour of the renovated building, formerly the Beecher & Bennett-Taylor Funeral Home.
Other West Haven attendees included City Council members Bridgette J. Hoskie, D-1, Robbin Watt Hamilton, D-5, Treneé McGee, D-7, and Barry Lee Cohen, R-10.
Hoskie, who represents the district that includes the center, said: “(CS-HHC’s) experience and history of being a vital part of fighting this pandemic will benefit our city and residents greatly. The fact that one of their goals is to fight health disparities while providing services to all makes their expanded presence a great asset for West Haven.”
Council Chairman Ronald M. Quagliani, who could not attend, extended his best wishes.
“I offer my congratulations on CS-HCC’s new state-of-the-art facility that will further support and advocate for so many of our residents,” said Quagliani, D-at large.