West Philadelphia Clinic Provides Dental and Health Services in Underserved Community

The PHMC clinic on Cedar Avenue is helping reduce crowding at emergency departments by offering comprehensive care under one roof.

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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A community health center in West Philadelphia that provides dental services is helping to address the lack of access to healthcare in the underserved neighborhood. The PHMC clinic on Cedar Avenue offers a range of services, from primary and emergency care to social services and dentistry, all in one location. The clinic serves Medicaid and uninsured patients on a sliding scale fee, and partners with the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine to provide care from students and residents.

Why it matters

Finding affordable and accessible healthcare, including dental care, can be a major challenge for people living in underserved communities. By offering comprehensive services in one convenient location, the PHMC clinic is helping to reduce the burden on local emergency departments and improve health outcomes for residents who may have previously struggled to access the care they need.

The details

The PHMC clinic on Cedar Avenue in West Philadelphia provides a range of healthcare services, including primary and emergency care, social services, and dentistry. The dental clinic is staffed by students and residents from the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, allowing them to gain experience serving diverse patient populations. The clinic serves Medicaid and uninsured patients, with fees based on a sliding scale to ensure affordability.

  • The PHMC clinic on Cedar Avenue in West Philadelphia has been operating for an undisclosed period of time.

The players

PHMC

The Public Health Management Corporation, a community health center that operates the clinic on Cedar Avenue in West Philadelphia.

Vance Evans

A patient at the PHMC clinic who is receiving dental care.

Dr. Rajvir Jutla

The Dental Director at the PHMC clinic.

Dr. Cassandra Gafford

The Director of Oral Health Clinics at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, which partners with the PHMC clinic.

University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine

A partner of the PHMC clinic, providing dental students and residents to staff the clinic's dental services.

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What they’re saying

“This has been really good. Number one, I didn't have to go about the process of trying to find a dentist.”

— Vance Evans, Patient

“It's tough to get time off from work, transportation. When patients do come in, we try to give them as much of their health care as possible.”

— Dr. Rajvir Jutla, Dental Director, PHMC Clinic

“Number one, we're addressing the financial barrier to care.”

— Dr. Rajvir Jutla, Dental Director, PHMC Clinic

“It allows them to go out after dental school and be able to be more inclusive and more inviting and more knowledgeable about the patient populations they'll be treating in the future. It's really important for the community because otherwise they wouldn't necessarily have access to care.”

— Dr. Cassandra Gafford, Director of Oral Health Clinics, University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine

What’s next

The PHMC clinic plans to continue expanding its services and partnerships to better serve the healthcare needs of the West Philadelphia community.

The takeaway

By offering comprehensive medical and dental care in an underserved neighborhood, the PHMC clinic is helping to improve access to affordable healthcare and reduce the burden on local emergency departments. The clinic's partnership with the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine also provides valuable training opportunities for future healthcare providers.