Esperanza Health Centers to expand its pediatric services on Chicago’s southwest side

Approximately 18 months after opening its state-of-the-art health center in the heart of Brighton Park, Esperanza Health Centers continues to increase its presence on the Southwest Side of Chicago.

The Federally Qualified Health Center will join with VIDA Pediatrics, a thriving pediatrics practice located at 59th St. and Troy St. in Gage Park, and welcome it to its network of clinics. Starting February 1st, VIDA Pediatrics will officially become “Esperanza at VIDA Pediatrics,” and will continue to offer a full array of pediatric services exclusively.

This will be Esperanza’s fifth site, with the other four located in Brighton Park, Little Village, Marquette Park, and South Lawndale.

“I could not be more excited to welcome a fine group of health care professionals into the Esperanza family,” said Dan Fulwiler, president and chief executive officer at Esperanza. “I am particularly excited because VIDA and Esperanza share the same values. We always put patients first, and quality is our watchword. I look forward to providing high quality care to even more families right here on the Southwest Side.”

VIDA Pediatrics’ lead pediatrician, Alejandro Clavier, MD, MPH, is no stranger to Esperanza. He became Esperanza’s medical director in 2008, and left the organization in 2015 to open VIDA, his independent practice, to continue providing personalized care to his patients. Dr. Clavier completed his pediatric training at the University of Illinois at Chicago, where he served as chief resident.

“Esperanza Health Centers is one of the most highly-recognized health centers in the nation for the quality of its care and is an established leader in health for the communities of Chicago’s Southwest Side,” said Dr. Clavier. “I also want to assure my patients that the clinic will not be affected by this change and will remain open at its same location, with the same team, providers, and commitment to personalized, quality care that they already know so well.”

Esperanza has always had a robust pediatrics practice. Children ages 0-17 account for 28% of Esperanza’s total patient population, according to its latest data. Adding a site that specializes in pediatric care will give Esperanza the opportunity to serve more families. As for VIDA’s existing patients, they will gain more access to convenient pediatric visits and free health and wellness programming for children that Esperanza already offers its community.

“It is such a pleasure for us to start this new chapter and offer more to our patients and community,” said Dr. Clavier. “This merger gives families more options for medical care at Esperanza in areas such as women’s health, counseling, psychiatry, and disease prevention and management. Together, Esperanza and VIDA will bring better care and more access to quality services to many families.”

Existing patients at VIDA Pediatrics can expect to receive the same medical care without any interruption. To make an appointment at Esperanza at VIDA Pediatrics, patients should call (773) 906-5160 or visit www.vidapediatrics.com. Esperanza advises patients interested in establishing care to visit www.esperanzachicago.org and follow its Facebook page for latest news and updates.