Division of  General Internal Medicine

Program for Health Care to Underserved Populations (PHCUP)

Founded in 1994 under the sponsorship of the Division of General Internal Medicine, the Program for Health Care to Underserved Populations (PHCUP) provides free medical and pharmaceutical care to uninsured and medically underserved individuals through two community-partnered clinics: the Birmingham Free Clinic, open to the general public, and the Women’s Center and Shelter Clinic, serving women recovering from intimate partner violence. PHCUP’s mission is supported by an interdisciplinary team of volunteer clinicians, health professional students, and AmeriCorps National Service members, and the program is recognized as a leader in service-learning and clinical training for students, interns, and residents across health disciplines.

Patient Care

PHCUP clinics deliver primary and specialty care, medication access, and social services assistance at no cost to patients, thanks to the generosity of community partners, volunteers, and donors.

Services include:

  • Preventive care and immunizations (influenza, pneumococcal, tetanus)
  • Basic diagnostic testing (urinalysis, EKG, blood glucose, hemoglobin A1C, pregnancy, Pap smears)
  • Chronic disease management (hypertension, asthma, diabetes)
  • Medication access and management
  • Smoking cessation programs
  • Social services support and insurance navigation
  • Health maintenance and cancer screenings

Volunteer specialists and fellows from UPMC, the University of Pittsburgh, and community practices also provide monthly specialty clinics in fields including vascular medicine, dermatology, endocrinology, gastroenterology, neurology, audiology, physical and occupational therapy, and psychiatry, enhancing patient care and expanding service capacity.

For patients seeking care, contact the Birmingham Free Clinic at 412-246-3053 or visit https://birminghamfreeclinic.wixsite.com/home.

Education, Training, and Service Learning

PHCUP provides robust opportunities for students, residents, and fellows to gain hands-on experience serving vulnerable populations. Participants work alongside faculty volunteers in interdisciplinary teams, developing clinical skills while witnessing the impact of community-focused care. The program offers curriculum rotations for students from the Schools of Medicine, Pharmacy, and Nursing, and serves as a continuity clinic for residents in the Global Health and Underserved Populations Track in Internal Medicine at UPMC-PUH. Volunteers contribute over 4,000 hours of service annually, making PHCUP a cornerstone of experiential learning in community health.

Community Partnerships and Volunteer Opportunities

PHCUP collaborates with a wide range of community and academic partners, including:

PHCUP continually seeks volunteer physicians, pharmacists, and health professionals to support clinic operations and enhance patient care.

Donations

Community support is essential to PHCUP’s work. Donations fund clinical supplies, medications, and patient services:

  • $50 covers one primary care clinic visit, including pharmacy services
  • $75 provides a month of medication for a diabetic patient
  • $150 purchases three blood pressure cuffs or two months of medications for a patient with hypertension
  • $10,000 annually supports medications, equipment, medical supplies, immunizations, and patient education materials

For more information, contact Anne Immekus at (412) 647-2434 or ami16@pitt.edu. Donations to the PHCUP are tax-deductible.

Leadership

Medical Director, Birmingham Free Clinic: Jennifer Corbelli, MD, MS

Medical Director, Women’s Center and Shelter Clinic: Raquel Buranosky, MD, MPH

Director, IM Global Health and Underserved Populations Residency Track: Thuy Bui, MD

Program Clinical Director: Mary Herbert, MS, MPH

Additional administrative and clinical staff support PHCUP operations and patient care.