Souce: Columbus Free Clinic
About the Psychiatry Clinic
The Psychiatry Clinic operates within the Columbus Free Clinic, a student-run free clinic dedicated to providing accessible healthcare to underserved populations. We recently restructured our psychiatric services and are working to expand access to mental healthcare for patients who may otherwise face significant barriers to receiving care.
Currently, our psychiatry services operate on the first and third Thursdays of each month, typically from 5:30–9:30 PM, at Rardin Family Practice (2231 N High St, Columbus, OH 43201). We anticipate initially seeing approximately 2–3 psychiatric patients per clinic evening, with plans to expand to weekly services as our patient population grows.
Volunteer Opportunities and Clinic Structure
We are actively seeking attending psychiatrists, psychiatric advanced practice providers, and psychiatry residents (PGY-3 and above) who would be interested in volunteering.
Our clinic is structured to make volunteering as straightforward and flexible as possible. Medical students and other healthcare professional students assist with patient triage, initial histories, and rooming, allowing our volunteer providers to focus primarily on psychiatric evaluation and patient care. Our clinic leadership is also available throughout the evening to provide support and answer questions as needed.
There is no minimum volunteer commitment, and providers are welcome to participate as frequently or infrequently as their schedules allow.
Malpractice Coverage
The Columbus Free Clinic participates in the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) Free Clinic Program, which provides eligible volunteer healthcare professionals with malpractice protection at no cost following completion of the necessary application and approval process. Providers do not need to be affiliated with The Ohio State University to volunteer, although all providers must complete the appropriate credentialing and coverage requirements before independently providing patient care.
Psychiatrists interested in volunteering are encouraged to contact: Vanessa Mueller, Volunteer Coordinator at:
vanessa.mueller@osumc.edu