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Our Founder’s Story
Dr. Samuel U. Rodgers, Founder
Dr. Samuel U. Rodgers: The Vision Behind Our Health Center
For more than 50 years, we have believed in the strength of family. Our story begins with our founder, Dr. Samuel U. Rodgers, MD, MPH. In 1968, Dr. Rodgers opened the first federally recognized community health center in Missouri—only the fourth of its kind in the United States at that time.
Because he believed families deserve access to everything they need to thrive, Dr. Rodgers chose to establish his health center at the Wayne Miner Housing Project. This decision meant families could receive care right in the heart of their community. Family was central to Dr. Rodgers’ vision, and it’s family that remains at the heart of our healing work today.
In 1988, the Wayne Miner Health Center was renamed in honor of our founder and Executive Director, becoming the Samuel U. Rodgers Health Center. Eight years later, in 1996, Dr. Rodgers became the Executive Director Emeritus. Both Sam Rodger and the Kansas City community felt the weight of his passing in 1999. Throughout his life, Dr. Rodgers dedicated himself to providing quality, compassionate, and affordable health care to Kansas City.
Today, his passion endures through the healthy families who are at the heart of everything we do.
Honoring Our Founder: A Committment to Community Health.
Discover the heart of Sam Rodgers. Learn more about our mission and vision to provide high-quality, compassionate, and affordable health care for all.
Our Mission
Our mission is to provide high quality, compassionate, and affordable healthcare for all. Our health services encompass several areas of expertise and we also provide programs that are designed to help you get the care you need.
We want healthy people in a healthy community. Without vision, we will not have an ideal for which to strive; nor will we be successful. We need to be advanced thinkers; proactive to needs and opportunities and receptive to new ideas when they help us successfully accomplish our mission.
Our Values
Core values are the most important and deepest beliefs held to be true by the team members of the Samuel U. Rodgers Health Center. They form the foundation on which we perform our work and conduct ourselves every day.
Kindness – We are friendly, courteous, polite, respectful, and considerate in our conduct.
Integrity – We are trustworthy, honest, and just in everything we say and do.
Professionalism – We are committed to our mission and we take responsibility for our actions and their results.
Excellence – We are an exceptional organization committed to exceeding expectations.
Your support fuels our Mission and Values.