It has been 30 years since Dr. Gerald Pierone Jr. opened the doors of Whole Family Health as a nonprofit medical facility dedicated to caring for people with HIV/AIDS on the Treasure Coast – patients who, at the time, had few options and even fewer advocates.
What began as a focused HIV/AIDS mission has since grown into a comprehensive community health center, now providing primary care, women’s health, pediatrics, behavioral health, and onsite pharmacy services, continually evolving to meet the changing needs of the community.
The extent of that growth recently made it clear that Whole Family Health needed more space. To accommodate expanding services, the organization launched its first-ever capital campaign to purchase and renovate a building on 37th Place, transforming it into a state-of-the-art medical facility for its newly opened Women’s Health and Pediatrics practices.
With renovations now complete and offices fully staffed, donors were invited to tour the space and see firsthand how their contributions are shaping the future of care on the Treasure Coast.
The newly renovated, 15,000-square-foot building allows Whole Family Health to significantly expand pediatric services, add adult exam rooms, enhance pharmacy operations, and launch its new Complete Women’s Health initiative.
The $5 million capital campaign supporting the facility represents a major milestone for the organization. To date, more than $1.5 million has been raised, with naming opportunities still available for future donors.
Because many supporters of Whole Family Health are not patients themselves, the private tours offered an important window into the impact of their generosity. Donors were struck by the pristine, modern clinical environment, the advanced equipment, and the welcoming atmosphere they are helping bring to the community.
Whole Family Health’s approach to expansion differs from many healthcare providers, according to CEO Marie Andress.
“We seek to own all of our facilities,” Andress said. “As a nonprofit exempt from real estate taxes, ownership becomes more cost-effective than leasing, which is a significant advantage in a low-margin field like primary care.
“Medical office space is expensive and highly specialized. Exam rooms require plumbing, electrical work, cabinetry, equipment and technology – and none of that is easily transferable. We prefer to invest in facilities we own rather than build out leased space we may eventually have to vacate.”
Equally important, she added, is the role environment plays in healing.
“We believe patients’ experience is influenced by their surroundings, so we designed these offices to be attractive, welcoming and uplifting,” Andress said. “While they are fully functional medical spaces, they look and feel different from most traditional clinics.”
The new Complete Women’s Health practice delivers integrated women’s primary and gynecological care under one roof. Services include preventive and wellness visits, chronic disease management, vaccinations and flu shots.
Gynecological care addresses contraception, abnormal bleeding, menopause and menstrual disorders. The practice also offers full-service aesthetic treatments, helping patients look and feel their best as part of a holistic approach to care.
Whole Family Pediatrics was designed with both children and families in mind. The new facility employs three full-time and two part-time pediatricians who provide wellness and preventive care, sick visits, chronic disease management, immunizations and physicals. To help limit the spread of illness, sick children have a separate waiting area from those attending wellness visits – a small but meaningful detail that reflects the organization’s patient-centered philosophy.
Whole Family Health operates as a fee-for-service organization without direct federal or state funding. A significant portion of its patients live below 200 percent of the federal poverty level, including seniors and working families with limited incomes. Critical support for uninsured residents comes from the Indian River County Hospital District, supplemented by generous donors and grantors who share the belief that access to quality healthcare should not depend on financial circumstances.
“When I began Whole Family Health Center in 1995, my mission was to care for patients living with HIV who had no other options,” Dr. Pierone said. “Today, our 200 dedicated staff provide comprehensive medical, behavioral health and preventive care for more than 20,000 patients, regardless of their insurance status or ability to pay. The demand for our services continues to grow.”
The numbers tell a compelling story. Last year alone, Whole Family Health handled more than 70,000 patient visits, filled 135,000 prescriptions, processed 45,000 referrals, and responded to 235,000 appointment-related calls. The organization also operates mobile outreach services, community wellness events and assistance programs aimed at reaching vulnerable populations.
Whole Family Health gained national recognition during the COVID-19 pandemic for its leadership in research and patient care. Through its research partner, the Pierone Research Institute, the organization collaborated with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases on clinical trials for COVID-19 treatments, including monoclonal antibodies and antiviral therapies.
“I believe that’s when Whole Family Health truly differentiated itself,” said donor Allen Jones while touring the new facility. “They treated patients empathetically and efficiently, provided vaccines to the community, and were the only clinic offering monoclonal antibody treatments at the time.
“Dr. Pierone is an expert in infectious diseases and has mentored his staff exceptionally well.
When he sees a need in the community, he steps up to meet it.”
For Dr. Pierone, the mission that began three decades ago remains unchanged.
“Quality healthcare shouldn’t depend on your ability to pay,” he said. “At Whole Family Health Center, we care for those who might otherwise be left behind. Because of our generous donors, we can continue to expand our services and ensure that compassionate, high-quality care remains within reach for everyone in our community.”
For more information about Complete Women’s Health, visit completewomenshealth.org or call 772-918-9500. For more information about Whole Family Pediatrics, visit wfhcfl.org or call 772-918-9300. Both practices are located at 840 37th Place in Vero Beach.
Photos by Joshua Kodis
