Nonprofit spotlight: UMMA Community Clinic



UmmaFair

An UMMA health fair. | ummaclinic.org

Intersection’s Nonprofit Spotlight series profiles South L.A. organizations that are propelling positive change in South L.A. 

Once called the University Muslim Medical Association, the organization known today as the UMMA Community Clinic (“umma” means “community” in Arabic) has been in South L.A. for nearly 20 years now. With its main clinic located just a couple of blocks east of the spot where truck driver Reginald Denny was beaten during the 1992 L.A. Riots and a second location at Fremont High School, UMMA has become part of the fabric of the community.

What is UMMA’s purpose?

UMMA’s purpose is to promote the well being of the underprivileged people by providing access to high-quality healthcare for all, regardless of their ability to pay.

When was UMMA founded? How did it come into being?

UMMA was founded in 1996. Following the L.A. Riots of 1992, a group of Muslim medical school students from UCLA and Charles Drew University came together to make a difference. Their passion caught the attention of Congresswoman Maxine Watters who later became one of the clinic’s biggest supporters. The students decided to build the first clinic on an abandoned child day care center. Upon finding this abandoned location, and with the support of the Congresswoman, they were able to convince the city of Los Angeles to rent it to them for $1 a year. Then they collected donated medical equipment from hospitals and elicited start up donations from members of the Muslim community.

Which areas does UMMA serve?

UMMA serves South Los Angeles. The majority of patients are African American or Hispanic.

Ummakids

Children at an UMMA health fair. | www.ummaclinic.org

What services does UMMA provide?

UMMA provides:

• Family and Internal Medicine

• Adolescent Medicine

• Pediatrics/Childhood Immunizations

• On-site Mammography

• On-site Laboratory

• Prenatal Care

• Hepatitis C Testing

• HIV/STI Testing

• Family/contraceptive planning

• Health Education

• Women’s Health

• Behavioral Health Services

• Direct referrals to local county facilities

What are UMMA’s recent accomplishments?

In 2013, UMMA opened its second location on the campus of John C. Fremont High School in South L.A. They name it Fremont Wellness Center. UMMA has been recognized as a Patient Centered Medical Home. In April 2014, it raised over $30,000 to fund cancer screenings in South Los Angeles. UMMA is also the first Federally Qualified Healthcare Center in America that is run by Muslims.

In which areas could UMMA use volunteers? 

UMMA needs volunteer physicians whether for clinic duty or to help oversee health fairs that takes place in the underserved areas of South L.A. We also seek volunteers to assist in administrative duties or community festivals and health fairs.

Website: http://www.ummaclinic.org/

Social media: FacebookTwitter, Youtube.

UMMA Clinic
(323) 789-5610

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Fremont High School Wellness Center
(323) 789-5610

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