By Molly Dannenmaier
Nineteen years ago, when Dr. Syed Kazmi was chief medical resident at UTMB, he was offered a great opportunity — the chance to establish a new UTMB medical service in an underserved area.
It was 1995 and there was no pediatrician serving Alvin. Kazmi was a rising medical star — a young doctor with a master’s degree in public health and a deep commitment to bringing primary care to communities where it was most needed.
Creating a whole new health program for a community’s children was a prestigious assignment for the young doctor. His mentors saw it as a stepping stone to further career advancement, he recalls.
Kazmi moved from Galveston to Alvin, opened the tiny 900-square-foot pediatric clinic, and for five years was the only physician working there.
“The goal was to serve the whole Alvin community — anyone who needed care for their children could bring them to us. There was finally a clinic right here where people needed it,” said Kazmi. “It was so gratifying to bring this program to life.”
Now, 19 years after opening its doors to the city’s children, the UTMB Alvin Clinic has expanded its services, hours and footprint and moved into a new 10,000-square-foot building where adults as well as children can receive primary care medical services.
The UTMB Pediatric and Adult Primary Care Clinic, a new freestanding facility located at 2020 E. Highway 6, has 24 exam rooms, expanded X-ray services, a full blood-draw station and more staff members. The previous nine-room clinic at 218 E. House St. had two doctors, two nurse practitioners and 11 other staff. When the new clinic opened Sept. 22, five new staff members were on board — a doctor, a nurse practitioner, a registered nurse, a medical assistant and a patient service specialist.
The clinic now offers extended hours, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., which it began in June even before moving into the new space.
The full budget for the new clinic was $2.4 million with construction costs of $1.3 million. Interior costs including furniture and equipment were $1.1 million. The expansion is a Delivery System Reform Incentive Pool (DSRIP) project for UTMB under the Medicaid 1115 Waiver program in Texas, whose goal is to increase access to primary care services for the underserved.
Kazmi is still there. The opportunity that some saw as a stepping stone instead became a move that Kazmi embraced and grew, so much so that he is now one of Alvin’s most beloved and respected community members.
Since moving to Alvin to start the clinic Kazmi has married, had two children, and become deeply involved in community life. Besides serving as the director of the UTMB Alvin Pediatric and Adult Primary Clinic, he also serves as the city’s medical director.
“I have seen a whole generation of patients grow up and now I am beginning to see them again as adults when they bring their own children to the clinic. I love being so deeply connected to so many families in this community,” Kazmi said.
“We have always been deeply connected and committed to Alvin’s children and families and now we are strengthening this connection even more.”
UTMB leases the space from owner Orr Commercial Inc. The project contractor is LSI General Contractors and Construction Managers.