In the heart of downtown Fort Wayne, the IU Fort Wayne Lafayette Street Family Health Clinic provides accessible healthcare services to the community and invaluable educational experiences for IU Fort Wayne Nursing students.  

Nursing students can choose to take one of their clinical rotations at the Lafayette Street Clinic. Students navigate diverse cases, often dealing with language barriers and insurance complexities. This exposure equips them to be well-rounded healthcare professionals and prepares them to enter the dynamic healthcare landscape.

Since 2006, the Lafayette Street Clinic has provided services to Fort Wayne community members. As a federally funded Title X Clinic, the clinic goes beyond family planning, offering comprehensive women wellness exams. These exams include essential screenings such as pap smears, and STI/HIV screening, and even extend their services to males seeking STI/HIV screening. The clinic sees over 1,000 patients per year.

Michelle Lachberg, a Junior at the IU School of Nursing Fort Wayne, is currently working and learning at the Lafayette Street Clinic. Lachberg is interested in working in Labor and Delivery or Postpartum after she graduates and is getting the chance to learn about the clinic and its patients, checking vitals and observing from experienced Nurse Practitioner, Kelly Wakefield.

 “I think that my experience here is something that is going to stick with me forever,” Lachberg said. “It is definitely eye-opening, but I also think that knowing about women's health is super important no matter what department you work in.”

Students not only have the opportunity to assist and educate patients regarding their health but also gain experience in an environment that may differ from their other clinical sites.

“Many of our patients do not have insurance, and do not speak English but it’s important that they receive care, medications, and education to help navigate their health, Nurse Practitioner Kelly Wakefield said. “These students get to see what a community health clinic looks like as it is much different than a typical physician’s office.”

“Being at Lafayette Street Clinic opened my eyes to see what is actually going on around me that I don't think about daily,” Lachberg said.

Patients seeking care can call 260-702-4404 to make an appointment at the clinic located at 2700 Lafayette Street. The Clinic is open Monday through Friday starting at 8 a.m. Proof of income and documented status is not required.