Patients and Visitors

UI Health Wellness Clinic at Center on Halsted

For more information
or to request an appointment call
312.492.0021

Building on their longstanding work in the sexual and gender minority community, UIC College of Nursing and the University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System (UI Health) are partnering with Center on Halsted to operate a weekly, onsite Wellness Clinic.

UI Health provides comprehensive care, education, and research to the people of Illinois and beyond. A part of UIC, UI Health comprises a clinical enterprise that includes a tertiary care hospital, outpatient clinics, and Federally Qualified Health Centers. Like Center on Halsted, UI Health is dedicated to the pursuit of health equity. The Wellness Clinic is committed to providing convenient sexual wellness services to the Center on Halsted community.

This clinic focuses on HIV prevention services (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis, known as “PrEP”) for the Center on Halsted community and beyond.

HIV Prevention/Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) and HIV Testing

HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a medication-based strategy to prevent HIV infection. It is a daily pill that helps prevent people without HIV reduce their risks of becoming infected from sex or drug use.

People who are HIV-negative and in an ongoing sexual relationship with an HIV-positive partner(s) should consider taking PrEP.

You may benefit from PrEP if:

• You don't always use condoms during sex
• You or your partner(s) use certain drugs
• You have sex for money or drugs
• You've had a sexually transmitted infection (STI) in the last 6 months

We prescribe PrEP for any person aged 13 or over who is at risk for HIV infection. We embrace our clients' sexual and gender identities and partner with our clients to reduce their HIV risk on their own terms, using the strategies that work for them.

The Wellness Clinic will be able to provide the necessary evaluation to both begin and monitor PrEP treatment, as well as treatment of related sexual health issues. Those who begin taking PrEP medication will have access to the Center on Halsted’s Navigation Program, which works to support clients to use PrEP properly and consistently. The services of both the Wellness Clinic and Center on Halsted Navigation Program are confidential and private.

For convenience, we offer both scheduled appointments and walk-ins.

Lead Provider

The lead provider in the clinic is Dr. Karen Cotler, a UI Health clinician, a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner, and a faculty member at the UIC College of Nursing, where she is also the Director of the Family Nurse Practitioner Program. Dr. Cotler’s scholarship focuses on improving health outcomes of sexual and gender minority populations. She co-authored a provider guide for delivering patient-centered transgender health care, has published research on incorporating PrEP into healthcare practice, and led the development of LGBTQIA+ curriculum for nurse practitioner training programs. A resident of the Northalsted neighborhood, Dr. Cotler is committed to promoting health in the community through the Wellness Clinic that focuses on the unique health needs of sexual and gender minority people. Dr. Cotler is a graduate of Florida Atlantic University and the College of St. Francis.

Hours

• First three Wednesdays of each month: 10 am – 6 pm
  Clinic hours also available on the 5^th Wednesday of the month.
• Fourth Saturday of the month: 9 am – 1 pm

Location

UI Health Wellness Clinic at Center on Halsted
3656 N. Halsted St.
Chicago, IL 60613

Insurance

The clinic accepts most insurances, including Medicaid and self-pay patients.

Request an Appointment

To request an appointment,
call 312.492.0021

Request Information

To request more information about the UI Health Wellness Clinic at Center on Halsted, please complete the below form.