Those present at the groundbreaking include from left Beth Pinkerton, Bowen Center board of directors; Shirley Gidley, Bowen Center board of directors; Jim Fleck, Bowen Center board of directors; Jay Baumgartner, Bowen Center CFO; Cindy Brady, Bowen Center board chairperson; Deb Brice, Bowen Center board of directors; Dr. Rob Ryan, Bowen Center president/CEO; Columbia City Mayor Ryan Daniel; Shannon Hannon, Bowen Center COO; Eric Helfrich, Bowen Center board of directors; and Mista Lauber, director, Bowen Center Whitley County. Photo provided by Claudia Johnson.

News Release

COLUMBIA CITY — Bowen Center broke ground this week on a new building that will serve as an integrated health care facility in Whitley County.

The clinic will offer primary health care, mental health care and addiction recovery services under one roof, offering a total-person approach to health care for infants, children, adolescents and adults.

Bowen Center President/CEO Dr. Rob Ryan addressed those present at Bowen Center’s recent groundbreaking for their new Whitley County facility. Photo provided by Claudia Johnson.

By integrating mental and physical health care, the center’s goal is to address the unique health care challenges that underserved populations face by treating the whole person to improve their quality of life and extending their life expectancy.

“People living in poverty and especially those with mental illness live shorter lives. Sadly, 10-20 years shorter,” said Dr. Rob Ryan, Bowen Center president/CEO. “Our vision is to improve access to income-based care, where patients come to one location where they can see their primary care physician, their therapist and eventually other specialties like a dentist, optometrist and more. That multidisciplinary team will work together to improve and extend the lives of our patients. At our current location on the square in Columbia City, we are landlocked, and parking is a challenge. In order for us to grow to meet the need in Whitley County, we need a new facility with room to grow, so we are excited to break ground on a new vision for health care in the county,” said Ryan.

Site preparation has begun at the corner of SR 205 and US 30, a prominent corridor leading into Columbia City. “This whole corridor is really the welcome mat for people who come to Columbia City,” said Mayor Ryan Daniel. “And the fact that Bowen Center will be one of those buildings, those first campuses that individuals will see coming into Columbia City, I think is a really great part because it shows what an interest and an emphasis we have in health care and the wellness of our people here in Columbia City and certainly in Whitley County at large,” said Daniel.

Construction will be completed by Fall 2023.

Columbia City Mayor Ryan Daniel spoke at Bowen Center’s recent groundbreaking for their new integrated health care facility in Columbia City.  Photo provided by Claudia Johnson.