Stuber Health Center to celebrate 113th anniversary with ribbon-cutting for new laboratory

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) -- A local health organization will celebrate its 113th anniversary Wednesday with a ribbon-cutting to introduce its new point-of-care lab.

The Stuber Health Center, once known as the Social Welfare Board, will introduce its new point-of-care lab. The lab is made possible by a grant from United Way of Greater St. Joseph for Heart to Heart International to install the lab in the Health Center.

The Stuber Health Center is the nation's oldest free and charitable clinic, and has provided healthcare services to individuals in St. Joseph and Buchanan County since 1913.

The ribbon-cutting will be held at 8:30 a.m. at 904 S. 10th St., Ste. A.

Heart to Heart International has installed more than 66 point-of-care laboratories at free and charitable clinics across the country since 2007.

According to a news release, the lab testing is crucial for diagnosing and managing chronic conditions like diabetes and hypertension. A review of clinical data in 2025 has shown a clinically significant decline in the average hemoglobin A1c of diabetic patients receiving testing and care at free and charitable clinics.

"Heart to Heart International is excited for this opportunity to install this point-of-care lab with Stuber Health Center as we continue to break down barriers to equitable access to healthcare in under-resourced communities," said Heidi Schutz, HHI director of the laboratory program. "With our point-of-care laboratory consultations and training, Stuber Health Center will be able to provide rapid, accurate laboratory results to aid in diagnosis and treatment decisions for their patients, all within the same visit."

The grant from United Way made the project possible. The grant allows HHI to provide Stuber Health Center with modern lab equipment, staff training, mentoring, technical support and supplies and reagents for the first 12 months.

After a year, all installed equipment becomes the clinic's permanent property.

"We are grateful to Heart to Heart International for this point-of-care laboratory program. It is a crucial step forward for our clinic and the patients we serve," said Dr. Latha Varghese, the executive director of the Stuber Health Center. "The ability to perform more testing in-house will make healthcare more accessible and comfortable for all patients in our community."

To learn more about HHI's Laboratory program, visit https://www.hearttoheart.org/laboratory-program/.