DETROIT – In the heart of downtown Detroit, a clinic is transforming healthcare—not just by treating illnesses, but by building community, dignity, and hope.
Corktown Health began with a mission to serve the LGBTQ+ community and people living with HIV.
Today, its impact has grown far beyond its walls, offering care to anyone who needs it, regardless of their ability to pay.
Their goal is to create opportunities for people to get the care they need.
From the moment patients walk through the doors, they are met with care that doesn’t stop at the exam room.
“They really love doing the work that they do and serving the people that they serve. They are really intentional about the care that they have here. And if you have questions, you should really just ask those questions. Don’t be afraid”, says Lamar Thompson-Hightower, one of the many clients at Corktown Health.
For clients like Lamar, that intentional care makes all the difference—creating a safe space where patients feel heard and supported.
Guillermo Ethier, one of the Nurse Practitioners at Corktown Health, tells us, “I think everybody should be able to be healthy and feel healthy, right? Like it doesn’t matter if you don’t have insurance or not or where you’re from, it should be more about ourselves, right, and our health. That’s what it’s all about”.
Anthony Williams, CEO of Corktown Health, says that they are built on the belief that healthcare is a right, not a privilege. It’s a simple idea, but one that’s helping to reshape healthcare access in the region.
“The organization has grown and expanded its services over the years, mostly in part due to the fact that the medication for individuals who are living with HIV is so effective that we found that they needed additional primary care and other services”, Williams says.
With HIV treatment advancing, patients are living longer, fuller lives. That shift has enabled Corktown Health to expand beyond specialty care, offering a comprehensive range of services, from primary care to dental health, all under one roof.
Michele Bloxsson, Dental Director at Corktown Health, says that she sees that ripple effect every day.
“I love to see people smile. If I can help a mom be able to get a job, teach her about prevention, and how she should care for her mom, she can then teach her children. She can teach her family members that may not have been taught from a young age themselves, then they can even share things with their community, with their church members. It allows us to reach so many more than just who walks in our door”, Bloxsson says.
Brandon Shamoun, another client at Corktown Health, says, “When I moved to the city, about four or five years ago, coming here, I was a different person. And through the time of being here, getting the support and the needs that I need, whether it’s being on prep or being staying on top of my sexual health and just being healthy in general, whether it’s about feeling sick.”
That support, Brandon says, has changed his life—giving him the tools to not only stay healthy, but to thrive.
Corktown Health is holding it’s annual fundraising gala tomorrow night, Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025 and 4Warn Meteorologist Bryan Schuerman have the honor of serving as their emcee to help raise funds.
All the money raised at their gala will go towards supporting the clinic, it’s patients and their operation.
If you’d like to find out more about Corktown Health, click here, and if you’re interested in attending their Gala, click here for more information about their Gala.
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