The Clinic That Costs Nothing — and Teaches Everything

A vaccine that would have cost her more than $600 anywhere else. Free. No insurance required. No social security number. That's what one community member found when she walked into the RRCC health clinic on a Saturday morning this summer.

Red Rocks Community College students started hosting a clinic once a month this summer to offer free services while getting a new opportunity to work on their skills.

The new health clinic offers free basic health screenings to anyone in the community, including vitals, blood pressure checks or other rotating services. Volunteers can also assist with finding doctors or signing up for healthcare and other resources.  

Consistently being able to offer community healthcare is “a pretty rare thing to participate in as a student at a consistent level,” said Celina Toney, Department Chair for the Allied Health & Wellness programs at RRCC. “Students get to practice skills, but more importantly, they learn that healthcare is much bigger than performing a clinical task correctly. They see firsthand how access, trust, language, finances, transportation, food security, health literacy and other barriers affect someone’s ability to be healthy.”

Celina said the idea for the clinic started last year when she and some of her students, and other faculty, started volunteering at health fairs hosted by Casa Inmigrante, a local nonprofit.  

Celina heard from participants that there was a need for additional, or more regular, follow-up care. As she thought about it, she was hearing from clinicians that many students are missing soft skills when they start transitioning from the classroom to medical settings. They didn’t feel comfortable talking to patients.

“So I said, let’s get them more practice talking to patients,” Celina said.  

The first clinic was held in June and they now take place on the last Saturday of each month through the end of the year.  

Students from across RRCC can volunteer. So far, it has been students from the health programs. For those who have to meet community service requirements, such as students in the medical assisting program, the time at the clinic counts toward those hours.

RRCC has been able to partner with several organizations and agencies including the Colorado Department of Public Health, Stride, Casa Inmigrante and other community organizations. The state Department of Public Health has been able to offer free vaccines.

Other organizations provide help finding doctors, navigating health care or can assist people in signing up for other resources.

Individuals seeking care at the clinic do not need to provide health insurance or a social security number.  

One of the patients who attended the clinic this past weekend said she was amazed at the individualized care she received. Other similar clinics or health fairs are usually so packed with people, she said, that care can feel rushed or tiresome.  

Another woman, Maria de la luz Arriaga, took advantage on Saturday and got five vaccines that she had needed updated.

“Might as well,” she said.

Both patients said they wished more people knew about the RRCC clinic. It’s the most common feedback Celina said she’s gotten.

Still, as it grows, she wants it to retain a clinic feel. The goal is for it to stay a safe, comfortable and regular place for care where the community can develop relationships with volunteers. People can come each month to get their vitals checked, and if they need to get more care, someone will be there to help them figure out the next step.

And as the clinic is still reliant on volunteers and donations, Celina hopes that people can see it as a community resource.

“Someone may come to us today needing healthcare, food assistance, insurance enrollment or help navigating a complicated system,” Celina said. “Six months from now, that same person may be the one volunteering, translating, mentoring, sharing a resource or helping another person.”

RRCC is teaming up with several partners to offer the clinic each month.

Arvada Campus

10280 W. 55th Ave. Arvada, CO 80002

The next dates are:

Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026
10 a.m.–2 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026
10 a.m.–2 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 28, 2026
10 a.m.–2 p.m.

For questions or to volunteer email rrcc.alliedhealth@rrcc.edu.