Lowell Public Schools, Zuckerberg College of Health Sciences and Lowell Community Health Center Collaborate to Deliver Care to Kids

People standing in front of mobile health unit cutting ribbon
Lowell Board of Health member Erin Gendron, Provost and Vice Chancellor of UMass Lowell Joe Hartman, Superintendent of Lowell Public Schools Liam Skinner, State Rep. Rodney Elliott, Dean of the Zuckerberg College of Health Sciences Mary Gallant, Lowell Community Health Center Chief Executive Officer Susan Levine and Assistant Superintendent for Student Support Services at Lowell Public Schools Alice Brown-Legrand.

05/13/2025
By Karen Angelo

For families with limited transportation and busy schedules, getting to the doctor’s office for routine checkups can be a challenge. 

To bring care directly to children in Lowell, the Zuckerberg College of Health Sciences has partnered with Lowell Public Schools and the Lowell Community Health Center to launch a Mobile Health Unit. The “clinic on wheels” travels to Lowell Community Schools, providing K-12 students with access to services such as checkups, sick visits and vaccinations. 

At the recent Mobile Health Unit ribbon cutting at the Greenhalge Elementary School, local officials joined together to celebrate the launch of the community initiative. 

Inside view of mobile health unit with chair, exam table and monitors
An inside view of the Mobile Health Unit shows vital sign monitors, an exam table and vaccination and blood collection area. A second exam room in the back of the vehicle offers more privacy.
“We’re thrilled to collaborate with our community partners to meet children where they are, breaking down barriers to care while providing experiences for our health sciences students,” said Dean Mary Gallant of the Zuckerberg College of Health Sciences. 

Outfitted with two private exam rooms, a vaccination and blood collection area, and equipment to monitor vital signs, the Mobile Health Unit is staffed by Lowell Community Health Center licensed health care providers and community health workers; it will also enable career-connected experiences for UMass Lowell students. 

One of the hallmarks of a Zuckerberg College education is Interprofessional Education (IPE). Recommended by the World Health Organization, IPE prepares students to effectively work in interdisciplinary teams to improve patient care. The Mobile Health Unit will involve Zuckerberg College students from all disciplines – nursing, public health, exercise science, nutritional sciences, applied biomedical sciences and pharmaceutical sciences – to assist in delivering care and developing workshops in areas such as nutrition, stress management and physical activity. 

Mobile Health Unit group photo
Officials from Lowell Public Schools, Zuckerberg College and the Lowell Community Health Center celebrated the opening of the Mobile Health Unit.
Liam Skinner, superintendent of Lowell Public Schools, praised the power of the partnership. 

“In Lowell, this is what we do,” said Skinner. “We join together to find solutions to difficult problems. Thank you to everyone who made the Mobile Health Unit possible for our children and their families.” 

Susan Levine, CEO of the Lowell Community Health Center, said that her organization was exploring ways to expand school-based health care beyond their clinics at Lowell High and Stoklosa when they learned that the Zuckerberg College of Health Sciences had a Mobile Health Unit and was looking for community partners. 

Mobile Health Unit with message on the move for better health
The Mobile Health Unit was parked near the Greenhalge Elementary School in Lowell in May for the ribbon cutting ceremony.
“On day one, our team was delivering vaccines and helping families connect to primary care,” said Levine. “That’s the kind of access this Mobile Health Unit makes possible. Students can step into the unit, get the care they need and return to class, healthy and ready to learn. We are grateful to UMass Lowell and Lowell Public Schools for helping to turn this vision into a reality.” 

Zuckerberg College Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Nicole Champagne worked closely with faculty and partners to bring health services to the children and youth of Lowell. 

“We always had this vision that we’d use the Mobile Health Unit to travel to places where people are in need and immerse our students in community care,” said Champagne. “I’m grateful to all my colleagues and partners who united for the common good of our community.”

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