Restore Medical Clinics reopens to bridge health gaps for Ottawa’s Black Community
By Ijeoma Ukazu
Saturday 18 October 2025
Aiming to improve access to healthcare and reduce health disparities among Black and racialized residents in Ottawa, the Restore Medical Clinics has reopened its doors at its new headquarters, 786 Bronson Avenue, and is now accepting new patients. The Black-led, multidisciplinary medical centre hopes to provide equitable, culturally sensitive care while addressing long-standing gaps in the healthcare system.
Founded and directed by Dr. Danielle Brown-Shreves, the clinic officially relaunched on Saturday, October 18, during a community wellness event that featured health screening and educational sessions on diabetes, hypertension, and cancer awareness. The initiative, she said, marks a renewed commitment to “improving health outcomes for Black and racialized patients” and building “a lasting legacy of care” in Ottawa.
“We serve the entire community,” Dr. Brown-Shreves told Black Ottawa Scene in an interview, “but we have a specific mandate to ensure that the most vulnerable people in our community can access care. Our goal is to restore hope and ensure no one gets left behind.”
A Black-led Vision for Inclusive Care
Restore Medical Clinics first opened in 2021, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, a period when health inequities were particularly evident. Its founder said the idea was born out of a desire to make healthcare more accessible for those who historically faced barriers in the system.
Now operating out of two locations, its new headquarters on Bronson Avenue and another site at 1221 Wellington Street West, the clinic is the first of its kind in Ottawa: Black-led and Black-mandated, while still serving patients from all backgrounds.
Currently, Restore Medical Clinics is accepting new patients covered under the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP), as well as refugee claimants, students, and even uninsured individuals, some of whom receive care without charge.
Partnerships for Community Wellness
The relaunch event, titled Restore Wellness Day, was organized in collaboration with several local organizations, including Ottawa Public Health, Refugee 613, and the Ottawa Black Mental Health Coalition. These partnerships, Dr. Brown-Shreves said, are essential to creating a coordinated approach to community care.
Ottawa Public Health, for example, provides vaccines and community outreach support, while the Mental Health Coalition connects patients to culturally competent Black therapists. Together, these partners help the clinic reach underserved populations and ensure continuity of care beyond the clinic walls.
“To care for a community, no single organization can do it alone,” Dr. Brown-Shreves said. “It requires collaboration for greater impact.”
Tackling Common Health Concerns
During the wellness event, medical students from the University of Ottawa, led educational sessions to raise awareness about chronic illnesses that disproportionately affect Black communities. The presenters of the sessions were Alador Bereketab, Haimen Yezihalem, Natan Sime, and Yacoub Farah, while the slide presentation was created by Hanna Asheber and Haben Dawit. The medical students discussed diabetes and hypertension, two of the most prevalent but often overlooked health issues.
The students explained that diabetes can be influenced by genetics, family history, ethnicity, and lifestyle factors, while hypertension, often called the “silent killer,” commonly affects people of African descent and is exacerbated by stress, diet, and lack of exercise.
“Some people may not even know they have high blood pressure until it’s too late,” one student noted, urging attendees to get regular checkups. “Prevention through awareness and screening is key.”
The free cervical cancer pap test offered during the event, Dr. Brown-Shreves explained, is part of Restore’s ongoing efforts to address health disparities among Black women, who face higher rates of fibroids and cervical cancer mortality, compared to the general population.
Building Trust Through Culturally Competent Care
Central to Restore Medical Clinic’s philosophy is culturally appropriate care, which Dr. Brown-Shreves believes is essential to building trust and improving patient outcomes.
“The data is clear: when Black patients are treated by Black physicians, outcomes improve,” she said. “It’s not just about race, it’s about shared understanding, trust, and respect. That’s what keeps patients coming back.”
The clinics also offers women’s health services, immunization programs, and telemedicine options for patients who cannot always attend in person. After-hours services are also available to ensure continuity of care.
Addressing a Critical Physician Shortage
Ontario continues to face a severe shortage of family physicians, with every region feeling the impact, according to the Ontario Medical Association. In Ottawa alone, 171 family physician positions remain unfilled — a gap that disproportionately affects marginalized communities.
Dr. Brown-Shreves noted that there is need for community-based health centres such as Restore Medical Clinic. “We recognize that people without a family doctor often come from historically marginalized backgrounds,” she said. “Our goal is not just to provide access, but to ensure quality and continuity of care.”
Restoring Hope, Building Legacy
Looking ahead, Dr. Brown-Shreves envisions Restore Medical Clinics as more than just healthcare centres, it’s a movement to rebuild trust, restore hope, and empower the community.
“We’re here to stay,” she said. “We’re here to serve. We’ll keep growing and developing programs that the community truly needs. This is care created by the people, for the people.”
The newly renovated Bronson Avenue clinic remains committed to equitable and compassionate to Ottawa’s Black and racialized communities.
