Elaine Ellis Center of Health

Elaine Ellis Center of Health is located at 1627 Kenilworth Avenue Northeast in Washington DC's 20019 zip code — a community health center in the Deanwood and Kenilworth neighborhood of far Northeast DC. Kenilworth Avenue NE in the 1600 block runs through one of DC's most underserved communities, east of the Anacostia River and well beyond the concentration of healthcare services in the downtown and Northwest DC corridors. Community health centers in this area serve populations with high rates of chronic disease and low rates of healthcare access compared to the wealthier DC neighborhoods west of the Anacostia.

The Elaine Ellis name suggests a center established in honor of a community figure or a founding donor, a common naming convention for community health organizations in underserved neighborhoods. Dental services within a community health center framework typically operate on a sliding-scale or subsidized basis, providing preventive care, professional cleanings, restorative treatments, extractions, and emergency dental management to patients who may be uninsured, on Medicaid, or otherwise facing cost barriers to private dental care.

Deanwood and Kenilworth are predominantly Black neighborhoods in far Northeast DC that have historically received less public and private investment than other parts of the city. Community health centers like the Elaine Ellis Center provide an anchor of healthcare access in communities where private practices are sparse and transportation to other parts of the city presents a barrier for patients without vehicles.

The 1627 Kenilworth Avenue NE address is accessible from the Deanwood and Minnesota Avenue Metro stations and the surrounding far Northeast DC street network. For Deanwood and Kenilworth residents who need community health dental services without traveling to other parts of the city, the Elaine Ellis Center of Health at Kenilworth Avenue provides accessible, mission-driven care in the heart of the community.