Our History

Wake Health Services, Inc. (WHSI) is a private, not-for-profit organization founded in 1972. WHSI receives federal funds under Section 330 of the Public Health Services Act. WHSI receives its federal funding to operate as both a Community Health Center and a Health Care for the Homeless Program. WHSI is governed by a 17-member Board of Trustees made up of community representatives. Wake Health Services, Inc. was formed in July 1972. The key purpose was to address the primary health care needs of the citizens of Wake County who did not have access to care. The first medical center to open was the Tarboro Road office, and the first patient was seen in July 1973. In October 1973 a second facility began operations on Falstaff Road. The Falstaff Road office moved to Wade Avenue in July 1977, and then to Jones Street in October 1991. Over the years the WHSI delivery system has grown to include the following sites:

Administrative Office

Originally housed on New Bern Avenue in 1972, the Administrative office moved to Haworth Drive in 1974 and to Wade Avenue in 1977. The office moved to Highwoods in North Raleigh in 1988 and into the vacated medical practice on Tarboro Road in 1997. The Administrative office is currently housed on New Bern Avenue in Raleigh.

Apex Family Medicine

The practice began operating in April 1975 as a Family Practice on Hunter Street in Apex. The medical center relocated to S. Salem Street in March 1992.

Franklin Community Health Services

Wake Health Services began providing services in Franklin County in May, 2008.  The family practice was temporarily located in Franklinton, NC but moved to its permanent location in Louisburg in June 2009.

Horizon Health Center

The Health Care for the Homeless Program was established in October 1987 through a management contract with the County Health Department. The Program was originally located in a mobile van at the Salvation Army and moved to the Cornerstone building in downtown Raleigh in December 1998. The name, Horizon Health Center, was adopted in December 2000 when WHSI assumed full responsibility for the medical practice. Horizon moved to  Tarboro Road in January 2002, and moved to Rock Quarry Road Family Medicine in March 2011. 

New Bern Ridge Family Dental Center

WHSI began providing dental services in January 2002. The Dental Center opened the summer of 2002 at 2620 New Bern Avenue. The Dental Center is the home of Wake Smiles, a volunteer program sponsored by the Raleigh/Wake County Dental Society. In November 2002, the Wake Smiles Program launched its volunteer program and Open Door Clinic transitioned its services to New Bern Ridge Dental Center.

New Bern Ridge Pediatrics

WHSI acquired Burroughs Pediatrics in January 1996. In April 2002 Burroughs Pediatrics moved to 2620 New Bern Avenue in Raleigh and was renamed New Bern Ridge Pediatrics.

Oberlin Outreach Center

The practice was established in April 2009 as a part-time practice and satellite of Horizon Health Center.  It was housed in the Interact Family Safety and Empowerment Center on Oberlin Road in Raleigh. In April 2011, services for this population were relocated to Same-Day Care at the New Bern Ridge Center.

Rock Quarry Road Family Medicine

The medical center was established in May 1997 as a result of the merging of WHSI’s Tarboro Road and Jones Street practices.

Same-Day Care

In October of 2009, a same-day appointment service was added  for patients of Rock Quarry Road Family Medicine, Monday-through Friday 12n -8pm.  This service was made possible through funds from the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA). In April  2011, Same-Day Care relocated to the New Bern Ridge Center, and is available to patients of all Wake Health Services sites, as well as patients of selected community partners. 

Southern Wake Family Medicine

The practice opened in May 2000 in Wake County’s Southern Regional Center in Fuquay-Varina. 

South Wilmington Outreach Center

This practice is a satellite of Horizon Health Center and is located on site at the South Wilmington Street Center in Raleigh.  It became operational on January 31, 2008.