Couple brings expertise to free clinic
BRIDGEPORT — Dr. Christian “Rick” Heineken and his wife, Sheila, a longtime nurse, are back doing what they love most — practicing medicine.
The Shelton couple, who both retired in 2019, spends every Wednesday afternoon volunteering at the Fred Weisman Americares Free Clinic of Bridgeport, which offers quality health care to low-income, uninsured residents throughout the region.
“We’ve come full circle,” said Sheila, who worked alongside Rick, a primary care physician, for years in private practice. “We are back to doing what we enjoy the most, working with patients. And we have a great support system here.”
Rick and Sheila met in 1976 when he was in medical school and Sheila was about to start her first job as a registered nurse at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. They married in 1978. Rick was in residency training at St Vincent’s Medical Center in Bridgeport from 1981 to 1984.
When he moved into private practice, she came along, and the pair has been together ever since, personally and professionally.
“We’re continuing to do what we’ve always done ... seeing and managing patients,” Rick said. “This is actually a nice change.”
Rick said his career began with subletting space from another physician before teaming with four other doctors to form their own practice. That practice was then acquired by PriMed, and, soon after, Yale Medicine.
In the process, Rick and Sheila agreed that the structure became more corporate, with not as much time being able to be given to the patient.
“There was a lot of corporate oversight which led to more paperwork and less patient time,” Rick said. “We were spending more and more time checking the boxes and less time with the patients.”
The Fred Weisman Americares Free Clinic offers diagnosis and treatment of non-urgent and chronic medical conditions; essential medications; X-ray and diagnostic services; laboratory tests; and pre-employment physical exams.
“We serve eligible patients regardless of immigration or health status,” said Americares Free Clinics Executive Director Karen Gottlieb.
To be eligible to be a patient at Americares Free Clinics, Gottlieb said the individual must have no public or private health insurance, not be Medicaid eligible, meet income guidelines, be 18 or older, provide photo identification, provide income verification upon request and provide proof of residency.
Americares Free Clinics operates four clinics in Bridgeport, Danbury, Norwalk and Stamford. The first clinic opened in Norwalk in 1994, followed by Danbury in 1997, Bridgeport in 2003 and Stamford in 2014. The Norwalk Clinic is currently seeing patients at the Stamford site, pending new construction.
Since opening the first clinic in 1994, Gottlieb said the clinics have helped more than 28,000 Connecticut residents who have received health care services valued at more than $154 million including exams, medications, laboratory work, diagnostic services and vaccines free of charge.
The Bridgeport clinic, which serves 460 patients annually, has 11 volunteers — including the Heinekens — and seven staff members.
“With five volunteer physicians, we can expand our hours and see more patients in need,” Gottlieb said. “With 12 percent of Bridgeport’s population uninsured, there are many residents who benefit from our care — staying well and being able to care for their families.”
She said Americares recruits medical volunteers including physicians, nurse practitioners and nurses. The clinics also seek Spanish-speaking volunteers who have skills as medical interpreters.
“There is so much support here and we have ample time with the patients,” said Rick.
Rick said volunteers see patients with hypertension, asthma, high cholesterol, diabetes and other chronic issues.
“This is where we can make the most impact,” Rick said. “If we are able to reduce those risk factors, then know have we can have an impact on their health 20 years down the line.”
Gottlieb said Americares is grateful to have volunteers like the Heinekens.
“Their dynamic as a couple makes for an incredible duo to help improve the health of our patients,” Gottlieb said. “The pair volunteer together and really value the time they spend with their patients, taking the time to fully understand their health needs in a way that allows the patients to feel seen and heard.
“Through their dedication and passion, the Heinekens and volunteers like them truly leave a lasting impact,” she added.