Timeline
Twenty six years ago…
…a small office was established within downtown Charleston’s Roper Hospital with a grant from the federal Ryan White CARE Act.
When Roper St. Francis Healthcare and the Roper St. Francis Foundation established what was initially called the Ryan White Program, they planted a seed of wellness that has grown over two decades into the Ryan White Wellness Center. The center has remained consistent with its mission to serve the Lowcountry’s growing population of individuals living with HIV/AIDS and has become the region’s leading comprehensive sexual health center modeling best practices as a national leader.
Nearly half a million people receive services through the federal Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program each year. We are proud to be a part of their network of providers, and even prouder to continue helping more patients and families live healthier lives.
This year, we hope you join us in celebrating the milestone of our 20th anniversary. Our success begins with our community of caregivers, patients, and families. Let’s take a look back, while we continue to reach forward.
2000
President Clinton declares that HIV/AIDS is a threat to U.S. national security.
U.S. Congress reauthorizes the Ryan White CARE Act for the second time.
Roper St. Francis Healthcare establishes the Ryan White Program with a small office at Roper Hospital.
2001
HRSA publishes landmark treatment guide for HIV+ Women.
20-year anniversary of the first reported AIDS case.
2003
The World Health Organization announces the “3 by 5” initiative to bring HIV treatment to 3 million people by 2005.
2008
We move from Roper Hospital to Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital to accommodate our growing case management team.
Housing Opportunity for Persons With AIDS (HOPWA) Grant allows us to begin providing housing services for patients.
2010
The first ever National HIV/AIDS Strategy is unveiled.
Our partnership with the MAC AIDS Fund begins allowing us to expand our patient housing program.
Our on-site clinic opens with exam rooms and a full team, including Dr. Toby Fugate and Dr. Julia Haile. We begin our partnership with Long’s Drugs.
Dr. Julia Haile sees our first clinic patient on Dec 1, National World Aids Day.
Art for Charity, now known as Art in the City, is our first annual fundraiser in partnership with Mitchell Hill Gallery.
2011
We now serve 500+ patients.
Dining Out for Life, an annual national event series where restaurants, bars, and food trucks donate a portion of the day’s sales to HIV/AIDS service organizations, becomes our second annual fundraiser.
2012
Jeanne White-Ginder, Ryan White’s mother and a leading AIDS/HIV advocate, visits Charleston to meet our staff and give a talk about her son’s legacy.
Staff member Aaron O’Brien wins the National Quality Center’s annual Quality of Care Award for Leadership in Quality, for his work developing the data and quality management infrastructure of our program and his leadership in furthering quality improvement in HIV.
2013
An estimated 35 million people were living with HIV.
2015
We establish the Capers H. Limehouse Humanitarian Award in honor of the center’s first appointed chaplain, Capers Limehouse. Longtime supporters and advocates Harlan Greene and Jonathan Ray are the first honorees.
2016
We move to our current location at 1481 Tobias Gadson Blvd., and hire an outreach staff member to signify our commitment to RWWC’s shift into community health education, prevention and outreach.
The clinic sees its first PrEP patient becoming one of the first clinics in the Lowcountry to offer this important HIV prevention medication.
Staff members Kimberly Butler Willis, Lisa Wade and Susan Berry meet Ryan White’s mom, Jeanne White-Ginder, again at the US Conference on AIDS.
2017
For the first time ever, more than half of the global population living with HIV are receiving antiretroviral treatment, a record of 19.5 million people.
Organizations around the world endorse “Undetectable = Untransmittable”(U=U). This anti-stigma slogan launched by the Prevention Access Campaign is based on robust scientific evidence that people who have adhered to treatment and achieved an undetectable viral load cannot pass the virus on.
Actress Pam Grier visits the center to show her support for Dining Out for Life©.
Our partner Long’s Drugs opens their on-site facility bringing a full service pharmacy to the doorstep for our patients and creates a budding one-stop-shop for the Ryan White Wellness Center.
Director Kimberly Butler Willis is a plenary panelist at the US Conference on AIDS presenting on our innovative and successful Peer Navigator Program.
2018
We receive our first ever Elton John AIDS Foundation Grant to support the expansion of PrEP services to eligible populations regardless of ability to pay.
Pinewood Prep becomes our first school-based comprehensive sex education partner.
Our Peer Navigator Program wins the HRSA Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program's Center for Quality Improvement and Innovation (CQII) and the HRSA HIV/AIDS Bureau (HAB) national Quality Award for Measurable Improvements in HIV Care.
We open our first patient food pantry, the Care Closet, offering fresh produce, non-perishables and common toiletries, and hire a Dietician to provide nutritional support services.
2019
Under the umbrella of our region’s sexual health collaborative, SHAPE Tri-County, RWWC co-sponsors the second annual Project Condom fashion show to raise sexual health and HIV awareness.
2020
We expand our space to house a new dental and vision clinic in partnership with the MUSC Dental Clinic and Lowcountry Eye Care.
Dr. Eunice Guzman starts a Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) Program at our clinic for alcohol abuse.
With a team of 30 staff members, the center serves 1,000+ patients and our reputation continues to grow as a state and national leader in comprehensive sexual health and HIV care.
2021
Expanding Access Through Innovation
Expanded telehealth and alternative care-delivery strategies to maintain access to HIV care and supportive services during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Introduced High-Resolution Anoscopy (HRA) procedures. We were the first clinic in South Carolina with a dedicated High-Resolution Anoscopy Clinic.
We continue strengthening our patient-centered approach to addressing transportation, stigma, and other barriers to care.
2022
Strengthening Comprehensive Care
Expanded our integrated “one-stop-shop” model and introduced women’s health services, further strengthening access to comprehensive, patient-centered care. Continued bringing HIV primary care, behavioral health, case management, housing, prevention, dental, vision, pharmacy, and supportive services together while expanding community partnerships.
We begin conducting clinical research. Dr. Toby Fugate is a Principal Investigator of The PILLAR Study. Dr. Abiraj is a Principal Investigator for The PROMISE-US Study.
Dr. Toby Fugate is a Principal Investigator in The ANCHOR Study published in the New England Journal of Medicine. The clinical trial proved that treating precancerous anal lesions (high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions, or HSIL) reduces the risk of developing anal cancer by 57% in people living with HIV.
2023
Gaining International Recognition
Presented our innovative HOPWA housing master lease and community partnership model at the Fast-Track Cities Conference in Amsterdam and rebranded as the Roper St. Francis Health Services Center to reflect our expanding mission. Launched the Paint the Town Red Gala & Art for Charity Auction, creating a signature fundraising event to increase awareness and support access to HIV care and services throughout the Lowcountry.
2024
Expanding Our Community Reach
Expanded HIV/STI prevention, PrEP and PEP access, community outreach, housing support, and partnerships throughout the Lowcountry. Continued strengthening our comprehensive model of care by addressing both healthcare needs and the social factors that influence health outcomes.
2025
Expanding Access & Demonstrating Excellence
Expanded into rural communities through a new rural annex clinic, achieving a 0% no-show rate from July through December 2025, while advancing development of our Mobile Health Program. Completed a successful HRSA site visit with 100% compliance, demonstrating the quality, strength, and integrity of our Ryan White program.
Dr. Katherine Minnick received the Saint Luke Lifetime Physician Achievement Award for her dedication to the HIV community in Charleston.
2026
Driving Access & Fueling Good
Launched our Mobile Health Program to bring healthcare directly into underserved communities and showcased this innovative work at the 2026 National Ryan White Conference. Served 798 individuals in a single reporting quarter, including 11 newly linked to HIV medical care, and introduced Fueling Good with RSFH, a quarterly food truck fundraiser, as we concluded the successful Paint the Town Red Gala series.