A Healthier Future for Orangetree

by Gabriele O’Boyle, APR, Senior Director of Marketing and Communications

For families in northeast Collier County, a routine doctor’s visit often means a long drive, time off work, and added stress. But that’s about to change. By the end of 2025, Healthcare Network’s Van Domelen Community Health Center will open its doors, bringing high quality, affordable healthcare closer to home. Olivia, a long-time resident, shares how the lack of nearby healthcare has impacted her family.

“For over 20 years, my family had to travel miles into the City of Naples to receive healthcare. Having a full range of high-quality services close to home will be life changing for everyone in this community. It will meet the needs of my family and so many others in Orangetree.”

Located at Orangetree Boulevard and Immokalee Road, the Van Domelen Community Health Center will provide essential medical, dental and behavioral health services to a rapidly growing area that, until now, was a healthcare desert.

Meeting a Growing Need

With an estimated 40,000 to 50,000 residents and even more on the way, the Orangetree and Ave Maria areas have seen explosive growth, but healthcare access hasn’t kept up. Many residents have no choice but to travel long distances for routine care, and in some cases, they postpone care altogether because of the inconvenience.

For local resident Adam, this stark reality is finally changing.

“Having zero access to medical care for miles has been an extreme polarization when compared to the rest of Southwest Florida,” he said. “My family and I are truly grateful to know that Healthcare Network will be minutes from our home! We will go from 0% to 100% access overnight.”

The 20,000 square foot square foot center will house up to 30 healthcare providers and offer:

• Pediatric and adult primary care
• Women’s health, including prenatal and gynecological services
• Comprehensive dental care
• Integrated behavioral health services
• On-site X-ray and lab services
• A full service, drive-thru pharmacy for easy medication pickup

With extended hours to accommodate working families and the capacity to serve 12,000 patients annually, the Van Domelen Community Health Center will be a lifeline for thousands in the community.

A Project Fueled by Generosity

This much needed health center wouldn’t be possible without the support of donors and community leaders committed to expanding access to care. At the heart of this effort is a transformational $5 million gift from the Bill and Julia Van Domelen Foundation, the largest onetime donation in Healthcare Network’s nearly 50-year history. The foundation, which also recently funded Healthcare Network’s Van Domelen Health Express mobile unit, has been instrumental in bringing care to rural and underserved communities across Collier County.

But the foundation was not alone in making this project a reality. Longtime Healthcare Network supporter Jerry Nichols also contributed significantly to the center’s development. Nichols, who previously provided the lead gift for the Nichols Community Health Center in 2018, has long been a champion for affordable, accessible healthcare for at-risk families.

Additionally, State Senator Kathleen Passidomo and State Representative Lauren Melo helped secure $7.5 million in state funding to support the facility’s construction. Their combined efforts are turning a vision into a reality—one that will transform healthcare access for thousands of families.

A Community Lifeline

Beyond medical care, the Van Domelen Community Health Center is expected to create 100 new jobs and serve as a training site for family medicine and pediatric dental residents, ensuring that the next generation of healthcare providers is well-equipped to care for the community.

For residents like Olivia and Adam, the impact is immediate and deeply personal—but they’re not the only ones excited about this change. Local mother Maria sees this as a life-changing improvement for working families.

“Knowing we’ll have a doctor just minutes away means I won’t have to miss work to take my child for a checkup,” she said. “This center will bring peace of mind to so many families who’ve struggled to find convenient care.”

Thanks to the dedication of philanthropic leaders, community advocates and state officials, families in Orangetree will soon have the care they need, right in their backyard.

The Van Domelen Community Health Center isn’t just a new building—it’s a promise to the community that quality, compassionate healthcare should never be out of reach.

How You Can Support This Project

We are incredibly grateful to our donors and partners who have helped bring this project to life—but there is still work to be done. Community support remains essential to fully equip the center, expand services and ensure long-term sustainability. To learn more about supporting the Van Domelen Community Health Center, contact Antonello Castaldi at acastaldi@healthcareswfl.org or visit HealthcareSWFL.org

About the Author

Gabrielle O’Boyle, APR, is a public relations professional specializing in nonprofit healthcare, strategic communications, and community engagement. As Senior Director of Communications at Healthcare Network, she leads initiatives that enhance awareness, expand access to care and advocate for community health.