Willmeng Construction recently celebrated the completion of the new Clarence Wesley Health Center in Bylas, a 33,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art healthcare facility that will better serve the San Carlos Apache Tribe in their Bylas community. The health center officially opened on May 16.
The Clarence Wesley Health Center (CWHC) provides the San Carlos Apache community with a modern medical facility that can host a broader range of vital healthcare offerings. This new facility replaces the former, smaller building, which had limited space and services and was damaged by shifting soils. The larger facility gives San Carlos Apache Healthcare (SCAHC) the opportunity to expand and upgrade services, including the expansion of Dental, Pharmacy, and Optometry, as well as the addition of Imaging services.
“The success of sovereignty through the San Carlos Apache Healthcare Corporation shows that the San Carlos Apache tribe will no longer accept marginal healthcare, but instead we will lead, innovate, and redefine what healing means for our people,” said Isaiah Belknap, the Deputy CEO of SCAHC and Executive Director of the CWHC. “This new facility is more than a clinic. It is a living prayer, a promise that our people will thrive, that our traditions will guide us, and that no community member will walk the path of healing alone.”
The facility offers comprehensive medical services, including physical therapy, imaging, laboratory, and pharmacy services. The medical wing includes two nurse stations, 13 exam rooms, one exam bay, an imaging room, and an ultrasound room. The dental area is equipped with five dental chairs and its own dedicated imaging services. The pharmacy features a drive-through window. Beyond medical services, the facility includes conference rooms, a small café, and a healing garden.
The new CWHC, designed by Cuningham Architects, utilizes an Exterior Insulation Finishing System (EIFS) providing added energy efficiency. The facility is also equipped with a backup electrical system that can power it for 96 hours. Located next to the Mt. Turnbull Elementary School, five miles south of Bylas, and is one of the central pieces of the new master-planned community the tribe is developing in the Rising Sun area south of Bylas.
“It’s one thing to have a strong vision, but it’s another thing to have the caliber of people, the caliber of leadership with the courage to bring it to life and this is an absolutely world-class facility in the most beautiful location that we’ve ever been afforded the opportunity to build,” said James Murphy, CEO of Willmeng. “We are very thankful for the leadership of this community, the vision of the San Carlos Healthcare Corporation, and grateful that you entrusted us this opportunity. We’re in it for the long haul and we will continue to support this community into perpetuity.”
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The design prioritized patient privacy, comfort, and natural light. Cultural elements are woven throughout the design, such as the building’s radial planning inspired by the sacred circle, abalone at the welcome desk, rain chains honoring water struggles, and entrances aligned to the east following the Apache way. The design also includes a beautiful mural of Mount Turnbull that reflects the natural beauty and strength of the land and people.
The project has been called “a major step forward” in healthcare access for tribal members.
“This project reflects the dedication of the San Carlos Apache Tribe and the Healthcare Corporation to our community and our patients,” said Victoria Began, chief executive officer of SCAHC. “It is our vision that tribal members — especially those living in the eastern side of the reservation — embrace this new health center as their own, trusting us with their health needs for generations to come.”
The namesake of the Health Center, Clarence Wesley, was dubbed “A Champion of Indian Rights”. Wesley served as Chairman of the San Carlos Apache Tribe, President of the Inter-Tribal Council of Arizona, and was the first from the San Carlos Apache Tribe to become President of the National Congress of American Indians, serving two terms. Wesley, who died in 1988, is remembered as a legendary leader and this facility is described as a fitting tribute to him. His words, “Keep your Apache culture, as it is our heartbeat,” inspired the creation of a health center authentic to heritage and reflective of shared values.
