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CHRISTIANSBURG -- The relocation of two full-time positions at the Mental Health Association of the New River Valley in Blacksburg to the Free Clinic of the New River Valley in Christiansburg means a one-stop-shop atmosphere for low-income patients.

Nina Gilliam and Karla Soukup, program assistants in the Mental Health Association's pro bono counseling program, moved into their new space last week.

The clinic, a Roanoke Street lot owned and donated by Montgomery County, now offers health care, dental care, a walk-in pharmacy and mental health services.

The plan has been in the works since November 2005, when Amy Forsyth-Stephens was appointed executive director of both nonprofit facilities. Forsyth-Stephens previously served as executive director of the Mental Health Association for 13 years.

Now she splits her workweek between the two locations. She said much of the work is the same.

"I'm not one person doing two jobs. I'm one person doing one job," Forsyth-Stephens said. "I'm saving energy by doing the same functions for both agencies at the same time."

Since her appointment, Forsyth-Stephens has worked to establish more efficient operations between the two nonprofits.

"I've worked for state government, city government, universities, in homeless shelters and with jails, and what we're doing right now in terms of exponential growth and integrating the free health system with the free mental-health system is just the most exciting work I've done in 26 years of work," Forsyth-Stephens said.

The Mental Health Association's Associate Director Patrick Halpern said the move has benefited mental health patients who receive medical care at the facility because they do not have to wade through multiple eligibility screenings. The on-site pharmacy makes it easy for patients to fill prescriptions.

"We feel the move could really strengthen the program," Halpern said. "We're all excited about the new opportunities in front of us."

Forsyth-Stephens added that having mental health professionals at the clinic may seem less intimidating to those seeking care because the clinic may already be a familiar place to them.

Meanwhile, other mental health staff in the areas of jail diversion, education and advocacy work will continue to work from the association's building on Church Street in Blacksburg.

Though she didn't do it alone -- the free clinic is staffed by a full-time nurse practitioner and more than 75 volunteers -- Forsyth-Stephens was recently recognized for her contributions to the community with the Cupp/Teel Rotary Club of Blacksburg's Citizen of the Year award.

She was given a plaque in January for her accomplishments in 2006.

Carl McDaniels, a member of the rotary club's awards committee, said the annual award originated in the 1980s and is named after two former members who took great strides in their community. It is a way to recognize non-Rotarians who exemplify the club's "Four Way Test" of truth, fairness, goodwill and beneficial outcomes, he said.

"We wanted to recognize someone in our community who does a great service," said Rotary President Dave Widder. "Amy was a terrific choice."

The award was given to Jeanne Roper in 2006 for starting the Valley Interfaith Child Care Center in 2005.

Forsyth-Stephens, who previously worked for the city of Seattle before moving to Blacksburg in 1989, called the award the most significant she'd ever received.

"For a group of people like the Blacksburg Rotary Club to acknowledge me is really like they're acknowledging the work we do at the free clinic and the Mental Health Association," she said. "And it's very important for general citizenry to support what we do because a lot of the funding that we operate off of comes and goes, and what is constant and what really creates success for a nonprofit is the support of the people that live in the community."

Vet school plans annual open house

The Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Tech will hold its annual open house from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.

Visitors can take guided tours of the college, see the inside of a dog's stomach, witness equine acupuncture and learn about the veterinary profession. Tours last about an hour and depart every 30 minutes.

The open house will include a lecture at 10:30 a.m. on the bird flu by Dr. Bill Pierson, associate professor in biomedical sciences and pathobiology. There will be a silent auction featuring gift certificates and items from businesses from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

For more information about the event, go to www.vetmed.vt.edu.

-- Greg Esposito