About Us

Over 40 years ago, a physician named James Reuler persuaded a handful of other doctors to join him in making medical visits to uninsured homeless and low-income residents of downtown Portland. Dr. Reuler named this fledgling organization The Wallace Medical Concern in memory of his patient Edwin B. Wallace, whose bequest helped to fund the group’s early expenses.

Mr. Wallace was a maker of hand-crafted fishing rods. In his honor, Dr. Reuler carried his medical supplies to patient visits in a fishing tackle box. Together he and a growing team of volunteer medical professionals worked hard to meet the most urgent needs of vulnerable women and men who had no other access to health care.

As the years passed, more and more people with great need started calling East Multnomah County home. Wallace moved with them, opening an urgent care clinic in Gresham and bringing a mobile medical clinic to locations throughout the area.

In 2011 we began to offer our patients ongoing primary care with a regular family doctor. Today we are a full-service medical, dental, and behavioral health “home base” for individuals and families, with multi-cultural staff who partner fully with patients to improve their health.

Dr. Reuler founded Wallace in the belief that everyone deserves high-quality health care, regardless of circumstances. He was committed to meeting this need, one person at a time.

That hasn’t changed.