About Judge Joseph S. Mattina Community Health Center

The Judge Joseph S. Mattina Community Health Center, formerly the Columbus Community Health Center, is a spacious outpatient facility that meets the comprehensive primary medical care, diagnostic, treatment and rehabilitative needs of residents on the lower West Side of Buffalo.

The Judge Joseph S. Mattina Community Health Center respects a person’s right to receive care in a dignified environment by caregivers that value the importance of individualized attention. Our team of health care professionals provides convenient, compassionate, quality care for its community, including bilingual interpreters for better communication and the best patient outcomes.

Meeting the Health Care Needs of the Lower West Side of Buffalo

Niagara Family Health Center
Offering primary care from birth to infancy, adolescence to pregnancy and on through maturity in a bilingual and bicultural setting to maximize patient care and comfort.

Women & Children’s Hospital Pediatrics
Board certified pediatric specialist from The Women & Children’s Hospital of Buffalo provide a full range of pediatric and adolescent services. These include routine health maintenance, forms for school, sports, camp and working papers, urgent care, developmental and behavior evaluations, adolescent gynecology, and subspecialty referrals for patients ranging from newborn to age 18.

Dental Clinic
The Dental Clinic provides families with complete dental care from routine care and cleaning to corrective treatment and denture wear.

Radiology/Mammography
The Radiology Department provides diagnostic exams that include chest X-rays, bone studies and routine screening mammograms.

Physical Therapy
Rehabilitation Services involve a team approach to treat numerous problems of the neck, back, shoulder, knee, hip and other injuries involving muscles and joints, as well as post-operative rehabilitation needs following surgery.

About Judge Joseph S. Mattina

Judge Joseph S. Mattina has been a member of the West Side community since he played in the schoolyard of his public elementary school #19, matured into adulthood at Lafayette High School and set the groundwork for his future at the University of Buffalo Law School.

His 39-year career -- first as an attorney and then as a judge for the City Court, County Court, Supreme Court and Surrogate Court -- has often been focused on safeguarding the interests of the poor and underserved residents of his much-loved neighborhood. His advocacy and belief that people from all socioeconomic backgrounds deserve the highest quality health care remained steadfast.

Judge Mattina served as a member of Columbus Hospital’s Board of Directors from 1969 to 1980 and chairperson from 1980 to 1996. He valiantly fought the threatened closure of the hospital during the 1980s, determined to keep access to medical care available for those in the area who depended on its existence. Renovations to the hospital’s emergency room spearheaded by Judge Mattina created the setting for a heroic staff effort that saved the lives of two local attorneys, but diffi cult times continued. Columbus merged with Buffalo General Hospital in 1996, a decision inspired by Judge Mattina’s promise to maintain the hospital’s survival at all costs. Columbus Hospital became the Columbus Community Health Center.

Eventually, Judge Mattina’s unquestionable passion for the people in the area and partnership with Hispanic community advocate Andres Garcia brought an incredible transformation to Columbus. The old building was torn down, but a new and improved state-of-the-art facility was resurrected in its place. Today, because of his unswerving commitment, West Side residents enjoy neighborhood access to quality health care in an environment that caters to both their ethnic background and need for good medical attention.

Judge Joseph S. Mattina has raised the hope and lifted the spirits of those he serves with an unselfish and uncompromising dedication to do the right thing for the right reasons. His heroic support of a vulnerable population has made him a champion and paved the way for a brighter future in the lives of those living in the West Side community.