The clinic relies on volunteer physicians, medical assistants and other health care providers who donate their time and services at no cost, as well as high school and college students. (Catherine White/Community Impact)
Since 2017, Seva Clinic has provided free medical care to uninsured and underinsured residents in Pearland, Brazoria County and surrounding communities, offering general medical visits and specialty services through volunteer healthcare professionals.
How it works
Founded by Dr. Periyanan Vaduganathan, who has practiced medicine in the Houston area for more than 20 years, the clinic operates every Thursday from 5-7:30 p.m. It has remained open continuously since its founding, including throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
Seva, which means “selfless service” in Sanskrit, provides primary medical care and specialty services in cardiology, nephrology, neurology, rheumatology, diabetes management and wound care. Patients can also receive electrocardiograms, or EKGs, routine laboratory tests and flu vaccinations.
The clinic relies on volunteer physicians, medical assistants and other healthcare providers, as well as high school and college students who are trained to take vital signs, perform urinalysis, administer EKGs and conduct blood glucose testing.
What’s new
In April 2025, Seva Clinic moved from a roughly 400-square-foot space at the Pearland Neighborhood Center into a nearly 2,250-square-foot facility inside the Christians Helping Hands building, located on Magnolia Parkway.
The clinic operates inside the Christians Helping Hands building, located on Magnolia Parkway.(Courtesy SEVA Clinic)
Previously, the clinic operated out of two storage rooms converted into examination rooms. The larger facility provides more space for patient care and allows the clinic to standardize its operations, Vaduganathan said.
Since opening the new facility, the clinic has expanded to include a medical and safety equipment rental program, along with health education, mentoring and counseling from health coaches and nurses to help patients adopt healthier lifestyles.
The clinic’s 2026 board includes founder and chairman Dr. Vaduganathan, secretary Srikanth Venugopalan, treasurer Hita Dickson, Medical director Dr. Subhadra Bandhakavi as well as Dr. S.G. Appan, Rebecca Lilley and Jerry Farmer.
Looking ahead
Seva Clinic hopes to add vision and dental care services in the coming years, though the expansion would require additional staff and funding, Vaduganathan said.
