ABOUT US
Community Outreach
Commitment to our Communities
We are dedicated to improving the health of people living and working in the communities we serve. We pay for medical coverage for the uninsured, fund local community health centers, and train doctors and nurses. We also promote wellness by sponsoring programs in local communities that focus on prevention, healthy eating, exercise, and environmental improvement. In addition, we share our research and experience because knowledge is powerful, and everyone should benefit from the latest advances in medicine.
For more information about Kaiser Permanente's commitment to the community, go to the Community Benefit website.
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A Resident's Story: Dr. Noah Rodriguez recounts a story from his
work at a community high school clinic. I feel so fortunate to be in a residency program that has a community rotation. This away-from-the-hospital experience allows residents to diversify and broaden our clinical exerience while providing an invaluable service to the youth of our community. This experience has been enriching for both the students and the physicians who work with them. I would like to share my experience with Marcos. Marcos came to teen clinic for information about condoms, sexually transmitted infections, and birth control. He is 15 years old and has been in the United States for 4 years. He is a freshman in high school and he lives with his two older brothers who did not graduate high school. During our conversation, he expressed his interest in going to college. He admitted that he was having some difficulty in school and that learning English was challenging. Our discussion about sexually transmitted infections transformed into a discussion about college and career options. Following our conversation, Marcos left clinic with more than just information about sexual health. He left with a renewed commitment to not only continue with his high school education but he was also visibly inspired to become the first person in his family to go to college. As the first person in my family to attend college, the clinic visit with Marcos held a personal significance. Twenty years ago, someone spent time with me and inspired me to look beyond my East Los Angeles surroundings and pursue my dreams. Now, as a physician, I am grateful to have the opportunity to do the same for others. The community rotation gives us the distinct opportunity to practice preventive medicine, be role models and to inspire youth to set and to pursue their goals. |
