Charles B. Wang Community Health Center: A Legacy of Accessible and Quality Healthcare

Introduction

The Charles B. Wang Community Health Center stands as a beacon of healthcare accessibility and quality for underserved communities in New York City. Rooted in a history of volunteerism and community engagement, the center has evolved into a comprehensive healthcare provider with a wide array of services. This article delves into the health center's history, mission, values, services, and commitment to providing culturally responsive care.

A History of Community-Driven Healthcare

The origins of the Charles B. Wang Community Health Center trace back to July 31, 1971, with the organization of the first Chinatown Health Fair. This event, driven by a group of dedicated volunteers, aimed to provide health education and screenings to the medically underserved Chinese community in New York City. The overwhelming community response spurred the opening of the Chinatown Health Clinic later that year. The clinic was entirely staffed by volunteer doctors, nurses, social workers, community health workers, and students.

In 1999, the community health clinic was renamed the Charles B. Wang Community Health Center. Since then, it has continuously expanded its reach and services to provide bilingual and bicultural healthcare to a broader range of underserved communities. The Health Center has been recognized as a Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) since 2010. In 2023, the Health Center served over 59,000 patients with more than 285,000 service visits across six sites in Flushing, Queens, and Lower Manhattan.

Mission, Vision, and Values

The Charles B. Wang Community Health Center operates with a clear mission, vision, and set of values that guide its work:

Vision: Ensure that everyone has full and equal access to the highest level of healthcare.

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Mission: Provide high-quality and affordable healthcare to all, building on our heritage of success in caring for the underserved.
Values:
- Patients First: Serving patients with respect and compassion, prioritizing their needs.
- One Team: Acting with professionalism, valuing everyone's contributions, and supporting each other to achieve excellence.
- Quality Focus: Committing to high-quality healthcare and exceptional customer service, striving for continuous improvement, and holding ourselves accountable.
- Integrity: Using data and evidence-based practices to make decisions, and serving as stewards of resources entrusted to their care.

Comprehensive Healthcare Services

The Charles B. Wang Community Health Center offers a wide range of services to meet the diverse healthcare needs of the community. These services include:

Medical care
Dental care
Mental health services
Health education
Social work
Support services

The Health Center employs board-certified or board-eligible providers licensed to practice in New York State. Many providers are multilingual, ensuring that the diverse community has access to culturally responsive and affordable care. The Health Center takes a patient-centered approach, putting their needs first and providing the highest level of care.

Health Education: Empowering the Community

Health education is a cornerstone of the Charles B. Wang Community Health Center's services. The Health Center provides culturally responsive health information and programs in multiple languages to patients and the community. This is achieved through collaboration with the healthcare team to keep individuals informed and healthy.

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The health education approach focuses on fostering a healthier community by providing trustworthy health information and opportunities to engage with experts, ask questions, and share experiences. Health education services are conveniently accessible via public transportation in Flushing, Queens, and Lower Manhattan.

Leadership in Health Education

Yajie Zhu, who holds a doctorate degree in Health Education from Columbia University, serves as the Director of Health Education at the Charles B. Wang Community Health Center. Dr. Zhu leads a multi-disciplinary team that applies an integrated approach to providing patient education. The team also develops culturally responsive and linguistically appropriate health education materials for patients and community members.

Joy Nieh, a Health Educator at the Health Center and a member of the Society for Public Health Education, brings experience teaching in various settings, including abroad. Bilingual in English and Chinese, Joy has taught students of diverse backgrounds and ages in both languages. She is committed to empowering the youth through health education as part of the Teen Resource Center staff.

Awards and Recognition

The Charles B. Wang Community Health Center has received numerous awards and recognitions for its commitment to quality and accessible healthcare. In 2025, the Health Center was recognized as the most awarded community health center in Manhattan and Queens. Among the seven awards received from the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA), the Health Center earned Health Center Quality Leader “Gold” recognition. This honor is granted only to the top 10 percent of health centers nationwide. The HRSA also awarded the Health Center gold badges for Diabetes Health, Cancer Screening, and Heart Health. Furthermore, the Health Center was acknowledged for its efforts in improving healthcare access, preventive health, and advancing health information technology for quality.

Leadership and Staff

The Charles B. Wang Community Health Center is led by a team of experienced and dedicated professionals:

Executive Leadership

Hyoseong Nuna Kim, MD, Executive Vice President, Chief Medical Officer
Radeyah Hack, MD, Deputy Chief Medical Officer
Esther Han Silver, PHR, Chief Human Resources Officer

Senior Staff

Loretta Au, MD, MPH, Chief of Pediatrics, Manhattan
Alison Chan, DDS, MPH, Dental Director
Miu Chan, Director of Billing
Cherry T. Ching, MBADirector of Clinical Administration
Steven P. Ellis, MHADirector of Compliance & Capital Projects
Naumi Feldman, DrPHDirector of Population Health
Kangxia Gu, MDChief of Internal Medicine, Queens
Sue GuanHealth Information Director
Shaoling Hu, LCSWDirector of Social Work
Justine Ippolito-Fata, DDSChief of Dentistry, Queens
David Ko, MDMedical Director, 45th Avenue
Catherine Lee, MDChief of Internal Medicine, Manhattan
Heidi Lee-Chen, MPADirector of Operations, Pediatrics and Family Medicine
Judy Lo, OD, FAAOChief of Primary Eye Care
Yong Lu, MAChief Development Officer
Rachelle Ocampo, EdMDirector of Communications & External Affairs
Ady Shmuel Oster, MD, MBAChief of Population Health
Candy PoonDirector of Information Technology
Sumana Rao, RN, MBAClinical Director, Manhattan
Asifa Shakoor, MBADirector of Operations, Mental Health
Ka Yan (Grace) WongDirector of Operations, Internal Medicine and Dental Services
Maggie Wong, MPADirector of Marketing & Community Relations
Samuel Chung-Shing Wong, MDChief of Obstetrics & Gynecology
Margaret L.

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