For 20 years, I served as the medical director for Community’s Deran Koligian Ambulatory Care Center in downtown Fresno. There, I oversaw 14 clinics serving mainly patients who didn’t have insurance or were underinsured.

It was my role to make sure they had access to both primary and specialty care, which is challenging even with the best insurance. Championing patients who are uninsured and underinsured is important to me because I’m a first-generation immigrant here in the United States — I understand the unique challenges, pain and barriers these patients face.

Just like anybody else, they deserve quality care and that’s why I partner with Community — because giving all people access to high-quality care regardless of their ability to pay has always been part of their mission.