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Bowling Green
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Doctors for Healthy Communities, Inc. (DHC) is a
nonprofit organization that connects medical students from across
the country to applied learning experiences in community health. DCH
is the only organization in the New York City area that combines the
expertise of medical schools and community-based organizations to
provide medical students with an opportunity to deepen their passion
for providing care to medically underserved, urban populations.
Need for DHC
Community health clinics play a crucial role in the nation’s
healthcare delivery system, and are an integral part of the safety
net for vulnerable, low-income populations. New York City’s
community-based health providers serve more than 1.5 million
patients annually.
Despite a growing need for community based health centers, they are
sorely under-resourced and struggle to attract talented physicians
with a passion for community health. Currently, only 2% of NYC’s
26,438 active patient care physicians practice medicine in community
health centers and clinics. According to a survey of all medical
residents completing their training in New York, only 29% of
residents in 2003 had confirmed plans to practice medicine in inner
city environments, and only 16% chose to work in a federally
designated Health Professionals Shortage Area. Compounding the
crisis is a downward trend among medical students choosing to focus
on primary care – fewer students than ever are pursuing careers in
primary care.
| Origins Formerly a project of the Medicine as a Profession program at the Open Society Institute, DHC is a newly formed independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization comprised of a network of New York City’s leading community-based organizations serving vulnerable populations. Programs Over 80 medical students from across the country have experienced DHC’s two core programs:
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Current CBO partners
If you are interested in applying for an internship or a clerkship, or if you would like to become a DHC partner, please contact Dr. Navneet Kathuria at kathuria.navneet@CogentHealthcare.com.