I Love Working at A Community Health Center

Kanika Turner, MD Associate Medical Director, Family Care Health Centers St. Louis

ACommunity Health Center (CHC), also known as a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), is a local, non-profit, community-driven health care provider that serves low-income and medically underserved communities. We provide comprehensive primary care medical, dental, mental health/substance use, and often pharmaceutical services to persons of all ages, income levels, and insurance status regardless of ability to pay. I chose to work at a CHC because I love serving in a capacity to help others who are medically underserved and specifically in the urban community. During my residency at Saint Louis University, I learned first-hand experience of the true meaning of working in a CHC. I gained a deeper understanding of the barriers to health and its impact on health equity and social determinants of health. Another reason I chose to work at a CHC is because of my patients. I appreciate the diversity and ability to learn from my patients. Whenever there is diversity and inclusion, it always leads to equity and self-growth!

Working at a CHC allows me to continue to grow not only on a personal level, but also in my career by helping other colleagues around me. I love taking care of my patients and practicing the full scope of Family Medicine. Now, with the addition of Addiction Medicine into my practice, I can continue to serve a need that was once left out of primary care. Family Medicine is a fun and exciting specialty!

My patients are among the state’s most vulnerable populations. People who, even if insured, would remain isolated and uncared for due to their higher level of complex health care needs, where they live, the language they speak, etc. One of the biggest struggles is improving access to patient care especially during a pandemic. For patients who have the technological capabilities, telemedicine is great. On one hand, introduction of telemedicine has increased access to care for some patients with transportation concerns. However, on the other hand, it also limits care due to digital literacy and language barriers. This is an evolving area of telemedicine but based on our mission and from previous history, I am confident we will overcome this obstacle as well and be able to continue to provide high quality care.

Another reason I love working at a CHC is for patient and community advocacy. Due to the pandemic and recent events of killings in the Black community, FQHC’s can take the lead on reaching a community that has been devastated by poverty, crime, and substance use. CHCs understand this complexity and are in a position to significantly transform lives and communities. CHCs are at the heart of this current movement to work towards racial and health equity and I look forward to being a part of this transformation! Kanika Turner, MD Associate Medical Director, Family Care Health Centers St. Louis