Why Public Health AmeriCorps Member Geralda Francois Is Committed to Her Community’s Health
When Zufall AmeriCorps member Geralda Francois was 15 years old, her life was upended by a 7.0 magnitude earthquake in Haiti. Considered one of the biggest natural disasters in recorded history, the 2010 earthquake claimed hundreds of thousands of lives. Francois remembers that for the millions of survivors, the public health impact was devastating. “Before the earthquake, most people couldn’t get adequate health care, unless they were very wealthy or left...
Save the Date: Smiles for Our Heroes Returns June 15
When Navy Vietnam War Veteran Albert Grazevich received free dentures at Zufall Health, he regained the confidence to smile freely around his friends. Grazevich had lost several teeth—the restoration of which would have cost him thousands of dollars out of pocket. Similarly, Army Veteran John Boardman was overjoyed when his chipped tooth was expertly bonded by Dr. Antonella Maietta without any financial burden. “He was so excited to show everyone his...
For AmeriCorps Member Kiara Isaza, Maternal Health Advocacy is a Year-Round Effort
Aspiring obstetrician-gynecologist (OB/GYN) Kiara Isaza is a Public Health AmeriCorps member in Zufall Health’s West Orange prenatal program. Recently, for Maternal Health Awareness Day (MHAD), Isaza and prenatal staff provided critical self-advocacy resources to pregnant patients—an experience she says she’ll be carrying with her to medical school and beyond. Like all teams at Zufall, the prenatal program works hard to bridge gaps in health care access and reduce disparities. Many patients...
Volunteer Spotlight: Howard Rappoport, DDS
Howard Rappoport, DDS, knew dentistry was his calling by the time he was eight years old. His family dentist, Dr. Eisenberg, made the career look like a wonderful way to work with and help people. Besides, it was an interesting application of Rappoport’s artistic inclination that included a love for drawing and model making. Little did he know that this childhood aspiration would one day lead him to a fulfilling...
Universal Developmental Screenings Will Put Kids on Track for Healthier Futures
With 11,000 pediatric patients under its care annually, Zufall Health is dedicated to the healthy development of all children, regardless of their circumstances. To that end, the health center is preparing to add a standardized approach to childhood development in its Dover and West Orange locations. What Are Developmental Delays? In the U.S., one in six children experiences developmental delays in their physical, cognitive, social, and emotional skills. Relative to their peers,...
Navigating New Beginnings: Compassionate, Comprehensive Care for Refugee Patients
In the busy halls of Zufall Health – Plainsboro, a diverse array of patients receives health care services. Among them is Hassan*, a father of four and refugee from Afghanistan. Since his first visit to the health center in September 2023, Hassan has been addressing a number of health issues, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and hypertension, under the care of nurse practitioner Nancy Patel, DNP, FNP-BC, and colleagues....
Building the Dental Workforce with On-the-Job Training at Zufall Health
Zufall Health’s dental department recently introduced an exciting workforce development opportunity: the Dental Assistant On-the-Job Training program. Generously funded by the Delta Dental Foundation, the tuition-free, six-month training program teaches chairside dental assisting and radiology skills in preparation for the Dental Assisting National Board's Radiation Health and Safety (RHS) exam. Upon successful completion of the course and exam, trainees are guaranteed full-time positions as dental assistants (DAs) at Zufall. DAs play...
Meet Your Provider: Angela Otto-Ryan, DNP, APN
Providers at Zufall Health are committed to delivering affordable, high-quality care to everyone, no matter their circumstances. Pediatric nurse practitioner Angela Otto-Ryan, DNP, APN, CPNP-PC, CBC, finds motivation not only in Zufall's mission but also in the meaningful relationships she has built with her patients and their families during her two years at the health center. “I cannot imagine life without caring for my patients,” says Otto-Ryan, who sees patients ages...
The Power of Community Outreach: Laura Eirich’s Zufall Health AmeriCorps Story
Laura Eirich, MPH, oversees the Office of Community Health Workers at the Kentucky Department for Public Health (KDPH). Community health workers (CHWs) — nonclinical health care professionals who provide health education, resources, and connection to health services — are a critical part of the U.S. public health system, bridging gaps between health care providers and underserved communities. Eirich, who earned a dual bachelor’s degree in public health and psychology from Carroll...
Zufall Health’s Community Dental Health Coordinator Training Program Facilitates Access to Dental Care in New Jersey and Beyond
Zufall Health is committed to providing access to high-quality, affordable, and culturally responsive health care, including dental care. Our Community Dental Health Coordinator (CDHC) program is one of our many innovative approaches for helping people access dental services, and the accomplishments of inaugural graduate Sherry Laliberte, RDH, in particular, help to illuminate its far-reaching impact. Above: Zufall Health dentist Antonella Maietta, DMD, conducts an oral health screening of a young child's...