Christian Healthcare in Medically Underserved North Philadelphia

A Piece on a Philadelphia FQHC and its Executive Director, Susan Post

Abstract

With an unfortunate number of underserved communities throughout the world, it would be remiss to overlook the prevalence of ones located right in the backyards of America. Most residents of these communities suffer disproportionately from health disparities. They are often lower income, non-white residents of dense, and diverse urban neighborhoods, like ones located in North Philadlphia.¹ Most of the residents of North Philadelphia lack basic health care services, live in households with incomes at or below 200% of the poverty level, and nearly one in five people lack health insurance, resulting in communities that are designated as a Federal Medically Underserved Areas.² Since 1989, a health center, Esperanza, has been dedicated to serving the members of the North Philadelphia community through an intentional and faith-based approach. Today, its director, Susan Post, has continued to carry out the mission of Esperanza through efforts that highlight purposeful proximity.