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With dwindling rates of Covid-19 infection and restrictions in some places and the emergence of a variable in others, it is difficult to understand our place in the epidemic.

But two years ago, the situation was clear: For many people, the coronavirus stopped the world. That’s when pediatric surgeon Dr. Alaa Stanford took to action, bringing a Covid-19 test to the Black and Brown communities of Philadelphia that have been hit hard by the virus…

In the months that followed, Stanford provided tests and vaccines to more than 75,000 people through the nonprofit Covid-19 Black Doctors Association. As she works to help under-resourced communities cope with the pandemic, she diagnoses a larger problem…

The woman who was honored as CNN’s Top 10 Heroes last year…

We were seeing people who hadn’t seen a doctor in a decade.” “We were literally putting first aid into a much bigger problem with health inequities and health inequalities…

It is well documented that the Black and Brown communities have experienced hospitalizations and deaths from Covid-19 for a range of causes, including high risk factors for exposure and an increased risk of serious illness…

But the lack of accessible and affordable healthcare is a major factor leading to worse health outcomes for people of color. In particular, a lack of outpatient care, such as annual checkups and doctor visits, can play an important role in preventing health problems.

This larger methodological problem is what Stanford is trying to address.

In the month of November..

She began seeing patients at Dr. Alaa Stanford Center for Health Equality, her new facility in North Philadelphia. This multidisciplinary clinic offers services ranging from primary care, mental health, to diagnostic tests such as EKGs, mammograms, and of course, COVID testing and vaccinations.

And we take care of newborns through Grandma and Grandpa.” “And that’s the next step… wanting not just to save lives, but to really impact the whole life with people.”

Located on the grounds of Deliverance Evangelistic Church, in an area that once housed a daycare center, the venue has undergone a massive renovation. The center now includes examination rooms, counseling areas, children’s play space, and even an aquarium. Most importantly, it provides care for everyone, regardless of their ability to pay.

If you have insurance, we run it.” “If you don’t, we help you get it. And if you don’t have anything, you won’t be rejected.”

Dr. Alaa Stanford and her team provide medical care to those who need it most

This fall…

As the coronavirus appeared to recede into the background, Stanford was eager to switch gears to focus on this broader health mission. But the variant of the virus Omicron changed its plans.

“After Christmas, there were a lot of patients, literally wrapped around this building to get tested for Covid. The positivity rate was 45%,” she said. “So, we had to stop primary care and focus only on testing and vaccination.

However, she and her team are still figuring out a way to deliver brief health checks with each vaccine.

You come for an injection and you notice that your vital signs are out of control you might say Did you know you have high blood pressure? or “Did you take your medicine today?”

And in early January, when Stanford realized that Covid rates were rising in children and young adults, it added another approach.

“In a public health crisis, you go to the people,” she said. “The kids are first in school, and that’s what I paid for.

Since then, the Stanford team has worked with FEMA to hold nearly 20 school vaccination clinics in and around Philadelphia. In some of them, she says, they doubled the vaccination rates among students. Her group continues to provide vaccinations and tests throughout the community at police stations and SEPTA mass transit stations.

Two years later, the surgical practice at Stanford is still suspended. While she admits to missing out on the operating room at times, she knows that the work she does now is making a difference on a much larger scale.

What we’ve done has impacted the lives of more than 100,000 people. And that gives me energy.” “The need here right now is just too great. I feel like this is where I’m supposed to be.

With Public Health Equity in the Philadelphia community, the Dr. Alaa Stanford Center for Health Equality will accept all patients from infants to adults…

Under the visionary leadership of the founder and CEO, Dr. Alaa Stanford, the COVID19 Black Doctors Consortium (BDCC) has changed the paradigm of providing medical services…

Recognized as a national model by Dr. Rachel Levine, Assistant Secretary of Health, BDCC has been at the forefront of serving Philadelphia and surrounding counties during this global pandemic…

Committed to providing access to exceptional healthcare through advocacy and education, we serve with compassion and care.
We understand that equity in healthcare requires action and we have answered the clear call…

As we continue to struggle with the pandemic, our focus has expanded to include addressing other health disparities and challenges that plague communities of color…

Now known as the COVID19 Black Doctors Consortium (BDCC) our continuity of care will be spent across the Dr. Ala Stanford Center for Health Equality at Stanford and the world