Today we’d like to introduce you to Charles Moore.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Charles. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
When I first came to Atlanta and Grady Health System, I noticed patients coming to see me with stage four oral or throat cancer were all from the same three zip codes in Atlanta. I became frustrated by the limited choices of treatment options I could provide for them because the cancer had not been diagnosed at an earlier stage. For several years I thought to myself, “Someone should really do something about this.” In 2004 I realized that perhaps I was “the someone” I was waiting for. I began providing oral screenings out of my car in the zip codes that were home to my patients, in hopes of catching oral and throat cancer earlier. What i found was a community filled with extreme poverty and in great need for all types of medical services and health prevention education, yet I also found warm hospitality and community members willing to listen and learn how to improve their health. I began to recruit other health care professionals and students to go with me into the neighborhoods and provide a variety of specialty care services such as podiatry, dental, nutrition, immunizations, HIV and diabetes testing.
In 2008, the HEALing Community Center (HCC) opened in three small closet spaces at a local area nonprofit that provides housing in one of the targeted area zip codes. The patient numbers grew quickly to 350 each month. This demand created the need for expansion. In May of 2011 the HEALing Community Center officially expanded into a 4,000 square foot state of the art facility that served more than 500 patients a month providing primary care and hard to find specialty care services such as OB/GYN, HIV, podiatry, cardiology, urology, ENT, and much more. However, the space was not large enough and lacked room for expansion so, in 2012 the clinic moved to 2600 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. into the Otis Smith Health Clinic building that was shut down by Grady Health Care. Now community residents can enjoy exceptional and convenient health care services integrated with primary care removing a series of health care barriers that had been preventing the neighborhood residents from access to essential health care services. In 2013, the center was awarded Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) status from the United States Health and Human Services Department – Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). This award has helped the center transform from an organization completely dependent on the Atlanta philanthropic community to an organization that now has diversified funding stream of private philanthropic support, fee for service, reimbursements and federal grants. HCC is located in Fulton County in Atlanta, Georgia, which has one of the most dramatic rates of Black-White health care disparities in the nation. Health disparities are exacerbated for low-income individuals and minorities living in poverty. This contributes to increased disability and preventable deaths among this population. The center is located in a HRSA designated Primary Care, Mental Health and Dental Care shortage area.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
The most challenging part has been to spread the word of our presence. There are still a number of people that still don’t know that the HCC is here to provide care for anyone that needs it.
We’d love to hear more about the organization.
The HEALing Community Center provides comprehensive medical care for adults and pediatrics. The HCC also provides OBGYN, Dental, Behavioral Health and supportive services. I am most proud of the integrated comprehensive fashion in which we provide our care.
What were you like growing up?
I have always wanted to be a physician since the age of about four. According to my parents and family, I have always been focused on this goal. I have a very supportive family that created an environment that would allow me to thrive. I grew up in a small town called Nedrow in upstate New York.
Contact Info:
- Website: healingcommunitycenter.org
- Phone: 404-564-7749
- Instagram: Dr. CharlesMoore
- Facebook: @DrCharlesMoore
- Twitter: @DrCharlesMoore
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