Puentes de Salud is a healthcare organization that caters to undocumented immigrants, a vulnerable minority within the large and diverse latinx community of Philadelphia. The facility focuses on providing culturally informed health and wellness care to the Latinx community in South Philadelphia. This healthcare extends beyond physical illness to address disparities in education and socioeconomic status that impact individual wellbeing. Furthermore, the organization also prides itself on its efforts to address structural violence and social injustices in order to promote individual and community wellness for generations to come.
In 2003, Puentes de Salud was founded by Dr. Jack Ludimir and Dr. Steven Larson, who started off by taking care of six patients in a church basement. The organization expanded after Dr. Larson was able to convince a local clinic to lend its facilities to Puentes for two nights a week. Finally, the University of Pennsylvania donated an abandoned space to Puentes de Salud. Today, the organization sees about ten thousand patients a year, 90% of whom are undocumented and almost 100% of whom are living under the poverty line.
Puentes provides clinic care, women’s healthcare and prenatal care, and diabetes management. In addition, the organization surpasses past medical services to aid overall individual wellness through partnerships with psychologists, psychiatrists, and medical-legal partners, as well as, recreational practices such as yoga, zumba, and arts and culture classes.
Another crucial branch of the organization is its educational outreach, which improves health literacy and targets what Puentes calls the “social determinants of health”. Puentes believes that social and environmental conditions heavily impact overall health. To combat these socioeconomic disparities, the organization provides many educational programs. Some children’s education programs include after school mentoring and the Lanzando Líderes program for adolescents (launched by University of Pennsylvania students and continued with funding from the university’s 2017 presidential prize). Some adult education efforts include financial literacy courses and English classes.
The 2016 HBO documentary, Clínica de Migrantes: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness, brilliantly displays the important work carried out by Puentes de Salud. Director Maxim Pozdorovkin gracefully articulates the ethical and moral obligations that necessitate this type of clinic, not only in Philadelphia, but all over America. Pozdorovkin emphasizes the humanity of this marginalized and vulnerable population, “bringing them out of the shadows where most of their life is spent.” The film demonstrates this humanity particularly through its attention to patient-physician relationships and the moral obligation of healthcare providers.
The work accomplished by Puentes is undoubtedly significant and far-reaching. The HBO film expresses this impact in depth, but even the short mission statement of Puentes de Salud clearly reveals the integrity of their efforts, with its commitment to “individual and community empowerment.” Their mission is strengthened by incredible statistics. So far, the organization has provided prenatal care and delivery for 2,000 babies since opening in 2003.
Nonetheless, Puentes de Salud does more than provide much needed medical services to undocumented immigrants. The organization acknowledges the humanity of this overlooked community and empowers the future of America.
To learn more about this organization and their impact, as well as provide support in any form possible, visit their website.
Written by Catalina Ruiz