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...
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,...
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...
Pediatrician-Led Program Helps Kids Get Moving, Eat Healthier Foods
“It gives me so much joy to know how to eat better. I am happy and my son is happy. Thank you.” “I liked the topic about portions. I am very happy because I learned a lot. I am very grateful to the program.” “It helps me a lot because I can vary my kids’ meals.” “They are very productive and educational meetings.” [caption id="attachment_20604" align="alignnone" width="750"] An exercise session in Dover[/caption] These are just...
Meet Your Provider: Patricia Kao, M.D.
Pediatricians have a big responsibility to the littlest members of our community: they help patients ages birth to 21 grow into healthy adults. For Zufall Health’s Patricia Kao, M.D., being a pediatrician also means helping young patients overcome barriers to care. As the lead physician at Zufall’s Plainsboro site for the last year and, previously, a physician at our Somerville location for five years, Kao uses a person-centered, trauma-informed approach to...
American Academy of Pediatrics Publishes Advice from Zufall Pediatrician Christine Pagano, M.D., About Keeping Kids Safe from Batteries
Christine Pagano, M.D., a pediatrician in Zufall’s Dover location, was published in October 2022 in the American Academy of Pediatrics’ digital publication HealthyChildren.org. Dr. Pagano’s article, “How can I protect my child from the dangers of lithium coin and button batteries?” addresses the growing problem of kids being admitted to emergency rooms for swallowing batteries, which are harmful to the body. Dr. Pagano writes: “In just 2 hours, lithium coin batteries can...
Zufall Receives Support from Direct Relief and The Pfizer Foundation to Improve Infectious Disease Care
Dover, N.J. --- Zufall Health was recently named a recipient of Direct Relief’s Innovation Awards in Community Health: Addressing Infectious Disease in Underserved Communities. The health center is one of 11 health care providers nationwide that will share a $2.5 million grant funded by the Pfizer Foundation to support innovative approaches to infectious disease education, screening, testing, treatment, and care. Zufall was cited for Peds in the Park, a program that...