Legacy Community Health

With an historic gift of $50 million dollars from our long-standing partner Houston Methodist, Legacy broke ground on our Pasadena Southmore Clinic today.   The Legacy Pasadena Southmore Clinic, expected to open in late 2025, will offer health care services ranging from adult and pediatric care, behavioral health, dental services, pharmacy, obstetrical services and wraparound support services. We expect to serve over 40,000 patients a year in Pasadena.   Legacy would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to Houston Methodist, with whom we have had a partnership spanning over 25 years. We especially wish to thank their President and CEO, Dr. Marc Boom, along with Houston Methodist President & CEO, Global Health Care Services - as well as Legacy Board Member - Cathy Easter, for their unwavering commitment to building healthier communities in underserved areas of Greater Houston.    A special thank you to Congresswoman Sylvia R. Garcia, State Senator Carol Alvarado, Pasadena Mayor Jeff Wagner, Pasadena Council Member Johnathan Estrada, Legacy Chairperson Ryan Martin and Pasadena Health Clinic for offering your words of support. Your commitment to the Pasadena community fuels our mission to drive healthy change.

“Researchers estimate that 70% of people living with HIV will fall in the older than 50 age range by 2030” At Legacy Community Health, we recognize the unique challenges faced by aging individuals living with HIV. Malcolm Reid's health journey is just one of the many impactful stories we witness at Legacy. Through our partnership with the Ryan White program, we're dedicated to providing comprehensive support and care to ensure our patients thrive at every age. Together, we’re not just treating HIV, we’re empowering lives. Discover more about these important issues in Reid's story here: https://bit.ly/4eCtluT

Introducing Donnell Walker, a living example of Legacy's life-changing care. Diagnosed with HIV in 2006, Donnell’s journey took a positive turn with the support of Legacy's Director of Nutrition & Fitness, Sean Barrett MS,RD,LD, Nurse Practitioner Mary Shepard, and Wellness Manager Felicia White.   Through their guidance, Donnell not only maintained his health but also shed an impressive 200 pounds. His inspiring transformation speaks volumes about Legacy's impact. Watch his story on KPRC 2+ https://bit.ly/3VDxjfc and witness the lasting difference Legacy makes in patients' lives. #LifeChangingCare

Yesterday morning, Legacy Infectious Disease Physician Dr. Natalie Vanek and Health Navigation Specialist Jill Jahns, MPH arrived early at CW39 studios to address the alarming rise in STI rates in Harris County. Dr. Vanek provided crucial insights into the symptoms and risks of syphilis while Jill Jahns guided the community on what Legacy locations offer walk-in testing. Together they highlighted strategies for preventing and treating outbreaks and the damaging effects of untreated syphilis. Watch their full interview here: https://bit.ly/45nT9GS A big thanks to Dr. Vanek and Jill Jahns for their dedication to educating the community on preventive health measures. Together, we can work towards a healthier future. #HealthcareEducation

Legacy's Senior Regional Director of Operations, Chinelo Nweke, MBA, and Clinical Medical Director, Dr. Pathik Desai, visited CW39 Studios to discuss how Legacy Clinics swiftly responded to the two recent severe weather events, showcasing our commitment to serving the community rain or shine. Catch the full interview below to learn more about our dedication to serving patients, no matter the circumstances: https://bit.ly/4bGuGiv

As Asian American and Pacific Islander (#AAPI) Heritage Month comes to a close, we proudly recognize the outstanding achievements of Senior Vice President of Pharmacy & Financial Support Dr. Trina La, PharmD, MS-HSA and Senior Director of IT Business Intelligence Ke Yin (Nicole) Loh, and AmeriCorps Program Coordinator Boi Ha at Legacy. Their dedication and unique perspectives drive healthy change and inspire us all. Read their stories to learn how they integrate their work and heritage to make a lasting impact within our organization: Dr. Trina La's Story - https://bit.ly/3X3YVez Nicole Loh's Story - https://bit.ly/3X0wu1n Boi Ha's Story - https://bit.ly/3Rb6tsl #AAPIHeritageMonth

Legacy’s Vice President of Government Relations & Public Affairs, Lindsay Lanagan, recently took the stage as a panelist at the Texas State Annual Conference. Hosted by the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA), this conference brought together healthcare leaders from across the state to explore and enhance the financial side of healthcare. Lindsay spoke alongside Texas Medical Association’s Vice President of Public Affairs and Chief Lobbyist Clayton Stewart, Texas Hospital Association’s Senior Vice President of Advocacy and Public Policy Jennifer Banda, and Memorial Hermann Health System’s Chief Government Relations Officer Freddy Warner. Lindsay’s dedication to driving healthy change through legislative avenues is a testament to her commitment and expertise. We’re #LegacyProud to have her on our team! #HealthcareAdvocacy

As Texas temperatures rise, Legacy Psychiatrist Dr. Chad Lemaire discusses with Texas Monthly’s Saba Khonsari how to prepare families for another triple-digit summer. In light of #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth, he stresses that it is vital to recognize how heat can directly cause fatigue and feelings of depression in kids. Yet keeping them indoors can lead to increased screen time, which can lead to irritability and moodiness. Read more to discover what activities can keep families both connected and cool this summer here: https://bit.ly/3yh2cwR #StayCoolHouston

Sensitivity Warning: This post contains a story that details an example of sexual assault and care. A terrified patient walked up recently to the front desk at a Legacy Community Health Clinic, leans forward and whispers a request for an emergency slot. Why? Her controlling partner was in the car outside and she needed to pretend to go to a doctor’s appointment as an excuse to leave her home, where she was being abused. This real-life story plays itself out regularly in Legacy clinics. With an estimated 1 in 3 women and 1 in 5 men experiencing intimate partner violence in their lifetimes, this issue deeply affects our community. Legacy is committed to Sexual Assault Awareness - this and every month. For Legacy patients, reporting their situation boils down to one word: Trust. “People trust their community health clinic,” often more than other institutions, says Erica Villegas, LCSW-S, Director of Social Services at Legacy Community Health. “Besides the comfort level they feel with Legacy, they know they can access other services in-house.” Beyond the physical, Legacy’s social workers will help find shelter, seek legal services, file a police or protective services report or get transportation. They know that Legacy welcomes every member of the community, regardless of their ability to pay. Villegas says Legacy takes patient safety very seriously. Each social worker will determine “what needs to happen right now, for this person to be safe tonight?” This is the reason why patients come to Legacy when they need help. “The doctors really care, and we get calls all the time asking us to help a patient they have in their exam room. They don’t want them to leave the building until they are safe and their needs have been met.” For issues so delicate and personal, survivors go where they feel safe. For Sexual Assault Awareness Month, Legacy honors the commitment of its front-line medical providers and social workers who create a safe space for patients to get the support they need – physically and emotionally. #BuildingConnectedCommunities #SupportSurvivors #SAAM2024

Continuing the conversation beyond #BlackMaternalHealthWeek! Black mothers still face many disparities, being three times more likely to experience mortality compared to white mothers. Legacy’s OB/GYN Medical Director, Dr. Erica Giwa (Ruger) continues to champion Black maternal health joining City Cast Houston’s host, Raheel Ramzanali in an insightful discussion. At Legacy, we understand that medicine is a collaborative effort and we prioritize building strong relationships within our community to address these disparities. Kudos to you Dr. Giwa! 🎙🎧 #HealthPodcast #CommunityHealth