The importance of affordable and accessible healthcare cannot be understated. According to a 2022 Kaiser Family Foundation analysis of American Community Survey Census data, almost 28 million people do not have healthcare insurance. The rates of uninsured among immigrants are high — approximately 30% of immigrants are uninsured. The Institute of Clinical Bioethics (ICB) health promoter programs have brought some relief to people who are uninsured in the Philadelphia area, in particular, immigrant communities. The Chinese Health Promoter program in Chinatown is providing a service by offering this healthcare to members of the community. The services are free and available to anyone. About 15 St. Joe’s students volunteered to help run the program when it was launched this weekend. Among the volunteers were St. Joe’s faculty, medical and dental students from other area universities and three medical residents from Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital. Not only is this a great example of cura personalis in the real world, but it shows the dedication that students of the university have to providing support to all in the greater Philadelphia community.

In the midst of an ongoing global pandemic, access to healthcare is an important human right. Unfortunately, that care is not always accessible to all those who need it the most, especially undocumented immigrants. This program tries to help bridge the gap between people who need healthcare and people who actually receive that care, an admirable act of solidarity.

As an officially ‘Certified Welcoming’ city, Philadelphia is fulfilling its responsibilities of being a supportive and safe space for immigrants. The Institute of Clinical Bioethics is one of many entities and individuals in our university community — at UCity and Hawk Hill — that contributes to supporting those in our community who need support.