#12 Building Spiritual Resilience with COVID-19: Lessons from New York

Dr. David Kim is a physician, founder and current CEO of Beacon Christian Community Health Center, New York State's first faith-based, federal and state-certified non-profit health center, on Staten Island in New York City. Dr. Kim completed a dual residency in internal medicine and pediatrics at Staten Island University Hospital. He also holds a MBA (Healthcare) from George Washington University School of Business. As CEO, he and Beacon have taken the lead locally in both accessing health care for underserved communities, as well as in emergencies such as H1N1 and Superstorm Sandy. Besides engaging locally and nationally with both Christian and secular leaders regarding health care, particularly for the underserved, he is also actively engaged with student and resident mentoring, and has spoken locally and nationally about the significance and importance of integrating faith, work and life. Dr. Kim was raised in Staten Island and resides there with his wife, Dr. Janet Kim, and their 4 children.

A native of Chicago, Dr. Janet Kim graduated New York Medical College with a combined MD/MPH degree with a concentration in health care finance and policy. She also concurrently received a MA in Bioethics from Trinity International University. She completed a dual residency in Internal Medicine/Pediatrics at Staten Island University Hospital and joined the staff of Beacon afterwards. Her involvement with Beacon began while still a resident, as part of the team starting it with her husband, then joining the staff full time in 2006 and becoming CMO in 2009. As CMO she has seen Beacon grow from a clinical staff of 3 providers providing 3,200 visits in 2006 to a staff of twelve providers, providing comprehensive medical care for adults and children, including women’s health services, totaling over 20,000 annual visits. On top of her professional duties and church and community involvement, she and David homeschool their 4 children together.