Page 28 - WesternU View Summer 2019

Dr. Robert Gordon; Don Manelli, Care Harbor president and CEO; Miguel Santana, president and CEO of Fairplex; Supervisor Hilda Solis, James Dale,
vice president of Development for PVHMC and David Connett, DO ’84, Vice Dean, COMP,

WesternU helps key role in planning the event, and hundreds of WesternU
students, faculty and staff volunteered April 27-28, 2019
shepherd Care Harbor at Care Harbor Fairplex.
Care Harbor Fairplex provided free medical, dental and
mega-clinic to Pomona vision care to about 1,400 patients over two days with the
help of more than 1,700 volunteers, said Care Harbor
By Rodney Tanaka
CEO Donald Manelli. The value of care delivered was
undreds of thousands of Southern California estimated at more than $1 million.
Hresidents are without health insurance and do not
“It’s not really Care Harbor that’s doing this. This is the
have a medical home. The problem is staggering and
1,700 volunteers who are here, and they are drawn from
requires a massive response. Care Harbor has addressed
this community,” Manelli said on the first day of the
this need by holding nine free mega health clinics in
clinic. “Care Harbor is this community coming together
downtown Los Angeles over the past several years,
to take care of its own. That’s the part of this event that
serving about 25,000 patients and providing close to
I’m proudest of. It’s really a grassroots response to a huge
140,000 free services for an estimated value of care
community need, and we’re very grateful to those who
exceeding $20 million.
have made it happen.”
Western University of Health Sciences, in collaboration
Among the key local supporters were WesternU, Fairplex,
with other major local institutions, answered the call to
Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis and Pomona
help bring Care Harbor to Pomona. WesternU played a
Valley Hospital Medical Center (PVHMC).
26 | WESTERNU VIEW Summer/Fall 2019