Holy Name Press Releases

Korean Medical Program at Holy Name Medical Center Celebrates 5th Anniversary

May 30, 2013

Holy Name Medical Center's Korean Medical Program (KMP) held its 5th Anniversary Gala on Thursday, May 16 at Montammy Golf Club, Alpine, NJ. The event raised $400,000, which will benefit KMP's community outreach programs and services, such as free hepatitis screenings, mental health counseling services, diabetes screenings and treatment programs, an annual health fair, and free mammograms, clinical exams, and follow-up care to uninsured, low-income, Korean-American members of the community.  These outreach programs serve more than 10,000 people annually, with an emphasis on education, prevention, and early detection of disease.

Opening remarks were given by Jane F. Ellis, Vice President of Marketing/Public Relations and Community Health, and the invocation was delivered by Sister Anne Hayes of Holy Name Medical Center. Michael Maron, President/CEO of Holy Name, along with Hee K. Yang, MD, Medical Director of the KMP, and Kyung Hee Choi, Vice President of the Korean Medical Program, welcomed more than 400 guests to the award presentation.

Highlights of the night included award presentations recognizing the dedication of physicians and philanthropic groups to the KMP over the past five years.  The Humanitarian Award was given to the Grace and Mercy Foundation. The Corporate Leadership Award was given to Gilead Sciences, Inc. The Physician of the Year Award.  Kenneth Park, DO, received the Physician of the Year Award. The Minister for Health and Welfare from the Republic of Korea presented an Appreciation Plaque to Michael Maron for his leadership and dedication to improving the health of the Korean community in the greater NY and NJ area.

Over the past five years, the KMP's philanthropic partners have included 775 donors, who have contributed $2.9 million in cash, and $571,000 in products and services. The Grace and Mercy Foundation has donated over $500,000. The Gilead Sciences Foundation has donated over $200,000. The Korean American Community Foundation, the Southpole Foundation and the Robin Hood Foundation have each contributed between $50,000 - $100,000.

"In just five years, the KMP's patient volume has almost doubled, burgeoning beyond expectations and positioning the program as a national model for culturally focused healthcare," said Michael Maron. Having established the program with 35 Korean-American physicians, there are now 80 doctors who specialize in internal medicine, cardiology, obstetrics/gynecology, liver disease, oncology, endocrinology, surgery, and many other disciplines. The number of annual patient visits - primarily by first generation immigrants - to Holy Name Medical Center and KMP satellite locations in Closter and Englewood Cliffs has grown to 40,000, a 95% increase over the program's first year.

Korean-friendly customer service and amenities that are in line with cultural traditions have made Holy Name, the Korean community's hospital of choice. Visitors are greeted in the lobby by customer representatives, patients are offered warm fluids instead of ice water and new mothers are served seaweed soup, and Korean-speaking drivers transport elderly patients from their homes to the Medical Center. By honoring the uniqueness of every individual and personalizing care, these practices engender trust and a sense of security, making patients feel at home in "their" hospital, Holy Name.