At Kaiser Permanente, we are committed to advancing the health of our members and the communities we serve, and community service is one of the most important ways we do this.
For more than a decade, the David Lawrence Community Service Awards have recognized employees and physicians throughout Kaiser Permanente who champion outstanding volunteer activities to improve the health of our communities. We are excited to announce that two individuals from our region were selected among a total of 14 awarded from across the organization—Hong-Hahn Chau, MD, Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group OB/GYN, and Paulette Crawford, Supervisor, Clinical Pharmacy Services.
“I volunteer to give back to people in need in my communities, both my local community here in Northern Virginia, and communities of my birth country of Vietnam,” Dr. Chau said. “I find that volunteering helps balance my personal life and my work with the Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group. Locally, I volunteer at the Arlington Free Clinic, providing gynecological care to uninsured women. Whether addressing an acute problem or need, or giving a cancer screening exam, I always feel so much appreciation from those women and gratification in return.”
Dr. Chau’s “far away” volunteering activities have included participating in medical missions to provide primary and gynecological care, including cervical cancer screenings and treatment of precancerous findings, to underserved populations of rural areas of Vietnam.
“Some of those patients had not seen a doctor for such a long time that advanced stages pathology are commonly seen,” Dr. Chau explained. “Those experiences give me great appreciation of the wonderful health care access and screening opportunities available in our well-integrated Kaiser Permanente health care system.”
Paulette is a longtime leader of her local Kiwanis Club in Virginia where she has led several community events, including a weekend reading program for families, a free weekend meals program for low-income children, and a fundraiser for local college scholarships.
“I am so grateful to my colleagues for nominating me for this award and to Kaiser Permanente for recognizing my service,” Paulette said. “Like Kaiser Permanente, the Kiwanis vision is to be a positive influence so that one day, all children will wake up in communities that believe in them, nurture them, and provide the support they need to thrive. I am excited and honored to be a part of organizations that are so perfectly aligned.”
Congratulations again to Dr. Chau and Paulette Crawford! Kaiser Permanente will make a $10,000 charitable donation on behalf of each winner to the nonprofit organization of his or her choice.
Read more about all of the winners on Inside KP.
