To bring health justice and wellness to the multicultural communities of San Diego County by focusing resources on the most vulnerable populations with community-based wellness strategies, social-clinical interventions, and research. The Multicultural Health Foundation is born from the conviction that every member of the community should have equal opportunity to reach their full health potential, no matter where they live, their skin color or income level. Butcher, began the Multicultural Medical Group in 1993, along with a handful of healthcare professionals. They saw firsthand the effects poverty and neglect had on their patients, mostly from communities of color, who were far sicker than residents in neighboring parts of San Diego County. Even as the health of most Americans has steadily improved in the last two decades, these patients continue to battle chronic diseases and die earlier at far greater rates than their neighbors. This has staggering social and economic costs to these individuals, their communities and the entire nation. The two doctors brought together a small group of caring professionals in 2004 (pictured above) to conceptualize a foundation that would alleviate health disparities, knowing it was a “Mission Impossible” undertaking. The foundation became a reality in June of 2012, when it was established as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. It is a corporate social responsibility initiative of the Multicultural Medical Group, which created it to champion health equity in disadvantaged communities. The foundation is the only organization in San Diego County unifying the fragmented independent physicians’ sector, which makes up the largest medical safety net for indigent patients. The foundation also collaborates with insurance companies, community clinics, hospitals, the public sector, philanthropists, faith-based volunteers, and most importantly, the patients themselves to advance effective health and prevention programs. Whether it’s engaging multicultural residents one-on-one or pressing institutions to change their policies, the foundation is driven by the principle that everyone has equal value in the pursuit of good health.
