Multicultural Health Foundation

Multicultural Health Foundation joined Live Well San Diego as a recognized partner on April 20^th 2017. Since 2012, Multicultural Health Foundation has worked 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 that will lead to the elimination of racial and ethnic health disparities.

The foundation was started by two visionary physicians, Rodney G. Hood and Richard O. Butcher, who have been practicing medicine for decades in Southeastern San Diego. They saw firsthand the effects health disparities have on their patients and families and have committed their lives’ work to alleviating them. In 2012, the Multicultural Medical Group created the foundation as its corporate social responsibility initiative to leverage the benefits of collaborating with physicians, healthcare providers and community- and faith-based leaders to encourage wellness in the multicultural community and advance health equity.

The Multicultural Health Foundation unifies the fragmented independent physicians’ sector, which makes up the largest medical safety net for indigent patients. They collaborate 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. Building on that business model, the foundation is developing evidence-based, sustainable strategies to guide and educate multicultural residents to protect their health

The foundation has three programs: 

• The Patient Health Improvement Initiative brings clinical and social services together to help chronically ill patients move from medical crisis to long-term wellness.
• The Health Equity Action Think Tank will lead research to alleviate health disparities in collaboration with a variety of partners, to identify best practices, replicate effective models and to advocate for changes in policy that advance health equity.
• The Multicultural Wellness Center is being designed to teach practical ways residents can manage and prevent chronic diseases.

The Multicultural Health Foundation is committed to advancing the Live Well San Diego vision by helping all of San Diego County’s communities achieve health equity, improved longevity and a better quality of life.