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Medicine (2006-2014)
Tzu Chi in the USA
1989 – 2014

fruition, including eight consecutive days of In Southern California, the number of
medical treatments in Northern California in permanent clinic locations also increased to
2011, during which time Tzu Chi volunteers serve more communities. Tzu Chi Community
treated nearly fourteen thousand patients. Clinic in South El Monte, in operation since
Cooperative projects with other organizations, 2005, opened a dental clinic in March 2008.
including Care Harbor, Kaiser Permanente, the In November 2010, an additional Tzu Chi
Flying Doctors, Molina Healthcare, One Legacy, Community Clinic was opened in Wilmington
and more, resulted in the genesis of several to assist underserved communities south of
successful major annual medical clinics held Los Angeles. On the occasion of the Tzu Chi
throughout Southern and Central California, Medical Mission’s twentieth anniversary in
including CareNow LA (now Care Harbor) since the United States, and in response to new
2011, Care 4 a Healthy I.E. (in the Inland Empire) healthcare regulations, Buddhist Tzu Chi Free
since 2012, and Healthy Fresno since 2013. Clinic in Alhambra, California, officially became
In 2009, volunteers began offering twice- Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Center in 2013.
weekly dental care each winter to Los Angeles Through all these activities, medical
County homeless individuals through a volunteers throughout the United States and
partnership with the East San Gabriel Valley abroad built on their growing relationships
Coalition for the Homeless and several local with local communities and collaborative
churches. In 2012, Tzu Chi Medical Foundation partnerships with like-minded organizations
signed an agreement with the Association of to both broaden and deepen the scope of their
Organ Procurement Organizations (AOPO) care to the many individuals who lack access to
to jointly promote cornea, organ, and tissue medical insurance and affordable healthcare.
donation throughout the country, in order Whether traveling to remote communities and
to bring assistance to individuals in need of scenes of disaster or welcoming patients to
transplants and change the mindset of the permanent clinic locations, medical volunteers
people in communities hesitant to donate delivered compassionate care with a warm
organs after death. smile and a loving embrace.

Tzu Chi Vision Mobile Clinic was added in 2013
www.us.tzuchi.org | 105
to conduct eye exams and make eyeglasses.