James Jang, MD
Helping Low-Income and Homeless Populations
“I find profound joy and meaning in taking care of not only my patients, but also those in communities outside our system who are in greatest need.”
Dr. Jang’s introduction to San Francisco City Impact came in 2012 at a conference hosted by the American College of Cardiology. Representatives from the nonprofit, which provides medical and social support to the 47,000 poor and homeless living in the city’s low-income Tenderloin district, took the stage and invited physician attendees to volunteer their services at the organization’s upcoming heart health fair.
Dr. Jang, whom colleagues describe as a deeply compassionate healer, jumped at the opportunity. “People needing medical care were lined up down the street the day of the fair,” he says. “There weren’t enough physicians on hand to help, so I felt I had to do something more.”
Today Dr. Jang is the chief medical officer of City Impact’s Health and Wellness Clinic, a free medical and dental clinic for which he helped obtain licensing in 2014, in addition to his work as a cardiologist on behalf of The Permanente Medical Group. To date, he has volunteered nearly 2,000 hours with City Impact, treating patients, developing programs, and generating support and community awareness.
“TPMG has supported this effort from the very beginning and encouraged me every step of the way,” says Dr. Jang. “It speaks volumes about our organization’s dedication to community health.”
Dr. Jang’s contributions to City Impact include helping create the Home Visit and Patient Advocacy program, which brings social services and medical care to impoverished individuals living in residential hotels. The program, which Dr. Jang secured with a Kaiser Permanente Community Benefit grant in 2015, has reconnected 30% of its patient population with the health care system through primary care networks and services. He also procured grants and donations from other companies to help support clinic operations, install an electronic health record system, and upgrade technological hardware and infrastructure.
“Dr. Jang encompasses the best we have as a TPMG physician,” says Efren Rosas, MD, physician-in-chief at KP San Jose. “His passion and commitment make the world a better place.”