In this edition of the NYC Free Clinic's NYC Healthcare Access Advocate, read about:

• NYCFC releases Bridging the Gap: NYCFC Annual Report 2004-2005
• NYCFC launches new website
• NYCFC benefit auction raises $2,226 to provide healthcare access for NY's uninsured

On March 19th, eight of America’s top comedians joined forces with the NYCFC for the 2nd annual “Stand-up for Healthcare” comedy and dinner event. 350 guests turned out for a night of comedy with a cause and the outstanding comedians Jim Norton, Greg Giraldo, Anu Kalra, Todd Lynn, Dwayne Perkins, DC Benny, Chelsea Peretti, and Cory Kahaney surpassed expectations. Not even the breathtaking view from the elegant Rosenthal Pavilion in the Kimmel Center at Washington Square could take the attention away from the jokesters on stage

All things said and done, the event raised just over $20,000, a tremendous show of support from our sponsors, including the NYU College of Dentistry, the Leon H. Charney Heart Rhythm Center, the NYU Department of Orthopedic Surgery, as well as the NYU Faculty Senators Council, the NYU Neonatology Program, the NYU Office of Government and Community Service, the NYU Department of Medical Parasitology Department, and the NYU Department of Emergency Medicine. The NYCFC is proud to offer completely free service to our uninsured patients, including no-cost referrals as well as their primary care visit, vaccinations, lab work-ups, and social services screening, and it is only through successful events like this that the NYCFC will be able to continue to do so. Just as important, however, is raising the awareness of the needs of the uninsured right here in our community and to see so many caring and concerned guests turn-out for “Stand-up for Healthcare” is what truly made this event a success.

Is There a Doctor in the House?

The NYCFC functions through the tireless work of its student and faculty volunteers and we are looking for new physicians to join us in our efforts to bridge the gap facing the uninsured of New York City. Part of our mission is to continue to expand the ways we provide for our community and as we consistently fill to capacity our Saturday clinics we feel ready and able to move to the next step. This next step includes increasing even more our Saturday patient capacity and holding concurrent specialty clinic days monthly, but, unfortunately, all our good intentions cannot provide the momentum for this, only physician and nurse practitioner volunteers can. If you or someone you know is interested in finding out ways to volunteer for the NYCFC please follow the link on our website to take the first step!

Meet the Directors

Maura Madou, Co-director of Management

Maura, a Palo Alto, California native and graduate of UC Santa Barbara, was attracted to New York City by its busyness and diversity. She is very happy with her decision to make the move, although she doesn't think she'll ever get used to the weather! Maura feels lucky to be a part of the NYC Free Clinic because she is able to be involved with the surrounding communities and get to know New Yorkers and New York's health care systems as much as possible during her stay in The Big Apple.

Jolyn Taylor, Co-director of Development

Hailing from the South, Jolyn came to NYC for the first time when interviewing at NYU and was hooked by the city that never sleeps. After hearing NYU's motto of public service, her decision was made and she became a part of the SoM class of 2010. A chemistry and Spanish major in college, she has studied on three continents and hopes to see the rest, though it seems NYC has a piece of everything right here!