My first in-person fellowship meeting in Sacramento brought chills of excitement. What I heard that day from inspiring speakers, including former fellows at the forefront of public health and policy change, was inspiring. I realized this is what I had been looking for to complement my direct patient care by serving my community in a meaningful way.

As physicians, we learn to make rapid assessments and come up with solutions for our patients’ problems, sometimes within minutes. Changing policy, environment, and systems requires a different approach that is not taught in medical school. This is where the Champion Provider Fellowship comes into play.

When my current supervisor, Dr. Gina Johnson, a previous Champion Provider Fellow, recommended I apply to the same fellowship I immediately jumped at the opportunity because I wanted to do more than just spend a few minutes with each patient. Admittedly, I did not really grasp the full scope of what I was signing up for. I recently obtained a master’s degree in healthcare quality and safety management but was still figuring out how to apply this to my clinical work and improve the lives of my patients.

At the onboarding, I met a previous fellow, Dr. Lena Al-Sarraf, who is also a medical provider in Los Angeles County. She shared with me about her project with the LA Food Bank addressing food insecurity, which she pushed to implement during her time as a Fellow. Dr. Al-Sarraf’s story and her project had my mind racing and as soon as I was back at my clinic, I called my local health department and CalFresh Healthy Living liaison, Fatinah Darwish, to discuss how to pick up where Dr. Al-Sarraf left off. Fatinah connected me with the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank. We discussed two possible projects that I could pursue--a mobile food pantry or storing food on-site at individual clinics. This conversation led to numerous meetings between myself, the LA Regional Food Bank, and both outreach department and CalFresh Healthy Living team at my clinic, Northeast Valley Health Corporation (NEVHC). Building on the years of Dr. Gina Johnson’s work to combat food insecurity, including the two-question food insecurity screening already in place at one of the clinics where I was already working, and the strong partnership and guidance from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, we started a monthly Mobile Food Pantry at one of the NEVHC sites. We launched the pantry in June of 2024 and more than 300 families showed up! At our August event, I was moved to tears when I saw the line of people waiting an hour before the pantry opened. I joined several volunteers, and for two hours, we handed out a variety of nutritious foods, including frozen chicken, beans, rice, avocados, nectarines, walnuts, and almonds, to a continuous stream of families. One of the clinic staff, Denise Torres (Program Manager II, Patient & Community Wellness), working alongside me, took in the moment as she told me that serving like this had always been one of her work dreams.

I am so grateful for the opportunity to be a catalyst for change, to be able to stand on the shoulders of previous fellows and build upon the work that they started so that we can have a broader impact in our community. The Champion Provider Fellowship Program made my dream of doing more for my patients a reality. The Fellowship helped me to think differently, look for creative solutions, and see health in a more meaningful way. With new connections, knowledge, and strong support, I have my eye on my next goal. I plan to work on having non-perishable foods available at our individual clinic sites and, hopefully, fresh foods down the road to ensure no one leaves our clinics hungry.

As doctors and dentists, we’re always taught to go big, but I’ve learned never to underestimate all the small steps you are taking along the way. Don’t hesitate to go for the lowest-hanging fruit because you think it’s not as consequential. More importantly, put yourself out there by networking and exchanging ideas!

Though my fellowship term is coming to an end, my passion for doing the work to serve my community has only just begun. I thank my mentors – past Fellows – who paved the way and not only gave me a path to follow but encouraged me to make my own path.

Dr. Saima Khan, MD, FAAP, MS-HQSM is a Board-Certified Pediatrician at Northeast Valley Health Corporation, which is a multi-specialty FQHC (Federally Qualified Healthcare Center) in the San Fernando and Santa Clarita Valleys, where she’s been working at since June 2022. Prior, she worked at various other sites in Southern California since 2006 (in Imperial and San Bernadino County at an FQHC, Rural Health Clinic, private clinics as well as online at Teladoc, Inc.). Having traveled frequently internationally and having seen poverty in third-world countries, she always wanted to serve underserved patients, which she was surprised and saddened to find in the US. Thus, she feels honored to be able to serve some of them here in California.