lavonne

Dr. LaVonne Ansari, or “Dr. A” as she is affectionately known, is the chief executive officer and executive director of the Community Health Center of Buffalo–a Federally Qualified Health Center with five locations in Erie and Niagara Counties. 

The Center provides quality, culturally sensitive, preventive, and comprehensive medical care to underserved communities through state-of-the-art health and business practices in a clinical teaching environment to reduce health disparities.

Dr. Ansari has lived in Buffalo, New York, for over 35 years and has spent decades fighting for equity in healthcare and to “create a healthier community one patient at a time,” says Dr. Ansari. 

“Medicine requires flow, unity, and continuity. Healthcare can be complex and even more so for the underserved–it’s embedded with regulations, rules, and social and cultural issues, such as structural racism. We, along with our community partners, are sensitive to these issues and work to create a stress-free and positive experience for those in need.” 

One such partnership is with Univera Healthcare.

“Partnerships like the one we have with the Community Health Center of Buffalo are key to the success of creating a healthier community,” says Art Wingerter, president of Univera Healthcare. “It also allows us as the health insurer to better understand the perspective of the providers in our community and the challenges they face daily.

“There are multiple layers to a partnership like this, including financial support during the COVID-19 pandemic with personal protective equipment and collaborations with providers to learn and address challenges they face to help individuals with their care.”

To heighten awareness,The Community Health Center of Buffalo, in collaboration with Buffalo Documentary Project, created a 22-minute film exploring the Center’s work during the coronavirus pandemic. The film explores how COVID-19 disproportionately affected communities of color, and highlights some of the issues and inequities of our healthcare system. In the documentary, called Fight for Good, Dr. Ansari and two of her lead physicians reveal their personal motivations and higher aspirations to bring health equity to the communities in which they serve.

To learn more about the Community Health Center of Buffalo and to see the film, Fight For Good, email pciotta@chcb.net