SB Neighborhood Clinic Pediatrician Named 2013 Champion of Primary Care
Dr. Sharma is a graduate of the Louisiana State University School of Medicine and Columbia University School of Public Health; completing her residency at Montefiore Medical Center, New York. Sharma has been working at the Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics since 2006 and is characterized by her passion for her work, according to her colleagues. “My main job is to be an advocate for children and their families. I truly enjoy working at the clinic and focusing on serving the underserved,” said Dr. Sharma.
SBNC is one of the largest primary care providers on the South Coast that serves the uninsured and underserved populations of Santa Barbara County. Over 16,000 patients annually are seen between the three medical and one dental clinic, with the number of clinician visits exceeding 56,000 and total patient visits exceeding 70,000.
“Dr. Sharma is amazing. With a degree from Columbia University she could work anywhere, but she really enjoys working at Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics and is dedicated to the mission. With the implementation of the Affordable Care Act next year, an important goal at the clinics is to focus on front-end care so patients are kept out of the intensive care unit,” said Charles Fenzi, MD, Chief Medical Officer at Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics. To that end, the neighborhood clinics have developed educational programs for chronic illnesses that are common in the area, including asthma which is a topic that Dr. Sharma is particularly active in.
The Pacific Coast Business Times 2013 Champions of Healthcare honors and profiles key leaders of healthcare and related industries. There will be a luncheon to honor this year’s champions accompanied by a panel discussion on the subject of this year’s theme “Bending the Cost Curve: Partnerships for Affordable Care,” on June 21, 2013 at the newly re-opened El Encanto hotel.
The mission of Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics is to provide high quality, comprehensive, affordable healthcare to all people, regardless of their ability to pay, in an environment that fosters respect, compassion and dignity.
