A Letter from Nickolas D. Cooper

Nickolas Cooper | Open Door Family Medical Center

Open Door Patient and Local Business Owner

“I am beyond words and so thankful for Open Door.

Having the ability to wake up and be pain-free, to smile without being embarrassed, or just to be able to engage in a conversation and not rush through because your teeth hurt – I could not have imagined this, as recently as last year. But Open Door gave me that gift.

I am a small business owner (and employee of that business) and during the pandemic, I lost my health insurance for not working enough hours.  For the first time, I was faced with finding health care and dental services on my own. I wasn’t sure where to go or who to call, but Open Door was the first to offer me a timely appointment and reassure me that I would get the care I needed.

Scheduling my first dental appointment visit at Open Door may have been the best decision of my life. The staff demonstrated compassion and wisdom from the time I received my initial visit and X-rays – they even took an X-ray of every tooth to make sure they did not miss anything. They coordinated with my schedule to find time when I could come for an appointment. I subsequently have been able to renew my business/personal insurance. However, I chose a policy that ensures that my care can continue with Open Door –I simply could not imagine moving to a new dental practice.

I have now received care at Open Door for over eight months and I have not had any tooth pain for the first time in many years. I want to express my sincere appreciation.

I am a professional photographer and Open Door has truly opened my eyes to the importance of caring for individuals and families when they need it most.  Because Open Door gave me so much and so to give back to Open Door, my company proudly donated our services to photograph mothers and babies at two wonderful Open Door events. To see the smiles of other patients who have been impacted by Open Door has been deeply gratifying.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you Open Door for everything you have done for me – allowing me, for the first time in half a decade, to truly be appreciative of every moment of every day.”

-Nickolas D. Cooper

About Open Door Family Medical Center and Foundation
Open Door Family Medical Center provides health care and wellness programs to individuals and families in need throughout Westchester, Dutchess, Putnam and Ulster Counties. A pioneer Federally Qualified Health Center, Open Door provides more than 300,000 patient visits annually and serves 63,000 individual patients who might not otherwise have access. Open Door offers integrated services and a holistic approach to building healthier communities. Primary medical care, dental care, integrated behavioral health care, clinical nutrition, wellness programs, and chronic disease management are the foundation of its clinical programs. Founded as a free clinic in 1972, Open Door’s mission of building healthier communities through accessible, equitable, culturally competent health care has led to site and service expansions. Today, Open Door operates centers in Brewster, Mamaroneck, Mount Kisco, Ossining, Port Chester, and Sleepy Hollow, in addition to nine School-Based Health Centers in the Port Chester, Webutuck, and Ossining School Districts, a mobile dental van in Mount Kisco, and a dental practice in Saugerties, NY. Open Door is accredited by the Joint Commission and is recognized by the National Committee on Quality Assurance as a Patient-Centered Medical Home. Open Door achieves clinical results that consistently surpass national benchmarks for patient outcomes. For additional information, please contact Elisabeth Gilbert, Senior Director of Development, at 914-502-1417.

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