Ruth Sapatanga became a patient at the Open Door Family Medical Center site in Ossining shortly after arriving here in 2017 from her native Ecuador.
This month, as part of its ongoing goal to meet the needs of the people the federally qualified health care center serves, Open Door has added Sapatanga to its Medical Center Board of Directors.
“Community health centers are medical practices that are owned by the community; unlike other medical groups we are not owned by the practicing physicians,” said Lindsay Farrell, President and CEO of Open Door. “We’ve been very deliberate in identifying community members to serve on our governing board who represent the people we serve. We were introduced to Ruth by another board member who knew of her energy and commitment. She’s a go-getter who will make important contributions in the board room.”
Sapatanga, who lives in Ossining, has been active as an educator and soccer coach both here and in South America, and is now working in a management capacity at Roberto Floors, a locally-owned business in Ossining. She holds a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Cuenca in Ecuador.
“I’m thankful for this opportunity and want to continue to get more involved in the community,” she said. “I personally know the struggle of many people who come here, some of whom are without documents. They need to be better educated in order to stay healthy. I want to be part of getting them the information they need so Open Door can help them.”
Open Door Family Medical Center’s mission has remained consistent since it first opened in 1972: to provide high-quality, affordable, efficient health care to the community, particularly low-income, underserved residents.
Today, Open Door cares for over 60,000 adults and children every year in Westchester, Putnam and Ulster counties – with more than 300,000 patient visits and over 400 babies delivered annually – regardless of ability to pay. Open Door provides medical, dental, and behavioral health care across its health centers, and offers specialty services including pediatrics, women’s health (OB/GYN), podiatry, optometry, and more. Open Door currently operates health centers in Ossining, Port Chester, Sleepy Hollow, Mount Kisco, Brewster and Mamaroneck, as well as seven school-based health centers, a dental van, and a comprehensive dental facility in Saugerties. For more information, visit www.opendoormedical.org.
