Created by L.A. Care, the Dr. Robert E. Tranquada Health Care Safety Net Awards are
intended to help community clinics in Los Angeles County invest in strategic infrastructure
improvement projects that would help position clinics for long-term growth. Recently,
KHEIR received a $500,000 award to build a new imaging department.  
Korean American women have disproportionately high fatality rates from breast cancer
when compared to other minority groups and even more alarming, low screening rates. The
construction of a permanent imaging department at KHEIR, in partnership with St. Vincent
Medical Center, aims to change this distressing statistic by offering free and low-cost breast
cancer screenings on a consistent basis. Screenings for osteoporosis, a disease that causes
bones to easily fracture and is prevalent among Asian American women will also be
provided. The disease is easily treatable and preventable with regular bone density tests. In
addition, patients will be able to receive tuberculosis screenings and X-ray services.
The award is named after Dr. Robert E. Tranquada, a founding board member of L.A. Care.
Dr. Tranquada has dedicated his life to public health. He helped establish and direct the
Watts Health Center, which is now known as the Watts Health Foundation. Later, he served
as the medical director of L.A. County+USC Medical Center. He was a member of the
Christopher Commission and chaired the Los Angeles County Task Force on health care
access. He has also served as dean of medicine at USC and director of the health
administration program at the School of Public Administration. Although Tranquada retired
in 1997, he continues to devote himself to public health, including serving on L.A. Care's
board of governors for more than 10 years and as board chair for four years.
The KHEIR-S. Mark Taper Foundation Community Clinic currently offers free breast
cancer screenings and other women's health services. To make an appointment, please call
(213) 637-1070 from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.