Union Community Health Center

The Bronx Celebrates Dominican Heritage Month; Borough Leaders Honored in Santa Domingo

By SÍLE MOLONEY
  Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson held her annual Dominican Heritage Month celebration on Thursday, Feb. 16, at Grand Slam Banquet Hall, 478 East Tremont Avenue in Tremont, with live entertainment by Folkloric Dance Group/Folklorico and DJ Lex, with special greetings by consulate general of the Dominican Republic, Eligio Jaquez.   Gibson honored various community leaders, including president of the New York State Latino Restaurant Bar & Lounge Association and owner of Mon Amour Coffee & Wine, Jeffrey Garcia; winner of the Best Animated Short Film at Bridge Fest and children’s book author, Luz Maria Mack; president of Dominicanos USA, Eddie Cuesta.   The recipient of the youth


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UCHC’s Mildred Casiano Honored as Woman of Distinction

By SARAH HUFFMAN
  Mildred Casiano MSW, LCSW-R, MPH, director of behavioral health at Union Community Health Center (UCHC), located in the Fordham Heights neighborhood, was honored as a 2021 Woman of Distinction by State Sen. Gustavo Rivera (S.D. 33) during a ceremony held at the center, on Oct. 22.   During her acceptance speech, Casiano thanked Douglas York Ph.D., CEO of UCHC, her behavior health team, and the entire UCSC family along with friends and family who came out to support her on the day. She said she felt “overwhelmed and overjoyed” but overall, “truly blessed,” by the honor.   “I would


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Tech Savvy Students Connect Elderly with Healthcare Services

By JASON GONZALEZ
  If the age of the coronavirus pandemic could be summed up in one sentence, it would read, “The world has changed – forever”. Who knew that face masks would become a part of regular attire, or that terms such as “sheltering in place”, “essential workers”, and “social distancing” would become part of our everyday vocabulary?   Indeed, the universe has transformed in ways human beings never thought possible. For almost six months now, large gatherings in the City have been cancelled, indoor dining is prohibited, and sporting events are being held in empty venues.   Of course, no other


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Dental Assistants Forced to Care for COVID-19 Patients and Later Fired, Protested on May 26

By José A. Giralt & Síle Moloney
  Nine dental assistants who said they were fired earlier this month by Union Community Health Center (Union) after they were forced to work in a COVID-19 hospital ward protested outside St. Barnabas Hospital on Tuesday, May 25, 2020 to have their jobs reinstated and to receive adequate compensation they say is still owed to them.   As reported last week by Norwood News, the assistants, who were transferred from Union to St. Barnabas Hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic and reassigned from their usual dental duties to care for COVID-19 patients, cancelled a previously scheduled protest last Friday when the


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