Dr. Hyoseong Nuna Kim to succeed Dr. Perry Pong as the next Chief Medical Officer of the Charles B. Wang Community Health Center

The Charles B. Wang Community Health Center (CBWCHC) announced today the appointment of Dr. Hyoseong Nuna Kim as its next Chief Medical Officer. In this role Dr. Kim will lead the continued expansion of clinical services for underserved communities.

Dr. Kim succeeds Dr. Perry Pong, who is stepping down from the role after 15 years as the Chief Medical Officer. Dr. Pong will remain at CBWCHC to help launch a new branch of the Health Center dedicated to teaching and training current and future clinicians for careers in community health.

Dr. Kim, who graduated from Brown University and Brown University Medical School, completed her pediatric residency in 2001 at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City. Following this, she served with the Indian Health Service in the Navajo Nation, honing her skills in delivering care to diverse and underserved populations. Dr. Kim returned to New York City in 2003 and has held numerous clinical leadership roles at Charles B. Wang Community Health Center since. She led much of the Health Center’s expansion in Queens, one of the fastest growing areas for Asian-American New Yorkers. Her work earned her the Doctor’s Day Award for Outstanding Community Provider in 2011. In recent years, she has overseen CBWCHC’s role in fighting COVID-19, including launching vaccination sites during the pandemic.

“We are excited to welcome Dr. Kim as our next Chief Medical Officer," said Kaushal Challa, Chief Executive Officer of CBWCHC. "Her extensive experience, unwavering commitment, and deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by our patient community make her the ideal leader to guide us forward in our mission."

“Dr. Kim's readiness and exceptional capabilities make her the perfect candidate to spearhead the organization's continued commitment to delivering culturally responsive health care to New Yorkers in need,” commented Dr. Perry Pong.

“I am honored to step into my role as the next Chief Medical Officer. Moving CBWCHC forward in its mission to deliver high-quality care to the diverse and underserved communities of New York is a goal I share with the Health Center,” Dr. Kim shared.

Dr. Perry Pong, who is stepping down as Chief Medical Officer after 15 years, is an internal medicine doctor with over 29 years of experience. Dr. Pong will continue to treat patients at CBWCHC, while helping to launch a new branch of the Health Center focused on clinical education. During his tenure as CMO, Dr. Pong has helped steer the Health Center’s growth and established it as a national leader in clinical quality metrics. He credits participating in the Health Center’s Project AHEAD internship program in 1981 for introducing him to the health needs of New York’s Asian American community and nurturing his aspirations while in college. This translated to a lifelong love of caring for patients and teaching primary care medicine. Dr. Pong returned to CBWCHC from Jacobi Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine in 1997 and is now also an assistant clinical professor at the City University of New York School of Medicine as well as Weill Cornell Medical College.

“I am so proud of our staff who have taken their lessons from their work here at CBWCHC to become nurses, doctors, social workers, dieticians, dentists, and other professionals,” said Dr. Pong. “That is truly giving back to the community.”

Kaushal shared that “Dr. Pong has been a wonderful leader for us. His focus on putting patients first, and on nurturing and recognizing our amazing staff, has guided our success in serving the community. We are blessed that he will continue to advance our mission by helping to develop future generations of mission-driven clinicians.”

“We are heartfelt and grateful to Dr. Pong for his steadfast leadership of over 15 years. He has made us more inspired to serve the health care needs of our community. We look forward to your new role to further grow our talent to meet our community’s health care needs.” stated Owh Kian Ong, Chairperson of the CBWCHC Board of Directors.

Rose Duhan, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Community Health Care Association of New York State (CHCANYS), expressed her thoughts on both Dr. Kim’s and Dr. Pong’s transitions: “CHCANYS is thrilled to welcome Dr. Hyoseong Nuna Kim as Charles B. Wang Community Health Center’s new Chief Medical Officer. CHCs are essential to the health and well-being of the communities they serve, and Dr. Kim is the perfect choice to build upon Dr. Pong’s incredible work in the community. I congratulate them both on their new roles.”

About Charles B. Wang Community Health Center

For more than 50 years, the Charles B. Wang Community Health Center (CBWCHC) has been a leading healthcare provider dedicated to delivering high-quality, affordable health care to underserved communities in Manhattan and Queens, with a focus on Asian Americans. Open 7 days a week, CBWCHC accepts most major health insurance plans and offers comprehensive primary care services to children and adults at 6 locations in Manhattan and Queens. CBWCHC’s legacy of excellence is nationally recognized with its commitment to ensure equitable access to health care for all, regardless of ability to pay, language spoken, or immigration history.