Bridging the Gap to Specialty Care: The WeCareJax Model with Angela Strain

About this episode

Angela Strain discusses the WeCareJax model for connecting uninsured individuals to specialty care and the barriers they face.

In this episode of The Health Disparities Podcast, host Dr. Mary O’Connor talks with Angela Strain, Executive Director of We Care Jax. For over 30 years, this organization has connected uninsured and under-resourced neighbors to lifesaving specialty care. Angela shares powerful patient stories and draws on years of experience to show what it takes to remove barriers, build trust, and create a safety net that truly helps people. She explains real-world obstacles like transportation, language barriers, and the financial burden of illness, and highlights community-driven solutions that help people get the care they need. Angela and Dr. O’Connor discuss We Care Jax’s approach and share stories from the patients they serve, exploring topics such as: Community health workers use persistence, trust, and cultural insight to uncover the real reasons behind missed appointments or labels like “non‑compliant.” Common specialty needs include cardiology, pulmonology, oncology, and advanced imaging, supported by a network of volunteer physicians. Transportation support, hotel stays, translation services, and food access function as essential parts of healthcare, not optional add‑ons. Florida’s…

People in this episode

Host: Dr. Mary O’Connor

Guest: Angela Strain

Topics covered

• specialty care
• healthcare access
• community health
• patient stories
• health disparities
• policy issues

Keywords

• health disparities
• specialty care
• community health workers
• transportation barriers
• patient stories
• healthcare solutions

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: We Care Jax

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