CommuniCare - About Us

Our Motivation

In New York State, a staggering 2.7 million individuals live below the federal poverty line. An additional 300,000 New York residents are uninsured or undocumented. These individuals are often marginalized and overlooked, bearing a large burden of preventable diseases such as hypertension and type 2 diabetes disproportionately impact low-income and uninsured individuals. In New York alone, over a third of the population struggles with uncontrolled hypertension, with rates exceeding 50% in certain counties.

Despite the existence of over 1,300 clinical and social healthcare interventions designed specifically for under-resourced communities in New York, there is a significant lack of awareness and under-utilization of these services. Communicare is a startup nonprofit dedicated to bridging this gap by connecting individuals with the healthcare resources they need.

Our Goal

By increasing awareness and utilization of free healthcare resources, we hope to alleviate the burden of preventable diseases within these communities. Our goal is to empower individuals with the knowledge and tools they need to make informed healthcare decisions, ultimately improving their health and well-being.

What We Do

We work closely with community partners, social workers, and medical professionals throughout New York to hold workshops that educate low-income individuals about free clinical and social healthcare resources available in their vicinity. Our workshops provide education and guidance for individuals with factors that may limit their ability to receive healthcare, such as insurance/financial status or citizenship.

Additionally, our activities are supported by a free, easy-to-use app that connects individuals to clinical and social resources based on factors such as insurance status, language sensitivity, distance preferences, and more.

Our Story

As a pre-medical student at Cornell University, Samhita Korukonda has volunteered at several community health centers across New York state. In particular, she serves as a council-member on the Healthcare for Homeless Network (HCHN) - a national organization dedicated to expanding healthcare resources.

As a HCHN volunteer, she noticed a wealth of free healthcare programs that were available to support low income and uninsured individuals, but there was a critical lack of awareness about these resources. This gap in healthcare utilization leads to a significant burden of preventable disease in under-resourced communities.

Motivated to make a change, she founded CommuniCare along with a dedicated team of Cornell University students and faculty.