The Fidelis Care Blog

As a first-generation immigrant from China, I have lived in the beautiful United States for 24 years. For 18 of those years, my stethoscope has touched the heartbeat of New York City where nearly 15 percent of its population is of Asian heritage.

The Asian American Cultural Alliance, Inc. (AACA) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting cultural exchange, uplifting immigrant voices, and building bridges through community engagement. I launched AACA alongside two co-founders: Yang Qu, who leads our efforts in mental health awareness, and Yi Li, a dance studio owner who brought creative energy to the organization’s early vision. Together, we created a space where cultural heritage and community well-being are inextricably linked.

National Nurses Week, May 6 through 12, is a time to recognize the compassion and dedication provided by these healthcare professionals every day. In observance of the week, we checked in with Fidelis Care nurses Shay Dege, Matthew Garbutt, Kelsey Maslowski, Sherry MacQueen, and Dawn Pankey on why they chose the profession and what it means to them.

Fidelis Care and nonprofit maternal health organization Mom Starts Here recently partnered to open a Baby Item Network supplies closet at the Fidelis Care Utica Community Office. It’s free to all Medicaid recipients.

Fidelis Care opened its 2025 Veggies to Go produce giveaway season by distributing more than 150 bags of fresh fruits and vegetables at events hosted by Genesee ACE Employment in Batavia on March 15 and the Watertown YMCA on March 26. Veggies to Go addresses nutrition and food insecurity in urban and rural communities across New York State.