barublogManmeet Kaur, the visionary founder of City Health Works, is being celebrated as one of New York’s rising business stars for her groundbreaking approach to community healthcare. With a mission to make healthcare more accessible and personalized, Kaur is transforming how chronic conditions are managed in underserved communities like Harlem.
Bringing Health Education Closer to Home
Kaur’s theory addresses a critical gap in the healthcare system: patients with chronic illnesses such as diabetes and high blood pressure often lack the education needed to manage their conditions effectively. Doctors, constrained by time and systemic challenges, struggle to bridge this gap.
City Health Works offers a transformative solution by bringing trained health coaches—not doctors or nurses—directly to patients. These coaches, drawn from the same communities as the patients, provide one-on-one support in places where patients feel comfortable, such as their homes or local coffee shops.
Each health coach is supervised by a registered dietitian or nurse, ensuring professional oversight while fostering trust and relatability.
“Most of these patients have had these conditions for years, and it’s the first time they’re truly understanding what their blood pressure indicator means,” said Kaur.
A Global Inspiration with Local Impact
The seeds of this innovative model were planted during Kaur’s human rights fellowship in South Africa, where she was inspired by the Mamelani Projects. This nonprofit trains community members to educate others about chronic illnesses, a concept that Kaur brought back to New York City.
While attending Columbia Business School, Kaur refined her vision, treating her coursework as an incubator for City Health Works. She leveraged the support of professors and networks to connect with investors.
In 2012, while pregnant with her first child, Kaur raised an initial $200,000 to kickstart her venture. By 2013, City Health Works officially launched, operating initially as a nonprofit. However, after five years, Kaur pivoted to a for-profit model, enabling her to scale the company’s impact and attract early-stage investors.
Scaling Success – City Health Works Today
City Health Works has made remarkable progress since its inception:
- Funding Success: The company has raised over $6 million from organizations such as the Helmsley Charitable Trust, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and Mount Sinai.
- Revenue Growth: With $2 million earned through health system partnerships, the company has proven the viability of its model.
- Impact on Communities: Operating in Harlem and Schenectady, the organization now has 10 health coaches, each supporting an average of 50 patients per year.
Kaur emphasizes the critical role of her team:
“We’re doing a layer of primary care that should be done by medicine, but it’s not. Education takes time that insurers don’t reimburse for.”
A Vision for the Future
Manmeet Kaur’s journey from a human rights fellow in South Africa to a recognized leader in New York demonstrates the power of innovation, resilience, and purpose. Her work not only addresses gaps in the healthcare system but also empowers communities through education and engagement.
As City Health Works continues to expand, Kaur’s vision for a healthcare system that prioritizes education, prevention, and community-driven solutions remains a shining example of how business can drive meaningful social change.
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