Wright State Physicians providers recognized by the Dayton Business Journal as Health Care Heroes

Christine Huang is medical director of the Wright State Physicians family medicine clinic and assistant professor of family medicine at the Boonshoft School of Medicine.

Every year the Dayton Business Journal honors those in health care in the Dayton area who have gone above and beyond with a Health Care Hero award. Two of this year’s honorees work at Wright State Physicians and support students at Wright State University and the Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine.

Christine Huang, D.O., medical director of the Wright State Physicians family medicine clinic and assistant professor of family medicine at the Boonshoft School of Medicine, received the Health Care Hero award in the provider category. Along with managing family medicine clinic protocols and maintaining her own regular patient care schedule, Huang provides clinical and educational opportunities to Wright State medical students.

Huang is a leader in the area of managing systems and quality improvement, constantly reviewing processes to improve clinic operations that will benefit patients, staff and medical learners alike, fostering positive morale. She makes it a point to expose the medical students to the importance of the processes involved with successful quality improvement.

“Dr. Huang is a leader in systematic change and quality improvement. It is a blessing to work with her on a daily basis,” her colleagues say. “She genuinely cares about patients and coworkers, very thoughtful, timely in her responses, quick to say ‘hello,’ and always appreciative of others.”

Huang also helps educate resident physicians at Five Rivers Health Center in Dayton and at Premier Health’s Miami Valley Hospital family medicine in-patient clinic.

She is deeply concerned about physician well-being, developing a financial education program for family medicine residents and volunteering with the group Dr. MILK (Mothers Interested in Lactation Knowledge), an online community of physicians who are new mothers and breastfeeding.

If seeing patients, managing a clinic, educating students and supporting physicians weren’t enough, Huang ensured that all patient-facing staff at Wright State Physicians were supplied with and adequately educated on the use of personal protective equipment during the initial weeks of the pandemic. She made videos on proper mask usage and assumed the responsibility of employee health advisor, guiding employees and human resources to develop processes for safely returning to work following a COVID-19 diagnosis. She also created a video for patients on how to use the telehealth system.

Huang served as clinical lead of the pandemic COVID-19 Vaccine Committee, planning and managing COVID-19 mass vaccination clinics, where over 1,200 people received the vaccine.

“Once again we are so happy with Wright State Physicians and their efficient operations in providing our second COVID-19 shot. Great people doing great things!” one patient said.

S. Bruce Binder, M.D., chair of family medicine at the Boonshoft School of Medicine, describes Huang as a transformative leader.

“I greatly appreciate the expertise she has brought to the practice as well as her general attitude and positive outlook,” Binder said. “She took over during an extremely challenging time and has provided outstanding leadership during the worst months of COVID-19 and now as we transition back toward our more traditional practice model.”

Huang’s patients appreciate the attentive care she provides. “I couldn’t ask for a better doctor, she is absolutely great,” said one patient. “I would recommend her to others. I would like to thank her for her understanding and patience, it’s not every day you get such a great person as your doctor.”

Joy Jackson is clinical coordinator for Student Health Services at Wright State Physicians.

Joy Jackson, clinical coordinator for Student Health Services at Wright State Physicians, received the Health Care Hero award in the category of patient experience. Jackson truly embodies what it means to provide patients a positive experience by stepping outside her assigned role to assist patients, even helping other Wright State Physicians clinics, in support of providing the best care.

Utilizing her public health background, Jackson created a standing orders procedure book of documentation and protocols for adult and pediatric vaccines, including what vaccines are needed and when, and guidelines around when a vaccine may not be necessary and why. This book is utilized by Wright State Physicians Student Health Services and family medicine. Jackson has become the primary source of information regarding vaccines, particularly pediatric, and has trained many clinical staff on vaccine protocols and delivery.

Jackson also utilized her background in public health to assist Wright State Physicians with COVID-19 testing and organizing its COVID-19 mass vaccine clinics. Jackson often served as clinical lead for the clinics. She applied these procedures to Student Health Services, creating a well-run vaccine distribution system for Wright State students.

Supporting students beyond their health care needs is also important to Jackson. She takes an interest in their classes, how they are from a mental health perspective and even helps them find resources. During the lockdown, she located food pantries for students. She also created a resource binder for Student Health Services and is part of a proposed plan to regularly visit Wright State residential housing to promote good health and well-being.

Jackson has also helped Boonshoft School of Medicine students, assisting with essential health screenings and completing documentation and working late as needed in preparation for their out-of-state rotations.

“Joy Jackson has the true heart of a servant, and takes great pleasure in serving the student population,” said Genessa Merritt, director of Student Health Services at Wright State Physicians. “She always goes the extra mile to ensure our patients are well taken care of and supported. She takes an active interest in all her patients. It’s personal for her, that’s her heart.”

Marissia Hayles, Wright State Physicians clinic manager, said, “Patient safety and care are her highest priorities.”

This was demonstrated when a patient, attempting to call Wright State Physicians family medicine, accidentally called Student Health Services. Jackson answered the call and rather than transfer him, helped the patient. Whenever this patient needed anything, he would call Jackson, and she would assist family medicine to take care of his needs. Unfortunately, the patient died during the early stages of the pandemic. But when his wife came to Wright State Physicians for her COVID-19 vaccine, she made it a point, with tears in her eyes, to thank Jackson for the special care she provided her husband.