Refugee Health Nurse, Maureen Angoche’s passion for health care began in childhood when she saw how her mother struggled to find time to care for her when she was ill. She recalls another time in her life when that inspired her career as a nurse. “I wanted to be an ICU nurse and when my mum was in the ICU, the nurses showed incredible compassion—not just to her, but to me. They allowed me to be involved in her care, but something shifted for me during that time. Despite not having a job offer in hand, I told them I was going to work at HealthPoint and care for refugees- helping people who, face so many barriers to getting the care they need.”
Maureen’s only goal will always be to create a welcoming and non-judgmental place to receive health care. Maureen explains, “These [refugee health] programs are essential because they ensure refugees and asylees receive the health services they need to adapt and thrive in their new environment. Services that involve whole person care provide culturally sensitive care, assisting families with understanding and navigating the healthcare system in King County by addressing language barriers, the unique health challenges faced by these populations.” Maureen and the Refugee Health program work with a wide group of community partners such as King County Public Health, Harborview Medical Center, Hope link, REWA, MCOs, interpreters, and resettlement agencies to make sure newly arrived refugees and asylees have what they need to thrive in their new home.
Maureen’s experiences with health care left a lasting impression that shaped her career goal to help ease others’ frustration with the health care system. She wholeheartedly shares to those who read this blog, especially those new to the country and to King county, “We welcome you and we are here for you! At HealthPoint, we want you to feel safe, supported, and respected. Coming to a new country can be overwhelming, but we are here to help because you are a valued member of our community.”
Learn more about our Refugee Health Team in our blog, "Bridging Care with Refugee Health."