About Us
United for Health’s mission is to provide health care and education that is accessible to all clients. We offer free acupuncture, nutritional and crisis counseling, and referral linkages to other medical and psycho-social providers.
Our Work
Our staff works closely with many stakeholders, clinics, and schools to intervene with education and preventative services to reduce and eliminate costly medical visits and years of needless suffering. UFH partners with organizations and companies to treat their staff. We help them with stress, depression, and trauma, in addition to giving them the tools to sustain their well-being. United for Health is also available for consultations in the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond.
Our Story
United for Health was created in 1991 when a group of healthcare professionals including a Social Worker, four Acupuncturists, a Family Crisis Counselor, a Nutritionist, a Psychologist, and a Nurse Practitioner came together with one common goal: to help bridge the gap in services to those who have the least access to care; at-risk youth, the unhoused, people with HIV/ AIDS, and those with pain, mental health or substance use issues.
1991: UFH receives its first federal grant money
Our staff received the first federal grant money to do acupuncture in the San Francisco County Jail for women inmates with mental health and chemical dependency issues in 1991. We went on to create other clinics in the SF Judicial System.
1993: UFH becomes the first to treat HIV+ street youth
Our Cole Street Clinic Acupuncture Clinic in the Haight Ashbury District, San Francisco was the first one created to treat HIV+ street youth in 1993. UFH providers went on to establish other HIV+ clinics at Alta Base Hospital in Berkeley and the Tri-City Center Health Center in Fremont in 1996.
1995: UFH named biggest community acupuncture detox clinic in the Bay Area
Partnering with the City of Berkeley and Lifelong Medical Care in 1995, UFH’s ongoing comprehensive care clinic was founded as the biggest community acupuncture detox clinic in the Bay Area. Our treatment-on-demand model of acupuncture, counseling, and primary care services is a gateway to bringing in those noncompliant to medical, mental health, and substance use care. Feeling better after acupuncture, they developed trust in treatment plans and case management to make their lives better.
2000: Birth of the Youth Suitcase Clinic
UFH co-founded a youth-specific clinic in 2000 with UC Berkeley/UCSF medical students, called the Youth Suitcase Clinic. Our staff and other health care providers give care to unhoused and foster care youth 14-25. UFH practitioners also provide full-body acupuncture treatments at the Women’s and Coed Adult Suitcase Clinics, located in churches near the UC Berkeley campus weekly.
2006: Partnership with UC Berkeley to serve students
Since 2006, UFH has offered UC Berkeley students ear acupuncture and counseling, treating their stress, anxiety, depression, pain, trauma, and substance use. Each semester UFH staff helps them with these symptoms 3 weeks before finals with our Hope on the Go Mobile Clinics.
2008-Now: United For Health awarded “Best Community Nonprofit”
United for Health’s staff have won multiple awards from the City of Berkeley, Alameda County, the American Lung Association, and the California State Senate for our acupuncture and wellness services. These include Best Nonprofit of the Year, Best Mental Health Providers several times, Best Practitioners of the Year, and Women of the Year to our Executive Director by the City of Berkeley.
Meet our team
We’re healthcare providers and student volunteers on a mission to provide health care and education that is accessible to all.
Hope McDonnell
Executive Director
Rico Pabon
Board Member
Shefali Shah
Board Member
Beverly Mickens
Board Member
Iashia Stanford
Board Member
Laura Moreno
Board Member
Aurora Maramag
Board Member
Alice Carver
Healthcare Provider
Catherine Powers
Healthcare Provider
Holly Barnett
Healthcare Provider
Devin Burton
Healthcare Provider
Paul Stone
Finance
Juliet Del Core
Finance
Abinayaa Murugupandiyan
Finance
Yu-Feng Wang
Marketing
Betty Chiu
Marketing
Sehoon Park
Marketing
Sam King
Marketing
Vannitsa Hanmonty
Marketing
In Partnership With
Partner With Us
United for Health’s mission is to provide healthcare that is accessible to our patients. Our services are free so there are no barriers to the essential treatment they need. We partner with city officials, community groups, and companies to expand our services and reach broader communities. Let’s connect!
Help Us Expand Healthcare Services
United for Health depends on funding from foundations, corporations, local businesses, and caring people like you to sustain our wellness services; helping those in need to move their lives forward.
A gift to UFH goes a long way and the results are immediate to our patients’ health and well-being. 100% of your donation will be directed toward treatment and support services.