From left: San Gabriel Councilmember Tony Ding, Clever Care Director of Community Engagement and Member Retention Maria Nguyen, Chief Operations Officer Erin Ramsey, President Richard Greene, CEO Karen Walker Johnson, Chief Medical Officer Khaliq Siddiq, Vice President of Marketing Martina Lee Strickland, and Diamond Bar Mayor Chia Yu Teng during the ribbon-cutting ceremony for Clever Care’s new flagship community center in Rowland Heights. | Photo courtesy of Clever Care
Blending Eastern and Western medicine, the center serves Asian American seniors with culturally sensitive care
ROWLAND HEIGHTS, Calif. — Clever Care Health Plan, a Medicare Advantage provider known for its culturally sensitive approach, has opened its new flagship community center in Rowland Heights. The center, which officially launched with a ribbon-cutting on September 12, expands Clever Care’s commitment to integrating Eastern and Western medicine while creating spaces for wellness, education, and community connection.
The Rowland Heights location becomes the fourth such center in California, joining existing hubs in Monterey Park, Westminster, and Koreatown. Collectively, those sites logged nearly 18,000 member visits in 2024.
Cultural care at the core
CEO Karen Walker Johnson, a former pediatric nurse, brings a deep understanding of cultural barriers in healthcare to her leadership role. She has said that her early experiences in Detroit, where she cared for diverse families, showed her how a lack of cultural awareness and language access could harm patients.
In an interview with the Asian Journal, Johnson explained that those lessons shaped her empathy and commitment to building systems that respect diversity.
“I learned early that healthcare isn’t only about medicine — it’s about trust, understanding, and meeting people where they are,” she said. “When culture and language are honored, outcomes improve and people feel a true sense of belonging in their care.”
Johnson emphasized that the Rowland Heights center will host health workshops alongside activities such as tai chi, Qigong, origami classes, and book clubs to strengthen both physical health and social connection.
Leadership and growth
Clever Care President Richard Greene pointed to the organization’s rapid growth as proof of community demand for culturally sensitive healthcare.
Membership has nearly doubled in two years, reaching about 30,000 members across Southern California. That growth is supported by a network of 15,000 provider facilities, 50 hospitals, 2,000 bilingual physicians, and more than 700 contracted acupuncturists.
“Over the years, Clever Care’s health plan membership has more than doubled,” Greene said. “These centers are at the heart of our mission because they position us to deliver an exceptional member experience and build deeper, more meaningful relationships with the communities we serve.”
In an interview with the Asian Journal, Greene added that Clever Care’s growth plan includes opening future centers closer to the heart of Filipino communities in Southern California. With Filipinos among the region’s largest Asian American groups, Greene said it is essential to bring culturally familiar care options, language access, and wellness programs directly to neighborhoods where they live.
“Our growth is not just about numbers,” Greene explained. “It’s about responding to what our communities need most — care that speaks their language, reflects their traditions, and makes them feel at home.”
Serving diverse Asian American seniors
The Rowland Heights flagship will feature in-language representatives fluent in Mandarin, Cantonese, Vietnamese, and Korean to ensure seniors can access services in their preferred language. Its strategic location also makes it accessible to residents across Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, and Riverside counties.
Local officials, including Diamond Bar Mayor Chia Yu Teng, LA County District Director Andrea Morena, and Assistant Field Deputy Joyce Li, joined the opening ceremonies, underscoring the center’s role in meeting the healthcare needs of Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Filipino, and other Asian American communities.
Blending east and west
Clever Care’s model integrates traditional Eastern practices — such as acupuncture, tai chi, and meditation — with Western medicine and modern health education. The centers also host classes on topics such as Alzheimer’s and dementia awareness, dental care, and spine and joint movement.
By weaving cultural traditions into medical care, Clever Care aims to remove barriers, improve outcomes, and help seniors lead healthier, more connected lives.
