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A Home For Always

A Home For Always

With the help of a few cherished friends, DAP Health formally unveils its second on-campus affordable housing complex, Palm Springs’ Vista Sunrise II.

Words by Daniel Vaillancourt / Photos by Albert Angelo

 

On the radiant and warm desert morning of Tuesday, October 22, 2024, more than 100 like-minded community members gathered for a significant milestone: the official ribbon-cutting ceremony of Vista Sunrise II, the second onsite affordable housing complex on DAP Health’s Sunrise campus. (In case you’re wondering, the first — Vista Sunrise — was completed in 2007 to house people living with HIV/AIDS.)

 

Under a clear blue sky, DAP Health employees, donors, and board members; Vista Sunrise II residents; members of the local TV, print, and online media; and sundry elected officials celebrated alongside representatives from the two organizations with which DAP Health closely partnered in bringing this much-needed resource to life: Desert Care Network (which advanced $2.5 million toward the endeavor) and developer the Coachella Valley Housing Coalition. The moving event signified the culmination of years of planning, collaboration, and dedication to supporting some of the Coachella Valley’s most vulnerable.

 

Remembering Annette Bloch

 

It must be said that one incredible individual who was unfortunately absent — the late, great DAP Health benefactor Annette Bloch — was on many people’s mind that day.

 

Bloch, who died of complications from cancer in 2021, had already given millions to DAP Health when, in 2016, she donated $3 million more toward the nonprofit’s purchase of the former Riverside County Health Building that lies adjacent to the Barbara Keller LOVE Building on campus. Renamed the Annette Bloch CARE Building, it now houses multiple clinics and lies between the LOVE Building and Vista Sunrise II.

 

In 2022, Bloch’s daughter Linda Lyon, who serves as executive director of the Richard and Annette Bloch Family Foundation, pledged $1 million to DAP Health’s Vision Forward Campaign and the campus’ affordable housing expansion.

 

Housing is Health Care

 

Vista Sunrise II — fully occupied, with residents having begun to move in last June — is more than just a housing complex. It represents hope and opportunity for its inhabitants. With 30 units dedicated to rapid rehousing for individuals experiencing homelessness, and another 30 reserved for those with chronic illnesses and/or low incomes, the project provides much-needed stability. A property manager lives on site in the 61st unit, and a case manager maintains an office on the first floor.

 

Best of all, access to primary and behavioral health care — as well as to social services such as food and transportation assistance — are mere steps away on DAP Health’s Sunrise campus at the intersection of Vista Chino and North Sunrise Way.

 

 

A Stage Meant For Sharing

 

The event kicked off at 9:30 a.m. with a warm welcome from DAP Health CEO David Brinkman. He set the tone for the ceremony, highlighting the importance of housing as a fundamental aspect of health care, and expressing gratitude to all those involved in making Vista Sunrise II a reality. “Each time we get to provide someone with a set of keys to their new home we provide economic stability,” he said. “Access to affordable housing is one of the most cost-effective strategies for reducing poverty.”

 

Giving credit to architect Maria Song and her team at Interactive Design Corporation for the elegant and elevated complex designed in the international style with a slight art deco influence, Brinkman highlighted special features of Vista Sunrise II, such as its open courtyard, rooftop viewing deck, and various corridor balconies.

 

All 61 units, powered by solar panels, are also GreenPoint Rated. Each features Energy Star Rated appliances, including heat and air conditioners, and blinds. To top it all off, residents have access to the 1,600-square-foot David Gluckstein Celebration Kitchen, named after major donor Hardy Bassington’s late husband. Doubling as a community room, it’s equipped with a demonstration kitchen where residents can participate in the preparation of healthy food, or gather for games and other social activities.

 

Speaking on behalf of Desert Care Network and Tenet Healthcare, Chief Strategy Officer Linda Evans said, “[We] are so proud to contribute $2.5 million to the Vista Sunrise II project. That’s because we know how important a stable home can be when a patient of ours must recover from an accident or illness. We see the impact of homelessness every day in the trauma centers at our three hospitals — Desert Regional in Palm Springs, JFK Memorial in Indio, and Hi-Desert Medical Center in Joshua Tree.

 

“We are the first stop in providing lifesaving care when someone faces a trauma. But we also know that we cannot save lives alone. So much of the care we need as individuals happens outside the walls of our hospitals. Health care happens in places like Vista Sunrise II, which provides the security and comfort of a home and a host of wraparound health care services to help people recover and stay healthy. All of this is right here [at DAP Health].”

 

One Resident’s Story

 

One of the morning’s most poignant moments came when Sean Johnson, one of the first residents to move into Vista Sunrise II, took the stage. He spoke from the heart, his words resonating deeply with the audience.

 

“Every time I walk through the door of my beautiful studio apartment, furnished by [DAP Health’s own chain of resale stores] Revivals, I’m overwhelmed by a sense of gratitude,” he said, confiding he’s a bisexual man living with HIV who was once intermittently unhoused, both before and after becoming a patient and client at DAP Health. “To say that taking care of myself and living my best life without the comfort of a stable roof over my head was a challenge is an understatement… . I’m here as living proof that housing is health care, for which I will always be eternally grateful.”

 

To wrap up the proceedings, Coachella Valley Housing Coalition Executive Director and CEO Pedro S.G. Rodriguez followed with remarks about the significance of affordable housing in addressing both homelessness and chronic illness in the region.

 

By 10:00 a.m., the ceremony reached its peak with the actual cutting of the ribbon as Brinkman, Evans, Bassington, and Rodriguez jointly held the giant scissors.

 

As guests stayed behind to chat or tour the kitchen and grounds, the sense of accomplishment and optimism was palpable. The special event was not just a consecration of a new building but a celebration of one community’s commitment to ensuring that everyone, regardless of their circumstances, has access to safe housing and the best possible life they deserve.

 

Housing is health care, indeed.

Meet DAP Health Chief Strategy Officer B …

The Second Time Around 

In her return tenancy at DAP Health, Chief Strategy Officer Brande Orr has one immediate goal — purposefully mapping out the nonprofit’s future. 

Words by Kay Kudukis 

 

As a kid, Brande Orr practically lived in her grandmother’s backyard. In a massive treehouse nestled within one of the biggest maple’s highest, strongest branches, she’d spend hours with her younger brother Cody. “It was covered by leaves, and it was big enough to have eight kids up there,” she recalls. “From that vantage point, you could see over the houses and imagine a bigger world.”  

Not surprisingly, decades later, Orr is an avid believer in the healing properties of forest bathing, her favorite spots being along the Kumano Kodo in Japan. 

Suitland, Maryland, where Orr grew up, is a congested urban town a mile southeast of Washington, D.C. Dad taught history before becoming a high school principal. Mom taught kids living with disabilities. The family simmered in generational trauma — poverty, alcoholism, abuse — though camping trips, beach days, visits to the Smithsonian Institution, and activities like a pen pal in Zimbabwe balanced the mysteries of why. Orr also played sports through college, this despite critical knee and back injuries. 

“I wasn’t very good at any of them,” she admits. “But I’m a really great cheerleader. I often won the unsung hero award, and you rarely cut the kid who’s an optimist!” 

 

Growing Up on the Move and on the Rise 

At a most awkward stage of life — 8th grade — the family relocated to Annapolis, where Orr attended high school. “Pretty posh compared to where we were,” she recalls. It’s here that Orr had to rapidly wrestle with understanding racial discrimination. In her previous neighborhood and school, while among the racial minority, she was just becoming old enough to sense the privilege her skin color bestowed regardless of socioeconomic status.  

Asking these questions led to more exploration into injustice and activism. She debated for animal welfare, the right to peaceful protest, recognition of diverse faiths and worldviews, and death with dignity movements as early as high school, and continues to do so in her personal life today.  

These experiences equipped Orr to be adaptable, forgiving, curious, deliberate, calm in chaos, and admittedly an overthinker. Which is distinct from being a risktaker, she notes: “I didn’t get my driver’s license until I was nearly 21.”  

She also promised herself to find work environments where a sense of camaraderie — a commitment to mission — provided common ground and a second family. With undergraduate degrees in history and French, Orr worked at two museums — but she realized this nonprofit sector had limitations. 

 

Diversity, Equity, Belonging, Inclusion 

The desire to foster what we now call diversity, equity, belonging, and inclusion (DEBI) led her to create culturally inclusive American history resources at Primary Source, a Massachusetts nonprofit that works to advance global education in schools. “We wrote textbooks on Chinese American history, and Native American history, that would complement K-12 teaching requirements,” she says. “I worked on the African American history project.” It was there she met her late mentor, lifelong educator Clara Hicks, and adopted Clara’s mantra: “Keep on, keepin’ on.” 

By then Orr knew she wanted to see the West Coast, and applied for scholarships to earn a master’s degree at only California programs, deciding on Pepperdine University, where her grandfather attended on the GI Bill after WWII. She left her best friends in exchange for the adventure, but upon arriving, found the only other person pursuing their MBA to serve the nonprofit community: a guy named David Brinkman, whose career path led him to the CEO seat at DAP Health, which he has occupied for 17 years. Commonality crafted a close comradeship between Brinkman and Orr. But more on that in a bit.  

When she graduated, Orr took a position at a center serving teen moms and dads back in Boston. “We had an amazing program with housing and school, but we also taught job skills, parenting skills, and health care.” A year later, the phone rang. It was Brinkman, who was now executive director at My Friend’s Place, a nonprofit dedicated to serving unhoused youth in Los Angeles. Would Orr consider coming to work with him as director of development? It was an immediate “Yes.” 

It was a small organization, so they rolled up their sleeves with the most amazing colleagues and put on all the hats: fundraising, leadership, communications, finance, community relations, facilities (plunging toilets and painting over graffiti fell under “other duties as assigned”). “Because MFP was so small, and we were meeting emergent needs of terribly misunderstood, stigmatized, and marginalized human beings,” admits Orr, “it was a sobering opportunity to understand the breadth of nonprofit management and the chops required to weather the blood, sweat, and tears.” The most exciting times were chances to meet new needs. Orr’s most memorable moment was the first day the center opened on the weekends. 

 

Successful Leaders Enlist Highly Qualified People 

Orr is admittedly a little uncomfortable about the optics of her history with Brinkman, but leans in and shares the story. Now nearly 30 years into a nonprofit career, she accepts the truth — that successful leaders surround themselves with highly qualified people who bring value to their organization, an obvious testament to her considerable talents. And at this point in the story, Orr’s eyes get big and she says, “It gets worse.”  

Brinkman had several childhood friends who would visit him in L.A. The trade-off was they would volunteer for the nonprofit’s events. One such friend was an artist named Dan. Four years later, Orr married him, and followed love to Iowa. She credits her spouse with introducing her to three more loves: salt, Star Trek, and sumo. 

The next work years found Orr honing expanded skills with a wide spectrum of stakeholders at the University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Valley Hospice, and Allen Health System. Again, strategic activities like helping to offer free colorectal cancer services and launch a nursing pipeline program for high school students from low-income families kept Orr looking forward. That’s when the phone rang again. You guessed it: Brinkman. With yet another invitation to apply for an opening. 

 

Starting at Desert AIDS Project 

Orr was hired as director of grants at Desert AIDS Project (as DAP Health was then known). With tandem interim stints as director of quality assurance, and director of programs, Orr led DAP Health’s pursuit of FQHC status to open the doors wider. This milestone extended the legacy of the organization’s founders to more community members.  

She happily thrived there for over nine years, finishing out her tenure by serving as director of strategic initiatives. And then, the phone rang yet again. This time? Not Brinkman. Dad. Mom had Alzheimer’s, and it was time for a radical plan of care. So, Orr and Dan, and Mom and Dad, all moved to the Midwest, closer to more affordable dementia services. After Mom and the pandemic passed, Orr worked for Interfaith America before Brinkman came calling one last time.  

 

Returning to DAP Health 

Following DAP Health’s overnight expansion, having acquired the Borrego Health system, would Orr consider applying to become the integrated organization’s chief strategy officer, leading the charge into what is sure to be a promising future? Why, indeed, she would! 

Almost a year later, Orr couldn’t be more excited about DAP Health’s mission. She feels drawn to the organizational culture by the conviction that access to affordable, compassionate health care can inspire and inform solutions to inequity, suffering, and conflict of all kinds. The labor of love means even more as an aunt to four nephews who will inherit the world she leaves behind.  

“I love this work,” she says. “I love looking at what the needs are, what every possible solution is, and then narrowing that down through all the different types of lenses and criteria to figure out how we’re going to have the biggest impact.” 

Hold all calls, please. Orr is finally home for good. 

Medi-Cal Now Available to All Low-Income …

Medi-Cal Now Available to All Low-Income Families Regardless of Immigration Status

Words by María José Dúran

Versión en español a continuación

 

A new California law that went into effect in January 2024 allows all low-income residents — regardless of immigration status — to qualify for free or low-cost health insurance through Medi-Cal.

“It’s a great step to include all who contribute to California,” says DAP Health’s Community Education and Enrollment Manager Joanna Ibarra.

This new rule making undocumented adults ages 26-49 eligible for Medi-Cal is the last in a series that started in 2016 with coverage for immigrant children, then older adults, youths, and lastly, all age groups.

To qualify for Medi-Cal, individuals’ or families’ income must be under the 138% line of the Federal Poverty Level, which varies depending on household size.

With Medi-Cal Full-Scope, families and individuals can get all their health needs covered.

“It covers everything, not just emergency services at the hospital,” explains Ibarra, “from sick visits, primary care, preventive care, basic dental care, medications, x-rays, imaging, prenatal care continues to be a benefit, labor and delivery, behavioral health, hospitalization, physical therapy, occupational therapy, to transportation.”

However, fears of the public charge rule — a noncitizen who is likely to become primarily dependent on the government — stop many who qualify for Medi-Cal from applying for this benefit, as it can hinder immigration court cases or applications.

“There’s a lot of misinformation,” says Ibarra. “We have encountered a lot of fear around public charge. A lot of patients refuse to apply for anything because of it.”

In 2022, the government made an amendment to the Public Charge Rule, excluding noncash benefits such as health care.

“It clearly tells us that noncash benefits shouldn’t affect you, which includes health care,” Ibarra says.

The application for Medi-Cal can be submitted online through info.benefitscal.com. An identification document (not necessarily a state ID), proof of address, and proof of income are necessary for the process.

“Another way [to apply for Medi-Cal] is to come to one of our clinics and we have enrollment counselors who can assist from step one to last,” Ibarra explains. “We guide people, enter their information for them.”

For those who still don’t qualify for Medi-Cal due to income limits, DAP Health offers financial assistance on a sliding scale, also regardless of immigration status. Low-income families earning up to 200% of the Federal Income Poverty Guidelines can benefit from discounted medical visits.

“Health care is expensive for everyone,” Ibarra says, “so the sliding-fee scale is something that really has been beneficial to our community.”

Many uninsured patients in Southern California’s Latino communities suffer from conditions that require constant preventative care and access to medication, such as diabetes or high blood pressure. Ibarra says these patients can benefit from access to Medi-Cal. “Preventative medicine is what people did not have access to.” 

Ibarra points out the importance of accessing health insurance. “We need to maintain being healthy, active, and involved in our lives, not worried about “Am I going to get sick?” or “Will I have to go to work sick?”

 

Medi-Cal Admite a Personas de Bajos Ingresos Sin Estatus Migratorio de Cualquier Edad

Por María José Dúran

 

Ahora todas las personas que califican sin importar su estatus migratorio pueden acceder a seguro de salud gratuito o a bajo costo a través de Medi-cal.

Una nueva ley que entró en vigor en enero de 2024 permite que todos los residentes de California de bajos ingresos puedan solicitar seguro de salud gratuito a través del programa Medi-Cal.

“Es un gran paso para incluir a todos los residentes de California”, dice la jefa de Educación de Salud para la Comunidad y Registro de DAP Health Joanna Ibarra.

Con Medi-Cal Full-Scope (cobertura completa), las familias o individuos que califiquen pueden conseguir cobertura para todas sus necesidades de salud.

“Lo cubre todo, no solo servicios de emergencia en el hospital”, explica Ibarra, “desde visitas de enfermedad, atención primaria, cuidados preventivos, cuidado dental básico, radiografías y otras pruebas de imagen, cuidado prenatal, parto y nacimiento, salud mental, hospitalizaciones, fisioterapia, terapia ocupacional, hasta transporte.”

Para poder acceder a Medi-Cal, las familias o individuos de California deben tener unos ingresos anuales que estén por debajo del 138% del Nivel de Pobreza Federal, algo que varía dependiendo del número de personas en el hogar. Puede consultar si su familia califica en este enlace.

Sin embargo, el miedo a convertirse en carga pública impide que muchos soliciten este beneficio. La carga pública es una norma por la que una persona que no es ciudadana de los Estados Unidos y esté en riesgo de convertirse en mayoritariamente dependiente del gobierno es penalizada en los casos de inmigración o de corte migratoria.

“Hay muchísima desinformación”, dice Ibarra, “nos hemos encontrado mucho miedo alrededor de la carga pública. Muchos pacientes no quieren solicitar ningún beneficio por esto”.

Pero la norma de carga pública excluye los beneficios que no son en dinero efectivo. “Claramente nos dice que si el beneficio no es en efectivo no te afecta, lo que incluye los seguros de salud”, dice Ibarra.

Los interesados pueden solicitar Medi-Cal a través de la página web info.benefitscal.com. Para el proceso son necesarias una identificación (no necesariamente un documento oficial estatal), prueba de residencia y prueba de ingresos.

“Otra manera [de solicitar Medi-Cal] es venir a una de nuestras clínicas donde tenemos consejeros de registro que pueden asistir desde el primer al último paso”, explica Ibarra. “Nosotros guiamos a las personas, les ayudamos a llenar los formularios con su información”.

Para los que tengan ingresos anuales superiores y no puedan solicitar Medi-Cal, DAP Health ofrece asistencia financiera en escala gradual sin importar el estatus migratorio. Familias con ingresos que no sobrepasen el 200% del Límite de Pobreza Federal pueden solicitar servicios médicos con descuento.

“Los seguros de salud son caros para todo el mundo”, dice Ibarra,”por eso la escala gradual que ofrecemos en DAP Health ha sido de gran ayuda para nuestra comunidad”.

En el sur de California, muchos pacientes latinos sin seguro médico padecen enfermedades crónicas que requieren atención preventiva constante y acceso a medicamentos, como la diabetes o la presión arterial alta. Ibarra afirma que estos pacientes se podrían beneficiar del acceso a Medi-Cal. "La medicina preventiva es a lo que la gente no tenía acceso."

Ibarra resalta lo importante que es tener accesso a un seguro ide salud como Medi-Cal. “Necesitamos mantener nuestra salud, actividad y desarrollo de nuestras vidas, y no estar preocupados de si me voy a enfermar o voy a tener que ir a trabajar enfermo.”

Dr. Joseph Cerjan Named Permanent Princi …

Dr. Joseph Cerjan Named Permanent Principal Provider at DAP Health's Borrego Medical Clinic  

The bilingual physician, eager to serve patients in Borrego Springs and the surrounding areas, fills a long-vacant role, bringing a sense of permanence and stability.

Words by Daniel Vaillancourt

 

Dr. Joseph Cerjan — a physician with more than 30 years of experience in a variety of settings, who is fluent in both English and Spanish — has been hired to fulfill the long-vacant role of permanent principal medical provider at DAP Health’s Borrego Medical Clinic.

In that capacity, he will oversee disciplines such as family medicine, pediatrics, women’s health (including OB-GYN), behavioral health, and sexual wellness at the center, located at 4343 Yaqui Pass Road in Borrego Springs, California.

“The people in and around Borrego Springs have long needed and deserved a permanent medical provider whom they can grow to trust, admire, and appreciate,” says DAP Health CEO David Brinkman. “Thanks to his deep well of professional expertise and his wide array of real-life experiences, I believe Dr. Cerjan is the perfect physician to help eradicate barriers to care while broadening programs and services. All of us at DAP Health — and every member of the communities we serve in Borrego Springs — are fortunate to have found him.”

It is with great enthusiasm that Dr. Cerjan looks forward to serving at Borrego Medical Clinic. “I don’t really see myself as a seed that’s being planted,” he says. “I’m a tree that’s being grafted. It has to be pruned, branch out, and hopefully produce the fruit — the benefits to everyone — that we’re hoping for. We’re establishing continuity of care for the area’s patients. Expanding some services. It’s going to be a fun challenge. Personally, this might be the seventh or eighth inning for me, but it might be the best part of my game.”

 

About Dr. Joseph Cerjan

Dr. Joseph Cerjan (sir-JAHN) is a seasoned physician with a distinguished career spanning more than three decades. Born in Youngstown, Ohio, he has dedicated his life to providing exemplary medical care and service to communities across the United States and beyond.

He began his academic journey at Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio, where he pursued a B.A. in biochemistry. During his undergraduate years, he received prestigious honors, including membership in Bucket and Dipper, the freshmen men’s honorary, and Romophos, the sophomore men’s honorary.

Eager to expand his horizons, Dr. Cerjan pursued his medical education at the Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara in Guadalajara, Mexico, graduating with distinction in 1981. Following medical school, he completed several postgraduate years, including internship, social service, and externship, further honing his skills and knowledge.

Dr. Cerjan continued his training with a residency at University Hospital, University of Cincinnati, where he served as chief resident in his final year. Board-certified by the American Academy of Family Physicians since 1989, the good doctor has maintained an active and unwavering commitment to excellence in patient care.

Throughout his illustrious career, Dr. Cerjan has held various positions in prestigious medical institutions, including the Share Reese Stealy Medical Group in San Diego, and the Yuma Regional Medical Center in Yuma, Arizona, where he served in the department of emergency medicine for an impressive 26 years.

In addition to his clinical work, Dr. Cerjan has demonstrated a passion for serving underserved populations, including periods as the house physician at the Fresno County Jail and as a physician at California’s Chuckwalla Valley State Prison.

Fluent in both English and Spanish, Dr. Cerjan is dedicated to breaking down language barriers to ensure the highest quality of care for all patients. His commitment to medicine is underscored by his active licensure in Arizona and California, as well as his current ACLS certification. With a wealth of experience and a compassionate approach to patient care, he continues to make a profound impact on the field of medicine, enriching the lives of those he serves.

Safety First – DAP Health’s Harm Red …

Photo: Alexis Molina, DAP Health Community Health Worker (left) and Manny Muro, DAP Health Community Health Diagnostic Testing & Outreach Supervisor (right)

Safety First – DAP Health’s Harm Reduction Team Returns to Coachella

DAP Health's Harm Reduction team returned to the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival for the second year in a row to keep revelers healthy and informed at select shuttle stops in Palm Springs.  

Festivals are a time for fun and adventure, but it's no secret that when substances are involved, things can sometimes quickly go south. Aimed at preventing and reversing overdoses, DAP Health’s Harm Reduction program takes a hands-on approach when it comes to keeping our desert communities and visitors safe from preventable incidents.  

Standing in the blazing sun in near-100-degree heat, the Harm Reduction team stayed committed to saving lives. It distributed a total of 768 doses of Narcan (the brand name for the nasal spray formulation of naloxone, known to temporarily reverse opioid overdose) and 300 fentanyl testing strip kits over the course of the two festival weekends, empowering more than a thousand festivalgoers to make informed choices and have a safer Coachella experience. 

Last year, the team distributed 422 fentanyl testing strip kits and 286 Narcan sprays. 

DAP Health's Harm Reduction program goes beyond just Coachella. It enables people to use substances more safely through education and connection to care year-round, allowing them to live their healthiest life. 

Play Smart, Stay Alive: To learn more about DAP Health’s Harm Reduction program, please click here.   

Dining Out For Life Greater Palm Springs …

Annual Philanthropic Foodie Event Happens Thursday, April 25

 

DAP Health participates in the one-day North American gastronomic fundraiser for the 19th year.

 

 

Dining Out For Life® — the annual, North American foodie fundraising event that has collected more than nearly 100 million dollars for community-based organizations that serve people living with or impacted by HIV since its inception in 1991 — will take place in Palm Springs and across the Coachella Valley on Thursday, April 25, 2024.

Every year since 2005, Greater Palm Springs has participated in the all-day/all-night affair on behalf of DAP Health. And on each of those occasions, locals, snowbirds, and tourists have swelled with pride and come out in droves to raise much-needed funds while enjoying the generosity of participating local restaurants, bars, cafés, and bakeries that donate anywhere from 30 to 110% of their entire day’s and/or evening’s receipts — not just the profits — to the legendary effort.

Thanks to the generous support of participating restaurants, volunteers, and community members, Greater Palm Springs perennially places in the top three successful markets in the country. In 2023, 72 desert establishments participated to raise more than $270,000 — more than San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York City, Chicago, and other large urban centers.

With more than 12,000 local supporters expected to dine out for life at breakfast, lunch, happy hour, dinner, and/or late night this year, the 2024 goal is for Dining Out For Life Greater Palm Springs to grab the number one spot.

Eager participants are urged to visit daphealth.org/dofl, make reservations well in advance, and prepare to satisfy their hunger and thirst as many times as possible on April 25 to beat the North American record right here in our own back yard. If their favorite eatery hasn’t yet made its participation public, diners should speak up and urge the powers that be to sign up ASAP.

For the second year in a row, on the night before — from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. — DAP Health will host a Bar Crawl on Arenas Road in Palm Springs that will serve as the official kickoff of DOFLGPS 2024. Drag performer Jackett Knightley, the event’s special ambassador, will “Pied Piper” patrons from bar to bar, where DAP Health volunteers will provide proof of participation by punching each revealer’s Bar Crawl bingo card.  

DOFL National’s website states that each year “more than 50 local HIV service organizations partner with 2,400+ participating restaurants, 4,100+ volunteers, and 300,000+ diners to raise over $4.5 million for people living with HIV/AIDS in the United States and Canada. The best part? All funds raised through a city’s Dining Out For Life event stay in that city to provide help and hope to people living with or impacted by HIV/AIDS.”

“Because we were founded 40 years ago as a response to the AIDS crisis, Dining Out For Life has always been of supreme importance to DAP Health’s staff and patients,” says CEO David Brinkman. “Since our recent tremendous expansion has allowed us to increase our award-winning HIV/AIDS care from three to five of our 25 clinics, this annual event is more important to us than ever.”

To register as a Dining Out For Life in-restaurant volunteer ambassador on April 25 — or to sign on as a participating establishment, please contact Bruce Benning at [email protected] or 760.320.7854.

Participating Restaurants at Press Time

1501 Uptown Gastropub

Aspen Mills Bakery & Café

Barracks Bar

Bongo Johnny’s

Carousel Bakery

Chef Tanya’s Kitchen Palm Desert

Chef Tanya’s Kitchen Palm Springs

Chicken Ranch

Clandestino

Copley’s on Palm Canyon

Cork & Fork

Dickey’s Barbecue Pit

Eight4Nine Restaurant & Lounge

El Mirasol at Los Arboles

El Mirasol Cocina Mexicana

El Patio Palm Springs

Elmer’s

FARM

Gelato Granucci

Grand Central

Heirloom Craft Kitchen

Impala Bar & Grill Nightclub

Johannes

Johnny Costa’s Ristorante

Kaiser Grille

Le Donne Cucina Italiana

Lulu California Bistro

Palm Greens Café

Purple Room

Spencer’s Restaurant at the Mountain

Tac/Quila

The Front Porch

Toucan’s

Townie Bagels

Trio Restaurant

Willie’s Modern Fare

Zin American Bistro

Dining Out For Life Greater Palm Springs 2024 Sponsors at Press Time

Steve Tobin, Johnny Krupa, and The Grace Helen Spearman Charitable Foundation

Media Sponsors

Alpha Media

KESQ ABC News Channel 3

KGAY 106.5 & 92.1, GayDesertGuide.LGBT and 103.1 MeTVfm

NBC Palm Springs

High-Flying Volunteer

                         Star DAP Health volunteer Jim Gonzales and fashion icon Donna Karan.

High-Flying Volunteer

Jim Gonzales has been all over the globe, but there’s no place like DAP Health.

Words by Kent Black

It might be said that Jim Gonzales is used to the thin air of high altitudes. The Raton, New Mexico native (elev. 6680 feet) worked for Frontier and United Airlines as a flight attendant for 37 years, jetting all over the world to favorite destinations such as Barcelona and Sydney. “I much preferred flying to being in an office,” he says from his lovely home near the Parker Palm Springs. “You get on the airplane, do your job, be nice, and then go home.”

When Gonzales retired in 2015, he and his late husband moved to the desert. Having volunteered for his union for the Colorado AIDS Project, he reached out to DAP Health to see what he could do to help. The nonprofit obliged. His first assignment was to help work the Steve Chase Humanitarian Awards, overseeing the silent auction. “I was really nervous as heck about it,” he admits, “but we ended up doing really well.”

Since then, his volunteer portfolio has grown to include duties commensurate with his welcoming and personable disposition. Each January, he donates his time at the Palm Springs International Film Festival.

At DAP Health, he helps with fundraising for the organization’s Partners For Life major donor program, its annual Health Equity Walk, and the client Thanksgiving feast. He’s also one of the rotating volunteers who guides the monthly Impact Hour, where guests are led on a behind-the-scenes tour of the DAP Health campus and introduced to its programs and services. “It’s really impressive. Especially when we show them the 61-unit apartment building going up,” he says. “And there’s always a client present to talk about their journey and how they got there.”

Since making Palm Springs his home, Gonzales says, “I have been afforded the opportunity to work with and meet many giving and wonderful people who are also committed to the mission of DAP Health. Helping everyone who has a need … what could be better?”

And, of course, he’s always available for The Chase. Last year, he had the honor of escorting fashion designer and philanthropist Donna Karan when she was honored with DAP Health’s Equity Award. As a seasoned awards escort, what fashion icon does he hope to guide along the red carpet in the future? Perhaps Norma Kamali? “Oh, no,” he says. “I’m hoping for Tom Ford.”

To learn more about how to become a volunteer at DAP Health—at Revivals thrift stores, at special events, or on campus—please click here.

Dining Out For Life All-Stars

Dining Out For Life All-Stars 

DAP Health counts many local restaurants as important allies in its annual drive to help fund comprehensive HIV/AIDS care, but these Top Three take the cake. 

Every year since 2005 (except for 2020 and 2021, when the Covid-19 virus derailed best-laid plans), DAP Health has participated in the annual North America-wide event known as Dining Out For Life (DOFL). Since its inception in 1991, it has earned more than $100 million for community-based HIV/AIDS service organizations throughout the United States and Canada. Despite its relatively small size, Greater Palm Springs comes in number one in earnings per capita annually. Last year, more than $270,000 was raised on behalf of DAP Health. 

The backbone of this event’s success is not only the thousands of local and visiting foodie philanthropists who choose to dine out for a cause morning, noon, and night, but the desert restaurants, bars, cafes, and bakeries who donate varying percentages of their day’s and night’s take.  

We want to take a moment to give a special shout-out to the Top Three of the nearly 75 establishments that helped us rake in that take in 2023, which in turn permitted DAP Health to continue its commitment to providing comprehensive HIV/AIDS care to all those affected in the Coachella Valley and beyond. 

Clandestino 

A proud participant since 2023 (just mere months after it opened), this destination is known both for its flight of margaritas and for its curated menu of Mexican dishes full of finesse and flair. Owned by the extraordinary restaurateurs Liz and Mark Ostoich, it figures prominently in DOFL alongside its sister eateries Tac/Quila and The Front Porch. But Clandestino takes number one all on its own. clandestinopalmsprings.com 

Photo Credit: Clandestino

Lulu California Bistro 

A proud participant since opening its doors in 2011, this gargantuan, wildly popular hangout for both locals and tourists is owned by philanthropist Jerry Keller, whose late wife, Barbara, not only served as the first female chair of DAP Health’s board of directors, but whose name emblazons the main building on the nonprofit’s Sunrise campus: The Barbara Keller LOVE Building. lulupalmsprings.com 

Photo Credit: Lulu's

Spencer’s Restaurant at the Mountain 

A proud participant since 2006, this hotspot is owned by the legendary Harold Matzner, who has personally contributed more than $50 million to local charities since 1995. Most of his devoted clientele is unaware that the place is named after Matzner’s beloved canine companion (who left his side in 2007 at the age of 14), or that Matzner takes not one penny of Spencer’s profits, preferring to plunge it all back into his charitable giving. spencersrestaurant.com 

Photo Credit: Spencer's

Read more about Dining Out For Life 2023 here

Desert Care Network Donates $2.5 Million …

DESERT CARE NETWORK DONATES $2.5 MILLION TO DAP HEALTH IN SUPPORT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING

The generous gift, part of DAP Health’s Vision Forward campus expansion, will go toward programs and services for residents of the organization’s second on-campus housing complex, Vista Sunrise II, enabling residents to access lifesaving care in their own backyard.

 

Desert Care Network (DCN) continues its longstanding support of DAP Health with a significant $2.5 million contribution toward the nonprofit’s Vision Forward campus expansion campaign and soon-to-be-unveiled affordable housing complex, Vista Sunrise II. The generous gift reflects DCN’s dedication to addressing the needs of the diverse communities both organizations serve. This commitment will help provide equitable housing solutions for individuals facing challenges such as homelessness and chronic illnesses.

“At Desert Care Network, we are deeply committed to improving the health and well-being of all residents in the Coachella Valley,” says Desert Regional Medical Center & Desert Care Network CEO Michele Finney. “Our 40-year partnership with DAP Health, and this donation toward its Palm Springs campus expansion, focus on much-needed affordable housing, and align perfectly with our mission to provide comprehensive care to our most vulnerable residents. To support the health of our entire community, we know we are better together.”

“Thank you, Desert Care Network, for understanding — as we do — that housing is health care,” adds DAP Health CEO David Brinkman. “Together, we are transforming lives and building a healthier, more compassionate community. By focusing on health equity and social drivers of health, we highlight the connection between housing and superior health outcomes. The ability of Vista Sunrise II residents, most of whom have no means of reliable transportation, to access primary and mental health care — not to mention wraparound social services such as nutrition, health education, and so much more — within a short walk next door is a game-changer for some of our most marginalized neighbors.”

Vista Sunrise II, a collaborative effort between DAP Health and developer Coachella Valley Housing Coalition, will provide affordable housing while incorporating thoughtful design elements and sustainable construction practices. This innovative project will feature 61 units, with 30 dedicated to rapid rehousing for individuals experiencing homelessness and 30 units allocated to those with chronic illnesses and/or low incomes. Key features include:

Thoughtfully Designed Living Spaces: The units will offer a variety of configurations, including one- and two-bedroom layouts, with a housing manager’s home also onsite. Each unit has been designed to prioritize comfort and functionality, featuring large windows for natural daylight, office nooks for work-from-home opportunities, and mobility-accessible options for residents with special needs.

Sustainable Construction Practices: The project incorporates environmentally friendly practices such as density housing on an existing site to minimize land clearing, “cool roof” materials to reduce energy costs, and all-electric appliances to decrease reliance on fossil fuels. Additionally, carports with solar panels will offset the complex’s power grid electrical needs, further enhancing its sustainability.

Unique Amenities: Vista Sunrise II offers a range of amenities to foster community engagement and well-being, including rooftop terraces with mountain views, outdoor courtyards, a community center for gatherings and learning, and on-site case management services for residents. The proximity to DAP Health programs and services, grocery stores, shops, and an adjacent park will encourage residents to lead a healthy, active lifestyle.

Vista Sunrise II represents a beacon of affordable housing innovation, combining compassionate care with sustainable practices to create a thriving community for all residents. With Desert Care Network’s generous contribution, this project will continue to make a positive impact on the lives of individuals and families in Palm Springs for decades to come.

 

About DAP Health

DAP Health, which celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2024, is an internationally renowned humanitarian health care organization and federally qualified health center (FQHC) whose goal is to protect and expand health care access for all people — especially the disenfranchised — regardless of who or where they are, their health status, or whether they have health insurance.
 
In 2023, the nonprofit made a successful bid to absorb the Borrego Health system, enabling its 950 employees to serve more than 85,000 patients of all populations, genders, and ages — from newborns to seniors — at a total of 25 Southern California clinics located within 240 rural and urban zip codes from the Coachella Valley to the San Diego coast.

For years, DAP Health’s programs and services have included primary care, infectious diseases, gender-affirming care, LGBTQ+ care, mental health, dentistry, harm reduction, recovery services, affordable housing, social services, and HIV prevention, testing, and treatment. The additional disciplines now under its vast umbrella include family medicine, women’s health (including OB-GYN), pediatrics, veterans’ health, geriatrics, urgent care, and pharmacy services.

The organization was founded as Desert AIDS Project in 1984 by a group of volunteers. Thanks to nearly 40 years of experience caring for those affected not only by the HIV epidemic but by various other public health emergencies (COVID-19, mpox), DAP Health has the physical and intellectual resources, the drive, and — most importantly — the vision to effect even greater change by positively impacting its diverse patient populations’ social drivers of health (SDOH).
 
According to the World Health Organization, SDOH are “the non-medical factors that influence health outcomes. They are the conditions in which people are born, grow, work, live, and age, and the wider set of forces and systems shaping the conditions of daily life.”
 
The next epidemic hasn’t surfaced — yet. But just as DAP Health met earlier community health crises decisively and successfully, its experts stand at the ready.

 

About Vision Forward

Vision Forward is DAP Health’s 10-year strategic plan that will see the organization grow from serving 10,000 individuals annually today at its Sunrise campus to 25,000 patients and clients a year by 2025. So far, this broadminded expansion has encompassed:

  • The purchase of the Annette Bloch CARE Building and the opening of its three clinics.
  • The opening of a DAP Health sexual wellness clinic in Palm Springs.
  • Construction of Vista Sunrise II, which will feature 61 new units of affordable housing, to be completed in the second quarter of 2024.

Still to come is the Tenet Health Pavilion, a structure that will bridge the Barbara Keller LOVE Building and the Annette Bloch CARE Building, and which will include:

  • A transit- and pedestrian-friendly pathway.
  • A central registration area for all patient services.
  • A cafe open to the public that will be staffed and managed by clients of DAP Health’s Return-to-Work program.

 

About Desert Care Network

Desert Care Network is your health care resource in the Coachella Valley and Morongo Basin regions of Southern California. We are three hospitals: Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs, JFK Memorial Hospital in Indio, and Hi-Desert Medical Center in Joshua Tree. Working together, we bring advanced health care to our communities.

We operate a Level 1 trauma center at Desert Regional, the highest possible. And Level 4 trauma centers at JFK and Hi-Desert.

We have created a network of stroke-ready hospitals, anchored by Desert Regional Medical Center — our valley’s only nationally accredited comprehensive stroke center — and supported by the primary stroke center at JFK and the certified stroke-ready hospital at Hi-Desert.

Desert Regional is home to the only Level 3 neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) for newborns in the Coachella Valley. We also operate a hospital-based clinic that provides high-risk care for expectant moms.

DCN has an unwavering commitment to our community. We train the next generations of physicians through our residency program, and those doctors staff mobile clinics that provide services to the underserved, unhoused, and refugee populations across the desert.

DCN provides over a hundred million dollars in free and discounted health care to patients in need each year. In the last three decades, we have given millions of dollars in charitable donations and sponsorships to local organizations, including DAP Health, FIND Food Bank, the Women Leaders Forum, Volunteers in Medicine, and many more.

We are dedicated, driven, and proud to serve the health care needs of the Coachella Valley, the Morongo Basin, and everyone who visits our desert.

 

About Coachella Valley Housing Coalition

The Coachella Valley Housing Coalition was founded in 1982 by a group of community advocates, the local community, and business leaders, to address the substandard living conditions farmworkers and other low-income persons were enduring in the Eastern Coachella Valley.

Their innate sense of compassion for the human condition inspired them to help hundreds of families move out of inadequate living conditions — which included makeshift power poles in unpermitted mobile home parks, contaminated drinking water, and other crude housing additions made of cardboard — into safe, decent, and affordable housing. With a $10,000-dollar seed grant from the Aetna Foundation, the board of directors established the Coachella Valley Housing Coalition (CVHC).

Today, CVHC is an award-winning tax-exempt 501 (c)(3), nonprofit affordable housing development organization that has been named amongst the Top 50 Affordable Housing Developers in the country. Every CVHC housing community is built with a solid commitment to partnerships, vision, and extensive community planning. CVHC is a Neighbor Works® America chartered member and a Rural LISC partner. It has developed affordable housing throughout Riverside and Imperial Counties, and has developed more than 5,000 multi-family and single-family residences, making it the largest affordable housing developer in Riverside County.

Key Programs

Rental Housing: Through its Multi-Family Housing Development department, CVHC builds affordable rental housing for working families (in hospitality, retail, and health care), farmworkers, retired farmworkers, migrant farmworkers, veterans, and families/individuals with special needs — the elderly, people with disabilities, and chronic illnesses. With more than 41 affordable rental communities totaling 2,953 units developed throughout Riverside County, CVHC offers an array of housing options for renters who are looking for a steppingstone to homeownership, or who are in need of affordable rental housing. CVHC is proud to partner with DAP Health on the development and operations of Vista Sunrise II, a 61-unit special needs development located in the city of Palm Springs. The development will include 29 units for chronically homeless individuals and 31 units for chronic illnesses. The Vista Sunrise II development will be CVHC’s fifth special needs development constructed in Riverside County.

Homeownership Through the Mutual Self-Help Housing Program: Since 1989, CVHC has been helping families fulfill their dream of homeownership. Creating affordable homeownership opportunities for low-income families is a part of CVHC’s mission. The mutual self-help housing program means homes are built in part by homeowners. In the mutual self-help program, families work together and collectively build each other’s homes by using their sweat equity in place of a down payment.    Mutual self-help housing essentially builds communities based on a shared commitment of hard work, mutual support, and lifelong bonds. CVHC is the largest mutual self-help developer in the nation. To date, over 2,160 single-family homes have been constructed throughout Riverside and Imperial counties.

Community Engagement: CVHC also provides enrichment and educational programs at its Multi-Family developments. These include early childhood education centers, afterschool kids clubs, computer Instruction + technology centers, ballet folklorico dance instruction, mariachi music instruction, alternative high school diploma and GED programs for adults, community gardens + wellness for seniors, health and wellness educational classes + events, and English as a second language.

John F. Mealey College Scholarship Fund: In 2020, CVHC created the JFM Scholarship Fund in honor of its founding executive director. The scholarship is awarded annually to students living in CVHC developments who are seeking a higher education at any accredited college, university, or vocation school. To date, more than $962,000 in scholarships have been awarded, benefiting more than 889 students, supporting their dreams, and helping them persevere to complete their degrees.

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Extinguishing Workplace Burnout

DAP Health Magazine

Extinguishing Workplace Burnout

 

With a novel approach to wellness benefits, DAP Health ensures employees remain in their happy place

 

Words by Victoria Pelletier

 

DAP Health understands that the key to helping individuals navigate through times of crisis is to meet the hurting ones where they are in their personal journeys. This deeply empathetic approach to healing — especially healing rooted among those in the LGBTQ+ community — requires listening, compassion, and a commitment to connecting those seeking healing with a variety of tools that support it. To make all this possible, DAP Health leans on the passion of its employees, individuals who innately understand what it’s like to experience exclusion, as well as emotional and physical pain. 

DAP Health’s leadership cadre, led by CEO David Brinkman, recognizes that health care providers and other related professionals need vigorous health and wellness benefits themselves due to the tremendous stress associated with providing care to others. “Our wellness specialist and all the healers take health and wellness very seriously,” Brinkman notes, a sentiment that underscores the organization’s intent to combat the burnout pervasive in most work settings in the post-pandemic environment. “DAP Health honors all people,” Brinkman maintains, as the organization is “built around respect, admiration, and listening — values that create not only relationships but a community we all want to be a part of.” 

By the Numbers

While burnout is on the rise across demographics, young workers seem especially vulnerable to a trend we might expect to see among those who have been in the workplace for a while. A recent study of 1,000 Gen Z workers conducted by the Mary Christie Institute found that half of respondents had “experienced mental and emotional hardships in the past year.” A closer look at the data showed that 43% of respondents reported anxiety symptoms, while 31% described symptoms consistent with depression. Worst of all? A whopping 53% of the Mary Christie survey respondents reported experiencing significant burnout in the previous year. Without targeted interventions and long-term supports in place, many of those experiencing burnout will join the ranks of the Great Resignation within the next 12 months.

Influence of “Quiet Promotion”

Along with the advance of the Great Resignation, the Quiet Promotion dynamic continues to gain a beachhead in the workplace, leading to greater risk of burnout among those choosing to remain in their jobs. “Quiet Promotion” refers to those tasked with managing more responsibilities in the workplace due to the expansion of employee resignations and absences. 

Human resources guru Matthew Owensby of Aflac notes that employers, as well as employees, feel the pinch of all the turnover, and remain concerned that the personal suffering behind the resignation and promotion trends are here to stay. Owens notes, “A major concern of employee burnout is the impact on their well-being and how it affects engagement and retention.” In fact, an in-house study conducted by Aflac shows that in 2022, “more than half (59%) of American workers are experiencing at least moderate levels of burnout, a notable increase over 2021 (52%) and on par with the levels reported in 2020 at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.” Amid his insights on burnout and overall employee health, Owensby notes “employers are looking for new ways to offer benefits that help improve their employees’ mental health balance.” 

For DAP Health, innovation means immediate access to resources and benefits that can address challenges in employee health before they become overwhelming. More about that in a bit. 

Burnout Defined

Burnout is pervasive in the workplace and can sap employee energy and motivation. But what is it, exactly? Burnout is a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress. The phenomenon leaves employees feeling overwhelmed by their work, emotionally drained, and often being unable to meet the demands in their portfolio of responsibility. Unchecked, burnout can spill over into one’s personal life, impacting the quality of relationships, personal health, and the ability to find enjoyment in activities and routines that once offered joy. Perhaps the most vexing aspect of burnout is that it can be slow-moving. The symptoms of burnout may gradually increase over time, until the one impacted is well beyond a place of healthy functioning.

Burnout in Health Care

DAP Health Employee Wellness Specialist Desiree Loredo and People Operations Manager Trish Sisneros understand that people serving in organizations like theirs are especially susceptible to burnout because of all the time invested in patients at various levels of wellness. Coupled with the recent history and lingering impacts of a global pandemic, the daily stress of work in health care can wear down even the most resilient employees. 

Both Loredo and Sisneros agree caregivers seem to be the worst at self-care, a reality that means prevention is not enough. Self-care measures must be continuous, varied, and exciting. One of the assumptions Loredo and Sisneros make in their wellness approach at DAP Health is that it’s okay to be human and not get everything done. 

Inasmuch, Loredo and Sisneros are proponents of mental, physical, and emotional “breathers” for DAP Health staffers, so that these compassionate caregivers will have the stamina and passion to offer ongoing support to those who need care. Further, breathers are just good medicine for everyone. Stepping away from the demands of work from time to time elevates one’s quality of life. 

A Robust Approach to Wellness

For DAP Health employees, the benefits/wellness program continues to cultivate feelings of connection, longing, and value. Along with the typical health, dental, and retirement offerings you might expect from an organization with a large staff, DAP Health also provides a host of wellness perks to employees that underscore ongoing self-care, not just prevention. With the complete support of CEO Brinkman and DAP Health’s board of directors, the benefits/wellness program includes partnerships with local fitness programs, credit unions, and other service providers; access to yoga, massages, and Transcendental Meditation (TM); mobile apps to manage personal wellness options and meditation; provisions for “self-care days” in addition to traditional sick leave; and, among other perks, the ability to use a DAP Health gym. 

Of course, the real strength of DAP Health’s benefits/wellness program is that it is people-focused, not cost-focused. Not too long ago, DAP Health employees participated in an organization-wide survey to measure the impact of burnout and the health of employee/management relationships as related to wellness. Out of this important work, initiatives were put in place that create healthy dialogue among employees and management, while also honoring the importance of employee input in crafting innovative wellness offerings. Employee engagement with Transcendental Meditation is one of DAP Health’s noteworthy innovations.

Meditation for Everyone on the Team

Bob Roth, CEO of the David Lynch Foundation, understands the positive impact of meditative practice. “Research shows that a simple meditation practice can reduce stress, prevent stress disorders, and improve cognitive function,” he notes. With more than 50 years of experience teaching TM, Roth sees meditation promoting wellness in a way a traditional medical model cannot. For a DAP Health employee, a 45-minute TM session can potentially lower their body’s level of cortisol, a hormone released as part of the body’s “fight, flight, fear” response to stressful inputs. While pointing out that “stress is destroying workplaces, families, and health,” Roth believes that educating people about the benefits of meditation, and then encouraging them to adopt a meditative practice, will mean better wellness outcomes for many. The data, and the anecdotal evidence offered by DAP Health employees who take advantage of this novel benefit, affirm Roth’s work and assertions about the benefits of meditation. 

Burnout is on the rise. The Great Resignation and Quiet Promotion phenomena are outward, measurable signs of the ways burnout impacts great organizations. Ultimately, however, great workers and the people who love them are the silent sufferers of burnout. Hopefully, novel and robust benefits/wellness programs offered by organizations like DAP Health will turn the tide and bring more joy and passion to the workplace.