About Us
The name of this Corporation, organized in 2019 in pursuant to the Not-for-Profit Corporation Law of the State of Indiana, is “Chikare Health Services Inc.” It is also has a 501c (3) tax-exempt status.
Our Story
In the fall of 1997, Dr. Chinyere I Odeluga, MD, a young highly dedicated and energetic board certified family medicine specialist arrived East Chicago as the founding Medical Director of a newly formed East Chicago Community Health Center. She was recruited by then by St. Catherine’s Hospital. She answered the call to serve the poor, needy, uninsured and underinsured of the community who hitherto lacked affordable access to health care services at the time and were
frequently seen in the local Emergency Department for routine care. She succeeded with her small team of healthcare workers to build a reputable and successful practice at the Main Street Office facility which later transitioned to a permanent location on Chicago Avenue as a Federal Qualified Health Center in late 1999 with more providers and other medical staff. In late 1998, with the permission of her employers at the time, she and her husband Kanayo K. Odeluga,MD.,MPH, a board certified internist and Occupational Medicine Specialist incorporated company Chikare Health System, PC which later opened a primary care practice in East Chicago on March 1, 1999 called Immanuel Family Health Center.
This practice’s stated vision is “to provide for the poor and needy access to affordable quality holistic healthcare services based on sound medical knowledge utilizing appropriate and sustainable technologies”. Their mission “
to provide compassionate care based on sound medical knowledge to the whole person within the context of his/her family and community” The practice committed to providing excellent services in an environment of faith, hope, and love that encourages healing. This philosophy and value system permeated every aspect of the organization and services at the practice. Immanuel Family Health Center, was well received in the community and grew as a practice which over the years has cared for multiple generations within families and communities in East Chicago, Hammond, Gary and environ.
After, 20 years of service to our communities, this practice was acquired from Chikare System, PC by Chikare Health Services, Inc., a not-for-profit corporation which shared similar vision, mission and values so as to continue to pursue the community and pursue the possibility of designation as an FQHC or FQHC look alike on January 1, 2020
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