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At TrueCare, we are proud of the diverse team of healthcare professionals who are making a difference in the lives of underserved communities. Dr. Joanna Kingdon, a dedicated pediatrician with a passion for supporting immigrant and refugee families, exemplifies the heart of our mission. With a unique background in both economics and Spanish, Dr. Kingdon’s journey into community healthcare is one rooted in social justice and a desire to make lasting, compassionate connections with the patients she serves. Keep reading to learn more about how Dr. Kingdon’s expertise, combined with the supportive environment at TrueCare, is changing lives and shaping the future of healthcare in our community.
Meet the TrueCare Team: Joanna Kingdon, MD
Dr. Kingdon’s path to community healthcare is a testament to her passion for helping underserved populations and her dedication to making a meaningful impact.
Her journey has been shaped by her commitment to understanding the complexities of immigration, social justice, and holistic care. Learn insights into her journey, what brought her to TrueCare, and the challenges and rewards she encounters.
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What Inspired Your Journey into Community Healthcare?
Dr. Kingdon says that her inspiration to start a career in community healthcare began in college, though her journey has been unorthodox, to say the least!
“I decided to major in Spanish and economics with a focus on economic development, specifically in Latin America,” said Dr. Kingdon. “I grew up in San Diego, and we had some education about the area, but I think I always grew up wanting to know more about the history on a more global scale as to why we had so many people that were Spanish-speaking living here and what drove them. That’s why I chose economic development and learned Spanish – to learn more about the history of colonialism and imperialism and how that has affected and continues to affect countries,” she said.
After school, Dr. Kingdon entered the economic field because, at the time, she believed that it aligned closely with her passion for activism and social justice. However, after working in the field, she learned it wasn’t what she imagined and quickly became disillusioned.
“After graduating, I tried to go into the economic field because it became clear to me that I had a passion for helping people who fled countries where they did not have a good social situation or were in danger or just wanted to make a better life for themselves,” said Dr. Kingdon. “I tried to intern at organizations that helped in the economics field but quickly learned it didn’t really have the effect I wanted. I was missing the person-to-person connection of really being able to help those who had immigrated. That was when I decided to pivot and take my premedical prerequisites to apply to medical school, which has given me the opportunity to change lives I was seeking,” she said.
In medical school, she learned who she wanted to serve and how she could serve them.
“Medical school was really eye-opening,” said Dr. Kingdon. “I quickly learned that the direction my heart was pulling me in was more of a primary care setting. I wanted to work in a clinic where I could see a lot of patients who spoke Spanish and had recently immigrated or were refugees. That made me happy. What I really grew to love about community health is that I was able to provide an extra layer of understanding, compassion, and empathy to those communities,” she said.
Ultimately, this experience helped Dr. Kingdon gain a crucial contextual understanding of how and why people immigrate, why they need resources in the communities we serve, and what kind of resources they need the most.
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What Brought You to TrueCare?
While Dr. Kingdon’s passion for helping those in need has been her professional fuel, what brought her to TrueCare was, in part, a personal need.
“I wanted to be closer to family after being gone for 15 years, and I’m from the area,” said Dr. Kingdon. “My partner is also a physician, and he and I decided that there were just more opportunities here. That’s a huge part of why I came back,” she said.
However, what really drew her to TrueCare is that the organization aligned with her personal philosophy, values, and mission.
“I knew I wanted to be working in an organization that was a federally qualified health center (FQFC), so I wanted to mainly work with Spanish speaking patients,” said Dr Kingdon. “I’m fully trained as an interpreter, so that’s a skill I bring. I wanted to work somewhere where I would see more of those patients, and it became very clear to me that there were only a handful of FQFCs in San Diego. Ultimately, TrueCare’s mission and origin story resonated profoundly with me, so I was really eager to interview here,” she explained.
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What Are Some of the Biggest Challenges You See in Community Health, Especially in San Diego Pediatrics?
One of the biggest challenges that Dr. Kingdon has noticed in local Community Health is a lack of access to mental health resources. She says being able to work in a health center that provides those resources is incredibly fulfilling.
“A lot of barriers are definitely mental health counselor availability,” said Dr. Kingdon. “But I was so impressed when I started here, and they said, ‘Do you want to just do a warm handoff to one of our counselors or therapists?’ I said, ‘Yeah, I didn’t even know that’s a thing!’ It felt like finally finding my place in the world,” she explained.
She believes this aspect of working at TrueCare is rewarding and sets our nonprofit organization apart in many ways.
“It’s incredible because in other places I’ve worked, it’s definitely not a resource that they offer,” said Dr. Kingdon. “The other incredible thing is that a lot of our children that have a language barrier or some kind of developmental concern always receive the resources and support they need – whether it’s the phone number for a regional center or access to providers who specialize in their unique needs,” she added.
She says that what has been amazing to see is how the team she works with is greater than the sum of its parts in how it enables TrueCare to provide comprehensive, holistic health care to those who need it the most.
“A lot of this stuff is really important, especially when you consider historical context,” said Dr. Kingdon. “Providing these resources and bilingual services can truly alter the trajectory of a child’s life because, historically, children used to be treated differently or as lower intelligence just because they didn’t speak a language, which is unacceptable and doesn’t happen anymore. It’s great to have extra help, delineate what is truly a developmental concern, and address it. The impact you can make here is unbelievable,” she said.
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How Does TrueCare Support Its Staff?
What Dr. Kingdon says she likes the most about working with our team is that the support everyone offers empowers providers to give integrated care, whether it’s collaborating and talking with other providers or the warm handoffs that make patients feel taken care of.
“Even just having our panel coordinators to help if I ever don’t know what’s going on with an insurance issue or scheduling an ultrasound, for example, is truly special,” said Dr. Kingdon. “Everyone is always willing to help and stays on top of things. Every team member is good at their jobs, and they know that everyone else is great at what they do, so there is a really special kind of trust and unity that comes with that,” she said.
She says that leadership also makes sure that the team feels supported.
“It’s really nice to have such frequent one-on-ones with our clinic supervisor,” said Dr. Kingdon. “I don’t think that a lot of health centers have the time for those frequent check-ins. And it’s not even about constant feedback – in this day and age, there’s so much feedback all the time. It’s just so they can check in and see how it’s going and if you need help with anything. That kind of thing. They want to give you the support you need. We also get administrative time, like a full four hours, which is paid,” she explained.
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What’s the Onboarding and Orientation Process at TrueCare
Because Dr. Kingdon is a relatively new face and started in 2024, the onboarding and orientation process stands out.
“I really enjoyed the orientation because in medicine, especially when you’ve gone through medical school and a residency and are thrown into so many different hospitals all the time, your orientation usually entails getting a piece of paper that says to show up at the blue elevator or something,” said Dr. Kingdon. “Then, it’s like you blink your eyes and you’re starting a whirlwind, but you don’t know what’s going on. It can feel like an out-of-body experience. To have a set orientation was a really refreshing change of pace that gives you the opportunity to acclimate and actually meet everyone. This is really important because it makes you more comfortable knowing that, if you need something from any department, you have met them and can ask for help,” she said.
In addition to the orientation process, Dr. Kingdon said she really enjoyed the entire onboarding process and that it truly positioned her for success.
“The onboarding was really great because it ensured that your electronic medical record (EMR) was fully set up,” said Dr. Kingdon. “The first thing in the first 10 minutes we did is they had us write down all our usernames and passwords that we would want to use. That was really nice because, whenever you start a new job, you have to create so many new accounts and it was just very organized. It’s super helpful because it means you don’t have to figure that out while you’re seeing patients. Then, there were a few days where I had 15-minute meetings with different sub-specialists or people from different departments, like pharmacists or chiropractors. It was great to meet everyone. It’s very structured and intentional, and I have really appreciated that organization. Organization is a lifeline in what can be a chaotic work environment,” she said.
Dr. Kingdon says that she loved the onboarding process at TrueCare because we really make an effort to ease you into the workflow by slowly ramping up the patient load.
“That slow ramp-up is incredible,” beamed Dr. Kingdon. “It was especially helpful for me because I was just coming back to starting a new job and just had a baby. I had a three-month-old at home, and they made it really easy to get back into the swing of things. They have been exceptionally understanding and supportive of that situation,” she said.
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What’s the Work-Life Balance Like at TrueCare?
As a new mother, Dr. Kingdon says that work-life balance and flexibility are incredibly important to her, and it’s one of her favorite things about working at TrueCare!
“The work-life balance is great,” said Dr. Kingdon. “You can really tell they value your well-being here. There’s a strong understanding that taking care of yourself helps you show up better for your patients. It feels sustainable, supportive, and like a place where you can truly thrive—both personally and professionally,” she added.
Dr. Kingdon says that she is just one of many providers who have been enjoying the flexibility and work-life balance!
“It’s just really great to know that your employer cares about you as a person and not just an employee,” Dr. Kingdon said.
What’s it Like Working with the TrueCare Team?
Dr. Kingdon said that she has also thoroughly enjoyed the environment and team dynamics at play at TrueCare!
“Every medical assistant, every nurse, and every panel coordinator is really open and warm, and they’re open to any questions you have,” said Dr. Kingdon. “Obviously, when you start a new job, you will always have a lot of questions, and the entire team is super supportive and receptive. You never feel like you’re inconveniencing anyone. The same goes for providers, even if you just want to pick their brain,” she added.
Just as importantly, Dr. Kingdon says she values being a source of information for her colleagues – it makes her feel recognized for her talents! Ultimately, she believes this creates a collaborative and dynamic work environment that makes work more interesting.
“Of course, with that kind of thing, it’s a two-way street – they know they can come and ask me a question, no matter what it is,” said Dr. Kingdon. “We all collaborate quite a bit and see each other’s patients every so often. That’s really nice because we have the chance to provide extra insight,” she said.
However, the team dynamic isn’t just about work – they also celebrate each other, which Dr. Kingdon says goes a long way in creating a positive and warm environment.
“There are always a lot of events here. Just yesterday, we celebrated Doctor Day, so all the non-physician staff decorated the kitchen and brought in food and got us gifts, which was really nice, and we do the same for the non-physician staff when there are special occasions,” she said.
At the end of the day, the team’s shared values and commitment to the TrueCare mission play a huge role in the culture.
“Everyone is so passionate about making sure they are doing what’s best for the patients and their parents, and it’s really clear to me that we have a unified goal,” said Dr. Kingdon. “It sounds simple, but our mission is just to be there for patients. If they can’t make an appointment because mom has work, for example, we make time so that they can come back at their convenience. Everyone has a very ‘yes and’ attitude,” she added.
What Impact Have You Seen Your Work Have On the Community?
Ultimately, for Dr. Kingdon, what she truly loves the most about her work at TrueCare is being able to see the impact she has on the community.
“Something that has really affected me is seeing so many kids who recently immigrated or been here under refugee status because it’s obvious they had a lot of social trauma back home and the parents initially are always really hesitant to bring it up,” said Dr. Kingdon. “These are pretty sensitive topics, and children usually don’t want to talk about them. The truth is the parents don’t want to either,” she said.
By providing a warm and safe space and compassionate care, she says it’s incredible to see them open up, start moving on from past trauma, and accept the help they need.
“Parents will sometimes get really emotional and even cry when they’re telling me about these things,” said Dr. Kingdon. “It’s a big reason why they had to leave wherever they’re from, whether it’s violence or sexual assault or some other traumatic event. It’s really nice to provide reassurance and make them feel heard, seen, comfortable, and welcome. What people don’t realize sometimes is that, for immigrants or refugees, simply providing a safe, secure space where they feel like they belong can be life-changing. That’s what we try to do with all of our patients,” she said.
She says her background makes it easier for her to connect with patients.
“Being able to speak Spanish really helps, and when everything comes together, it’s a really powerful feeling and sense of accomplishment,” said Dr. Kingdon. “A lot of these kids are young, like six or eight or ten, and sometimes, it’s really hard for parents to tell me what they experienced. Sometimes, they don’t even know how to have that conversation. But as soon as they do, you can see this immense relief, and then we can come in and provide support for their physical, mental, and emotional needs,” she said.
Dr. Kingdon also appreciates that TrueCare takes a quality-over-quantity approach to health care because it helps her help the community.
“We see four patients an hour, more or less, which can be a lot compared to some places, but I think that’s a really manageable amount,” said Dr. Kingdon. “We’re not trying to cram in more patients per hour, so you can really provide good, thorough care, which benefits you as a provider because you don’t have to see a huge volume of patients and write an overwhelming amount of notes, and it benefits patients and their families,” she said.
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Are You Inspired By the Words of Joanna Kingdon, MD? Apply Today to Make a Meaningful Difference in Your Community.
At TrueCare, our mission goes beyond just providing health care — we are committed to making a meaningful difference in the lives of our community members while fostering a collaborative, supportive, and compassionate environment for our team. Dr. Kingdon exemplifies the values that define our organization, bringing her passion for serving immigrant and refugee families, as well as her dedication to holistic, empathetic care, to every patient she encounters. If you are inspired by the opportunity to make a profound impact and want to be part of a team that values community, personal growth, and professional fulfillment, we’d love to have you join us.
Visit our Careers Page and apply today to start a rewarding journey where your work truly makes a difference.
