No. 47 | September 1, 2025 - November 30, 2025

THE JAISOHN CENTER (Philip Jaisohn Memorial Foundation) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting Asian Americans and underserved communities within the Greater Philadelphia Region.

Dr. Philip Jaisohn was a pioneer in Asian American activism as an advocate for Korean independence and a volunteer physician for the U.S. Military. In honor of his legacy, the Jaisohn Center strives to champion Asian-American causes and strengthen underserved communities through a wide range of health and human services. 

We’re excited to keep you updated on our Center’s mission to elevate Asian American communities and foster unity amongst all communities. Check out this newsletter to see what work we’ve accomplished with the help of your continued support.

Thank you for joining our cause!

Jaisohn Medical Center & Community Health Worker Program

On November 13th, at the Ophthalmic Associates in Lansdale, our Jaisohn Medical Center patients received comprehensive retinal eye exams. The exams included a vision screening, eye pressure evaluation, and an Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) Eye Test (third picture) which measures the thickness and structure of the retina through light waves. Diabetes can cause changes in the structure of the retina so it is imperative to have these tests done every year. 

The Jaisohn Center was awarded funding for the Community Health Worker Program by the Office of Public Health at the Montgomery County Health and Human Services. On November 21st, the Jaisohn Center partnered with the Hatfield Jame Masjid and the Montgomery County Office of Public Health to provide a Flu & COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic at the Hatfield Jame Masjid (Mosque). Thank you MontCo OPH for your vaccine support, Jaisohn Medical Center RN Hae-young Kim, and summer intern Anisa Akther for translation assistance. 

We are looking for additional providers (physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, etc). Detailed information can be found at www.jaisohn.org

To learn more about the Jaisohn Medical Center, please call our Philadelphia office at (215)-224-2000 or our Lansdale office at (215)-997-2101.

Jaisohn Home Health Care

We are happy to welcome Hosu Choi, RN, to the Jaisohn Home Health Care team! She has participated in multiple Jaisohn events as a volunteer prior to joining our organization and we are excited to officially have her as a member of the Philip Jaisohn Memorial Foundation.



To seek career opportunities or learn more about Jaisohn Home Health Care, please call (215) 866-0103.

Jaisohn Home Care

Jaisohn Home Care recently partnered with Mobile Health, a nationally trusted provider of occupational health services. Through this collaboration, our caregivers can now receive free TB testing, including both QuantiFERON blood tests and Chest X-rays, at locations most convenient to them.

This new service provides two major benefits for caregivers and our Home Care team:

faster caregiver onboarding and real-time access to test results. This initiative was created to support the health and safety of our caregivers by providing essential screenings with no cost, no complicated steps, and maximum convenience.

To learn more about Jaisohn Home Care, please call (215) 224-2137.

Jaisohn Wellness Center - Senior Community Center

Members of the Jaisohn Wellness Center enjoyed a variety of new classes, lectures, and services this fall. In order to strengthen the brain against dementia and improve dexterity, we added a recorder class and a journaling class in addition to crocheting. We also introduced Cheryl Yoo as the new ESL instructor. 

Teri Wassel, a registered dietitian from Montgomery County, returned for a special lecture on the health benefits of farro and exhibited how to prepare a fresh farro salad. Another special class on Korean folk painting, Minhwa, is an example of our efforts to share the culture of our members.

We would additionally like to thank skincare specialist Ji Eun Kim who has recently begun offering volunteer skin massage services for seniors twice a week, providing each participant with a 40-minute professional massage.

To learn more about the Jaisohn Wellness Center and how to participate, contact (267) 638-9500.

Jaisohn Mental Health and Social Services

Our Social Services team received training on Medicare and Medicaid to strengthen our ability to support senior clients in navigating Medicare and other insurance plans. With a deeper understanding of Medicare plans, we plan to provide clearer and more comprehensive guidance to seniors as they compare plans and make informed decisions. Our department looks forward to continuing various training to enhance the quality of care for the community we serve.

MOU Signed: UPenn School of Nursing & Jaisohn Center

We are pleased to announce that Jaisohn Center has signed an MOU with the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing – Lauder Community Care Nurse Practitioner Program.

Through this partnership, the program has assigned its Fellow, Chih-Cheng Wu, to the Jaisohn Medical Center for the Spring semester. Mr. Wu also speaks Mandarin and Spanish, strengthening our ability to support diverse communities.

This is a highly competitive, tuition-free UPenn program, and we are proud to be a clinical partner supporting the next generation of community-focused healthcare leaders.

AAPI Coalition and Jaisohn Center Leadership Session

Jaisohn Center and AAPI Coalition continued their bi-monthly leadership meetings, bringing together 31 engaged community leaders.The Mental Health Committee shared that they are launching a Youth Advisory Committee to ensure programs reflect the real needs and perspectives of high school students, and scheduled the first Mental Health First Aid Training for March 7, 2026. The Youth and Young Leadership Development Committee shared the results of the successful launch of the Youth Leadership Institute, which welcomed 32 diverse students across two sessions. 

Partner Spotlights featured the “Shared Stories, Shared Humanity” Immigrant Photo Exhibit by the County. An update on the rollout of the AA assessment (Understanding Asian American Diversity and Growth: A Community Profile in Montgomery County, PA) and the December 10th report release and press event was also shared. The meeting ended with a guest presentation from the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Montgomery County, focusing on strengthening cross-sector collaboration.

New America Initiative Summit

Senator Art Haywood, Rev. Luis Cortés of Esperanza, and George Choe of Philip Jaisohn Memorial Foundation launched the New America Initiative with a shared goal: helping emerging professionals rise to higher levels of leadership in our society. Pedro Ramos of the Philadelphia Foundation also stepped forward to help with this mission.

Thanks to the great organization of Jude Husein and Esther Castillo, this Summit brought together more than 40 young professionals for an inspiring evening. Our two keynote speakers — Secretary of Policy and Planning Akbar Hossain and Jefferson VP Tiffany Tavarez — shared powerful personal stories and messages about opportunity, service, and the responsibility of rising leaders. We also highlighted the growing list of individuals we have supported and helped connect to board roles and leadership positions.

Community Leader Visits to the

Jaisohn Community Wellness Plaza

Michael Clinton, Professor of History at Gwynedd Mercy University, visited Jaisohn Community Wellness Plaza. We discussed our publication plan commemorating Dr. Philip Jaisohn's history of US citizenship, "Philip Jaisohn and the Legacy of Korean American Citizenship."

USA & Local Visits

On September 14th, after the National Conference: Education, Policy and Action for Korean Americans, our organization sponsored a tour for over 35 visitors. The tour focused on Dr. Philip Jaisohn’s history at the Jaisohn Memorial House and Monument in Rose Tree Park.

This fall, we also received a rare visit from the Muriel Armstrong Jaisohn side of the family. Martha Armstrong Hendrickson's grandfather is the first cousin of Muriel Armstrong; Muriel Armstrong's grandfather, James R. Armstrong, and grandmother, Isabell Buchanan, immigrated from Ireland, and they are the great great grandparents of Martha. Martha studied the Armstrong family genealogy and presented us with a packet detailing their history.

International Visits

In October we were visited by renowned Korean artists Kim Kiho, Kwak Hongchan, Kim Yeongjo, Kim Gakhan, Goo Hyeja, and Jo Daeyong who are having special exhibitions in Washington D.C. and New York. Dr. Shin Sang Tae, Chairman of Korean Veterans Association, visited the Philip Jaisohn Memorial House along with his delegation and local chapter leaders including Rev. Young Hyun Jeon (President of the Korean American Veterans Association, Philadelphia).

2025 50th Anniversary Jaisohn Gala

We had the honor of celebrating our 50 years of service to the Philadelphia and Montgomery communities with 500 friends and supporters at the 2025 50th Anniversary Jaisohn Gala on November 8th. We are grateful to everyone who chose to spend the evening with us, and are especially thankful for our special speakers: PA Secretary of Human Services Valerie Arkoosh, PA Secretary of Policy and Planning Akbar Hossain, Senator Art Haywood, Commissioner Neil Makhija, Rep. Steve Malagari, and Matthew Skic, Director of Collections and Exhibitions at the Museum of the American Revolution. That kind of commitment says everything about our supporters in this community and we are so fortunate to have their support in our journey together. Philip Jaisohn Memorial Foundation 50th Anniversary video

We would also like to thank our sponsors listed below for their continued generosity and support. In addition to the banner list, we gratefully received the following additional contributions:

$7,500 Advocacy Sponsor:  PA Health & Wellness

Univest Financial Donation

National Conference: Education, Policy, and Action for Korean Americans

The National Conference on Education, Policy, and Action for Korean Americans, cosponsored by the Korean American Institute and Philip Jaisohn Memorial Foundation, was held from September 12th-13th in Philadelphia with an optional tour on the 14th. It was a successful weekend of collaboration among 125 attendees, including over 40 expert speakers, 20 elected officials, and 20 community-based organizations. 

Dinner with Hawaii Lt. Governor Sylvia Luke

With Hawaii Lt. Governor Sylvia Chang Luke attending the National Conference in Philadelphia, we organized a networking and learning opportunity for the Jaisohn-AAPI Coalition and local leaders. This special dinner provided us with the opportunity to learn how to navigate and influence in leadership roles and also to hear about the Jaisohn Advocacy and JAK Leadership Institute and New America Initiative. In addition to MontCo Commissioners Chair Neil Makhija and Vice Chair Jamila Winder, Senator Art Haywood and Rev. Luis Cortes shared their insight.

Philip Jaisohn Volunteer Service Award

In recognition of those who generously dedicate their time to serving our community, we organized this year the very first Philip Jaisohn Volunteer Service Awards, following the cancellation of the President’s Volunteer Service Awards program. We had a total of 56 awardees consisting of 44 students, including Jaisohn Memorial House volunteers, and 12 senior adults. The commitment of the awardees reflects the true spirit of Dr. Philip Jaisohn, whose life was built on compassion, civic duty and public services.

The Museum of the American Revolution Presents A Special Exhibition: “The Declaration’s Journey"

In celebration of the 250th birthday of the United States of America, the Museum of the American Revolution presents a special exhibition from October 18, 2025, to January 3, 2027.

As part of the exhibit, the Philip Jaisohn Memorial House has loaned Dr. Jaisohn’s trunk as well as videos from the First Korean Congress to be on view. The First Korean Congress, a march in support of Korean independence which took place in Philadelphia in 1919, was directly inspired by our own nation’s fight for independence. This exhibit is a remarkable opportunity to explore how the American Declaration of Independence inspired movements for freedom and liberation around the world!

Social Media

We invite you to follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/jaisohncenters to stay updated on our work uplifting the community through programs, volunteer opportunities, and coalition efforts. Follow and share—your engagement helps support our mission!

Grants

The Jaisohn Center is pleased to support the First Baptist Church of Huntington Valley, Korean United Church of Philadelphia, and Bethlehem Baptist Church in their intergenerational and senior education programs using computers from PA's DCED COVID-19 ARPA Capital Projects Fund Digital Connectivity Technology Program (DCTP). All organizations received 10 laptops from the Philip Jaisohn Memorial Foundation for the use of technology classes and improved technology access to marginalized communities in our area.

The Jaisohn Center's work would not be possible without the generosity of our partners: