Our Very Own Jerry

“I’m so proud of Little Saigon Designation and the Stockton Boulevard Community, the designation will help  create more jobs to all segments of our community, help stimulate economy, open doors  all members to get more involved in the social and political process, eventually gain recognition as value segment of the American population.”  -Jerry Bliatout, CEO of Health And Life Organization.

Have you met Jerry? Which one? There are so many.  Cynthia and I met Jerry Bliatout one afternoon in his two-story facility.  What intended to be a half an hour meeting of casual conversation turned into two hours filled with life lessons, words of wisdom, unwavering encouragement, and direction.  As Jerry guided us stressed that one of the most important things to remember is that his Sacramento Community Clinics provide internships and jobs for those who are interested in joining the medical field.

Health And Life Organization (HALO), inc. is a non-profit Public Benefit Corporation established in 2003 to provide quality primary healthcare to a low income and ethnically diverse population.

Why so modest Jerry?  It is in the nature of Asian people to be humble.  It just seems as though we need Jerry to become more Americanized.  Why not share with everyone your great work and the huge difference you have made in our community?  For instance, in 5 short years, the two offices have gained a combination of over 30,000 clients (not a typo); the Southgate location has 40 employees, including 8 doctors. Although he is not a doctor or a trained medical professional, Jerry runs a medical office which provides a wide range of services from Family Medicine to Mental Health & Social Services, and Family Dentistry and Family Planning Access Care. Programs such as Family Pact and Substance Abuse Cessation not only benefit our community greatly, but also bring about issues and problems not commonly discussed or confronted in our culture.

Jerry reminds us constantly of how proud he is to be an American.  The things he values most out of what was afforded him is not just freedom and the American way of life, but also the education and opportunities he was given when he wanted to better himself, which allowed him to obtain the training and certification to be a Real Estate Broker.  When he wanted to learn more about Laws and the American Legal System, he went back to school to pursue a law degree. He stresses that, “Education and knowledge gave me confidence, it satisfies my curiosity and moreover, it empowers me to help those around me.”

Jerry’s humble beginnings and struggles with learning the English language and culture at such an older age were never viewed as a detriment; they shaped his character and moral compass.  He learned to be tolerant and empathetic towards others.  As he puts it, what sets his clinics apart from others is the fact that his staffs and doctors are “culturally competent” while also “sensitive to the value of Western medicine.”

Take yourself back to 1975; Southeast Asia was in Chaos. The US troops withdrew and the new regime took control in both Laos and Vietnam.  Similar to many Vietnamese, Hmong refugees were forced out of their homeland and displaced by the War. Tens of thousands fled the mountainous regions of Laos and Vietnam to Thailand seeking political asylum.  At age 19, Jerry had to start all over again.

The biggest lesson Jerry learned from all of his experiences? “It’s never too late to start over; the reason to go to school is to be competent.  I don’t know everything, I know enough to hire the people who are competent in their own fields.”

Although many see Jerry as honorable leader in our diverse community, Jerry insists that he succeeds because he sees himself more as a student than anything.   He lives by the motto, “To lead, we must learn who we are leading, the time spend following might be more important than the time you spend leading.”

After living in Minnesota and other cities for many years, Jerry and his family made a visit to Sacramento, specifically, the area surrounding Stockton Boulevard.  Upon seeing the modest landscapes he emphatically nodded as he said to himself, “These people can be served.”