Dr. Scott Kim, new chief medical officer at Harmony Healthcare Long Island, aims to connect with patients

Written by Lisa L. Colangelo

Whether he was working with HIV patients in Uganda or East Los Angeles, Dr. Scott Kim said he learned the key to being an effective doctor was more than mastering the science of the medical profession.

“It’s understanding and connecting with your specific patient population,” said Kim, who recently took over as chief medical officer at Harmony Healthcare Long Island, the federally funded health program focused on underserved patients in Nassau County.

For Kim, that meant taking a crash-course in Spanish before working in East Los Angeles so he didn’t need an interpreter in the examination room. It’s a skill that also helps in his new role at Harmony Healthcare where several of his patients have recently arrived from El Salvador.

Kim will oversee health centers in Elmont, Freeport, Hempstead, Oceanside, Roosevelt and Westbury as well as facilities at Freeport High School, Roosevelt High School and Westbury High School.

Newsday spoke with Kim, who lives with his wife and two children in Dix Hills, about his approach to community health and the challenges faced by his patients.