April 21, 2025
A heart for helping others
A Kaiser Permanente doctor is passionate about providing medical care and support to the homeless community.
Dr. Leung provides a medical exam to a person experiencing homelessness.
Every doctor has a reason for entering the field of medicine. For Peter Leung, DO, it’s service to others.
“I’ve always had a passion for helping others, especially the most vulnerable in our society,” said Dr. Leung, a family medicine doctor at Kaiser Permanente Fontana Medical Center.
Hitting the streets
Dr. Leung first began working with the homeless population while volunteering with Purpose Church, which provides showers, clothes, and food to people experiencing homelessness in the Pomona, California, area. As he volunteered, Dr. Leung saw an opportunity to combine his medical expertise and his volunteer work — and the street medicine clinic was born.
Many people experiencing homelessness lack access to basic medical care.
Once a month, Dr. Leung and a team of health care professionals — many of whom are also Kaiser Permanente physicians — provide critical medical services to the homeless community through Purpose Church. Dr. Leung also provides medical care to people experiencing homelessness through 2 other nonprofits: Just Us 4 Youth and Wound Walk OC. He even launched his own nonprofit, redefineD, which partners with local and global organizations to bring medical care to underserved communities in need.
“So many members of the homeless community don’t know how to get help, and they need support in a number of ways: basic needs — like housing, food, and clean clothes — but also medical treatment, mental health support, and more. My work is about meeting people where they are and bringing the help they need directly to them,” said Dr. Leung.
The bigger picture
For Dr. Leung, this work is part of a purpose that is much greater than himself.
“I do what I do to help the community, and my hope is that by speaking about it, others will be inspired to find ways to support their own communities,” said Dr. Leung.
At Kaiser Permanente, we believe in serving our communities. Learn more about our community involvement.
