Zane Gates, MD

Community Health Leaders
2011

Area(s) of Expertise:
Access to care
Quality care
Covering the uninsured

Leader's Biography 2011:
While growing up in low-income housing, Dr. Gates' mother Gloria single-handedly instilled a desire in her only son Zane to succeed and to help others. After medical school at the University of Pittsburgh, Gates returned to Altoona and created a free van-based clinic to serve working poor who were ineligible for Medicaid. After partnering with Altoona Regional Health System, Gates transformed the mobile clinic to today's Partnering for Health Services, which provides access to free health care for about 3,500 people yearly in the Altoona area. Among Gates' innovations is a hospital-only insurance plan that permits clinic patients to purchase hospital coverage for $99 a month. Gates is also the director of the Altoona Community Health Center, a federally qualified health center. As a tribute to his mother, he founded the Gloria Gates Foundation to provide academic enrichment for more than 100 children in Altoona public housing. With these projects, Gates has touched nearly all the lives and institutions in Altoona while working for systemic change to assure support for free medical clinics throughout the state of Pennsylvania.

Where this leader can be reached today:
Medical Director
Altoona Regional Partnering for Health Services
501 Howard Avenue, Suite B204
Altoona, PA 16601
Phone: (814)-889-6011
Fax: (814)-889-6114