Kenyan provider opens health clinic at West Central

By Mary Stamp
For a long time, Geoffrey Mwangi, a doctor of nursing practice (DNP) and a family nurse practitioner (FNP-C), has dreamed of setting up his own patient-centered primary care medical practice to serve people of all races, especially immigrants and blacks.

His practice emphasizes the intersection of three pillars of health—physical, emotional and spiritual.

West Central Community Center (WCCC) had a space for a clinic and was looking for someone to fill it.

When WCCC opened in 1981, midwives with the Deaconess Women's Clinic practiced from portables in the parking lot. When the center was remodeled and expanded in 2006, the clinic moved into the building at 1603 W. Belt St., said Kim Ferraro, who became executive director in 2011.

Deaconess left the space in 2012. From 2014 to 2023, Unify Community Health, part of the Yakima Valley Farmworkers Clinic, ran a clinic there. The space for a medical clinic was open, and Kim had Black Realty set up a sign, "Clinic Space for Rent."

Last spring, Geoffrey and his wife, Purity Femino, were having a picnic at the A.M. Cannon Park across from The NATIVE Project, where Geoffrey had worked in the health clinic since 2014.

They were talking about his dream to open a clinic when they noticed the sign.

He met with Kim Ferraro, executive director of WCCC, and she "gave me the green light to start the clinic," he said.

On July 15, 2024, Geoffrey opened Asante Health, a primary care clinic at West Central Community Center. It is open for appointments from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday.

"Asante" in Swahili, his second language—Kikuyu is his first language and English his third—means "thank you." With that name, he is saying, "Thank you for allowing me to continue to practice and serve this community. It's a privilege I don't take for granted."

Geoffrey, who owns Asante Health, said he is currently the only provider at the clinic. Amanda Kiefer is his medical assistant. He plans to add  providers as the clinic gains patients and builds credentials with health insurance companies.

Lisa Fuchs, WCCC Women Infants and Children's (WIC) coordinator, helps draw patients from the programs at the WCCC center, in Cheney, Airway Heights and Fairchild Air Force Base.

The clinic provides annual physicals, pediatrics, geriatrics, women's health, men's health, telehealth, lifestyle management, preventive education, mental health treatment and nutrition/weight counseling. It also provides management of chronic conditions and diseases like diabetes, hypertension and asthma, and care for acute illnesses like colds, flu and infections.

Geoffrey always wanted to be a doctor. Growing up in Kagaa, a village in the Ol Kalou Constituency of about 2,000 in the Central Province of Kenya north of Nairobi, he worked toward that goal. After high school at a boys' boarding school in Kangui, he was accepted to study biology at the University of Wisconsin in Green Bay, graduating in 2006. He worked as a caregiver and then applied to earn a nursing degree at the University of Wisconsin Madison-Lacrosse campus, studying from 2008 to 2010.

After graduating, he moved with his first wife and mother of two of his three children to Salem, Ore., to work as a nurse at the Salem Hospital. While there, he received a master's degree in 2013 and a doctoral degree in 2014 as a doctor of nursing practice with the Oregon Health and Science University.

In 2014, he came to Spokane to join the health clinic at The NATIVE Project, where he worked until 2024. He continues to help there as needed.

Asante Health Care was established through a private funding and grants with strong backing from the community and institutions. It received a $115,000 grant from Health Sciences and Services Authority of Spokane (HSSA) for advancing health innovation and access. It also received a $5,000 Spokane Inclusive Business Catalyst grant from Spokane's AHANA-Multi-Ethnic Business Association.

Asante Health cares for anyone who comes, accepting health insurance from those with insurance, having a flat rate fee for service for those without insurance and offering a cost waiver option for those unable to pay.
"I can control what happens in my clinic, but not costs outside," he said, noting that Inland Imaging helps provide services for those without health insurance, as does Quest Diagnostics.

His wife, Purity, who owns and operates adult family homes, also helps him in the office.

"Many black patients had been looking for a long time for a primary care provider who would understand their needs the way I do," he said, telling of outreach to spread the word in the community about the clinic. 

"Spokane's increasingly diverse population calls for health care facilities and professionals that reflect and understand communities they serve. Culturally competent, inclusive care is no longer optional. It's essential."

Geoffrey has seen more than 150 patients at Asante Health since last July. Patients have come after reports on local TV, an online search for a provider through WebMD and through word of mouth.

"I see everyone from children to adults," he said. "We have openings for new patients."

Practicing primary care medicine is fulfilling for Geoffrey, who says he is a people person.

"I love primary care and work hard to meet people's needs," he said. "I feel satisfied when someone who has experienced many problems comes and, by working together over time, I can help them improve their health and wellbeing.

"When patients are respected, heard and engaged in their treatment decisions they have healthier outcomes," he said, describing how that fits into the physical, emotional and spiritual pillars of health care.

"As a Christian, the care I offer is based on the physical health for the body, emotional health of the mind and spiritual health for the spirit," said Geoffrey, who has attended Life Center in Spokane since 2014.

"Most providers address physical care and emotional care, but if all three pillars of health are not addressed, people continue to suffer," he said.

Geoffrey opens the topic of spiritual health by asking, "What does spirituality mean to you?" He invites conversation about spiritual health, regardless of a patient's spiritual background.

"It means different things to different people, but if people are not healthy spiritually, it will have an impact on their physical health," he observed.

"There are many things we can't explain in medicine. We can help patients physically and emotionally, but something is missing if we do not address spiritual health," he said.

With Christians, he may talk about the Bible. He counsels people of any faith to develop their spiritual lives in their tradition. Practicing faith and being part of a faith community matter.

Geoffrey has been Christian all his life. His father took him to church and Sunday school, and he attended a youth group.

"By being spiritually healthy, I mean being in tune with God. For me as a Christian, it means believing Christ is my Savior, forgiveness of sins by grace and being of service to humanity as a way to serve God. I use the gifts God has given me to serve others," he said.

Along with incorporating the three pillars of health, Geoffrey believes that, for the best health outcomes, it's important to empower patients to take an active role in their health care and prevention practices.

"It improves patient satisfaction and health outcomes," he explained. "When patients understand their conditions and treatment options, they are more likely to make lifestyle changes to improve their health.

"By giving patients tools and knowledge to manage their health proactively, we help reduce unnecessary emergency visits, improve chronic disease management and support long-term wellness," he said. "Ultimately an engaged patient is a healthier patient."

"I spend time to help patients to be aware of their physical, emotional, spiritual, financial and cultural issues, because I want patients to work with me as a partner in their health care and wellness," said Geoffrey.

He listens to patients' concerns, answers their questions and involves them in decisions about their care.

He tells patients, "Your health is your wealth."

Along with his work as a primary care provider in Spokane, Geoffrey's visits to his family in Kenya for two to four weeks a year are also mission trips. He takes over-the-counter medicines, a blood pressure machine and a blood sugar monitor with him.

He goes house to house to see villagers, building a relationship with them. If he diagnoses a serious illness like diabetes or hypertension, he refers people to the local hospital.

Purity comes with him to Kenya, and they also visit her family in Voi in the Coast Province.

For information, call 808-2835, email info@asantehealth.org or visit asantehealth.org.