HOW IT WORKS
Everything You Need to Run Clinical Trials, Handled for You.
01
Turnkey Clinical Trial Integration
We handle all logistics—staffing, regulatory compliance, patient recruitment, EMR documentation, billing, and more—so your CHC can participate in clinical research without any operational burden.
02
New and Reliable Revenue Stream
Our model turns clinical research into a high-margin revenue stream—at no cost to your CHC. We fund everything and deliver a new stream of sustainable, long term income.
03
Access to New Treatments
Give your patients early access to cutting-edge medications years before they reach the market—improving outcomes while reinforcing your mission of advancing health equity.
04
Full Oversight & Support
We ensure every trial is conducted under strict FDA protocols, centralized ethics review, and rigorous quality assurance—tailored to meet the realities of CHC settings.
05
Leverage a Proven Model
87% of CHCs want to conduct research, but only 22% do*—held back by time, staffing, and funding barriers. CHCRC eliminates all three by delivering full infrastructure, trained staff, and sponsor access—at zero cost and zero disruption.
ABOUT
Our Mission
Community Health Centers were built to care for everyone—regardless of income, background, or insurance. That mission has never been more important—or more challenged.
At CHCRC, we come from the same world. Our founders have led CHCs, managed funding gaps, and found ways to do more with less—without compromising care.
That’s why we created CHCRC: to strengthen your mission, not add to your burden. We bring clinical research into CHCs as a seamless, mission-aligned part of care—not a bolt-on program.
Our model improves access, generates new revenue, and ensures your patients are represented in the future of medicine. What started as one center’s innovation has become a national movement.
With CHCRC, you’re not just joining trials. You’re leading change—in your community and across the country.
Built for CHCs.
Built for the long term.
A Mission-Aligned Movement Partner
CHCRC is a purpose-built, values-driven clinical research infrastructure provider created for the CHC ecosystem and owned by it in principle and practice.
• Founded by CHC leaders who served for decades in community medicine, the Bureau of Primary Health Care, and HRSA grant review, CHCRC embodies the lived experience of our nation's CHCs.
• It is led by those who know what it's like to balance care with compliance, staffing with scarcity, and mission with operational reality.
• Our founders are not outsiders. They are your colleagues, peers, and sons of the movement—leaders who have prayed, worked, and sacrificed in pursuit of a more equitable and sustainable future for community care.
What fuels CHCRC is not capital—it is conviction.
A Model for Sustainability, Equity, and Belonging
CHCRC is not a vendor. It is a partner, an advocate, and a solution
Dr. Vincent J. Thompson, MD
Chief Executive Officer
Dr. Thompson is a family physician whose career has been defined by both service and
leadership in the Community Health Center movement. He was the Founder of the Community
Health Center of Buffalo, serving as its President and CEO through its origination, licensing, and
initial federal funding.
His leadership extended beyond a single health center:
• Served as President of the predecessor organization to CHCANYS (Community Health
Care Association of New York State) for two years.
• Was nominated to apply for Director of the Bureau of Primary Health Care (BPHC).
• Served as a BPHC consultant and reviewer for five years.
• Served as a HRSA grant reviewer for more than 30 years, helping shape the funding and
policy landscape for health centers nationwide.
• Returned to leadership roles as CEO and CMO of CHCs two additional times during his
career.
• Today, serves as Co-Founder and CEO of CHCRC, bringing this lifetime of experience
to bear on the urgent challenges facing CHCs.
In addition to his professional leadership, Dr. Thompson’s life has also been marked by hardship
and resilience:
• The destruction of his private medical practice following Hurricane Sandy.
• Personal health struggles, including traumatic brain injury and paralysis in his legs and
left arm.• His role as primary caregiver for his spouse, who faces end-stage COPD, dementia, and
multiple cancers.
These professional achievements and personal hardships have forged a leader who is deeply
credible, deeply empathetic, and deeply mission-driven. Dr. Thompson embodies the values of
the CHC movement itself: resilience, accountability, and service.
Dr. Johan A. Cruz-Polanco, MD
Chief Operating Officer
Dr. Cruz-Polanco began his medical career in the Dominican Republic before immigrating to the United States in pursuit of expanded opportunities for his young family. After obtaining legal citizenship, he faced the challenges common to many internationally trained physicians—systemic barriers that limited professional advancement despite his qualifications and experience.
Amid the pressures of financial and familial responsibility, Dr. Cruz-Polanco experienced personal and professional setbacks that had lasting consequences. Nevertheless, he remained steadfast in his commitment to medicine and to serving others. His journey reflects the broader narrative of immigrant professionals who, despite talent and dedication, must navigate complex structural obstacles to achieve their full potential.
While working within one of New York’s Community Health Centers, Dr. Cruz-Polanco continued his preparation for the United States Medical Licensing Examinations (USMLE). During this period, he met Dr. Thompson, whose shared vision for compassionate and equitable healthcare laid the foundation for what would become CHCRC.
Through perseverance, reflection, and renewed faith, Dr. Cruz-Polanco redefined his mission: to ensure that no physician, family, or community is denied access to innovation, dignity, or hope. His work embodies the integration of personal resilience and professional excellence in advancing healthcare equity.
A Partnership Forged Through Adversity
Dr. Thompson and Dr. Cruz-Polanco met during a time of profound personal and professional challenge. Each was contending with the consequences of life’s unforeseen difficulties—health struggles, loss, and renewal. Rather than marking an end, this period became the genesis of a partnership grounded in shared faith, accountability, and a unified commitment to service.
Together, they transformed adversity into purpose, establishing a foundation dedicated to advancing community health through compassion, integrity, and collaboration. Their partnership continues to exemplify the belief that healing begins not only in medicine, but in the strength of human connection and shared vision.
WHO WE ARE
Executive Team
Frequently Asked Questions
Will this take time or staff away from our core clinical operations?
No. CHCRC provides dedicated clinical research coordinators and manages all logistics, so your existing staff stays focused on primary care. We integrate into your workflow without creating additional workload for your team.
How much does this cost our health center?
Nothing. There are zero upfront costs or fees to participate. CHCRC covers staffing, trial setup, compliance, and ongoing support—your center gains a new revenue stream with no financial risk.
How are clinical trials selected for our site?
We match your CHC with trials that align with your patient population and clinical capacity. You’ll never be asked to take on a study that doesn’t fit your scope or comfort level.
Is it safe for our patients to participate in these trials?
Yes. All studies follow FDA protocols and are approved by independent Institutional Review Boards (IRBs). Patient safety, informed consent, and ethical oversight are our highest priorities.
What’s the benefit beyond revenue?
In addition to financial compensation, your patients gain access to cutting-edge treatments years before they’re widely available. Participating in research also helps close equity gaps in clinical data by ensuring your community is represented in medical innovation.