EDMONTON — Dr. Rieza Kristielle Zara has joined the first Filipino co-owned family health clinic, Medicus Family Clinic and Pharmacy.
Zara graduated from the University of Alberta in 2015.
The medical facility, known for its “malasakit,” opened its doors in June last year and has grown to serve not only the Filipino community, but other Edmontonians.
“We wanted to answer to the call of our Kababayans to have a clinic where doctors can speak Tagalog and we were able to provide that service to them,” says Kris Salumbides, co-founder and marketing director of Medicus. “Yet Medicus is open to all Edmontonians.”
In a TV interview last February, Salumbides admitted 10 years ago, he had a hard time expressing his thoughts to a family doctor who did not speak his language.
Salumbides and business partner Jesse Tallon established Quality Sleep Care and Alberta Medical Supplies in 2014 and the two companies were able to grow. When of another business partner Jacob Christian came on board as director of finance, it allowed them to open Medicus Clinic last year.
“It’s really comfortable for us to talk to a doctor who knows Tagalog,” Billacura says.
