CONGRATULATIONS AND WELCOME — The Ohio Valley Health Center welcomed Dr. Kamaleep Nandra to the free clinic, where she volunteers alongside her father, Dr. Charn Nandra, medical director of the center and local cardiologist. Taking part in the welcome were, from left, front, Ann Quillen, executive director; Dr. Kamaleep Nandra; Dr. Charn Nandra; and back, Amanda Dyson, patient navigator; Juliett Hamilton, pharmacy technician; and Michael Hauber, clinical nurse manager. -- Julie Stenger

STEUBENVILLE — Meet the Nandras. Many throughout the Ohio Valley may already know them. But for those who do not, they are more than just a loving father and daughter.

They are more than just practicing physicians. They are a family who, whenever possible, gives back to the community they love. And perhaps no one knows this better than Ann Quillen, the executive director of the Ohio Valley Health Center.

Quillen explained how Dr. Charn Nandra has been an integral part of the nonprofit clinic since its inception in 2006.

Nandra says he became interested in becoming a doctor because of his brother, who was the family’s first physician. He exclaimed he saw his sibling caring for others and wondered what type of profession he could choose that would also help people.

He chose the occupation of physician and has served in that capacity for the last 50 years, having graduated from the University of Wales in 1976.

FATHER AND DAUGHTER TEAM — Dr. Charn Nandra, medical director at the Ohio Valley Health Center and local cardiologist, has been joined by his daughter, Dr. Kamaldeep Nandra, who began volunteering at the nonprofit a few months ago. -- Julie Stenger

His achievements throughout the years have been many, including being named this year’s winner of the Inspiration Award from CommonSpirit.

Nominated by those at the Ohio Valley Health Center, the cardiologist who helped implement echocardiograms in the community was selected out of 10,000 doctors. Among his other honors was being named the 2020 Physician of the Year by the Charitable Health Network of Ohio.

“Without Dr. Nandra, our clinic couldn’t function,” Quillen stated.

Nandra has served in the capacity of medical director at the health center since 2013, although he has been an instrumental part in the clinic since the very beginning, Quillen continued.

She noted everything at the clinic operates under the Trinity Health System interventional cardiologist’s licensure, including the facility’s laboratory. Most of the nurse practitioners at the center have a collaborative agreement with Nandra as well, Quillen added.

REVIEWING CHARTS –– Physicians review medical charts of patients, some of whom are malnourished. Patients seen at the clinic include those with no insurance or those underinsured. Reviewing the charts with the Nandras was Michael hauber, clinical nurse manager. -- Julie Stenger

“His service is vital,” she stated. “His dedication to the clinic and his significant commitment and compassion toward his patients is invaluable. He works so well and so closely with the staff and has such dignity and respect for the patients he treats — which is a key aspect to what we provide here at the health center.”

The OVHC will soon be celebrating 20 years of service to the community, offering those who are uninsured or underinsured a place to go for free medical attention.

The health center has had 30,000 patient visits for close to 5,000 unique patients. It has filled 4,600 prescriptions worth half a million dollars and provided more than $1 million in free health care to its patients in 2024 alone. What’s more, the clinic is now offering echocardiograms, which Quillen said is very important.

Nandra said investigating for heart disease is extremely important and 52 echocardiograms have been given to patients since January.

If that wasn’t enough, the center has yet another reason to celebrate — and that is due to the arrival of Nandra’s daughter, Dr. Kamaldeep Nandra to the clinic.

PATIENT EXAM — Paul Nitz of Steubenville visited the Ohio Valley Health Center on Wednesday morning, where he was examined by Dr. Kamaldeep Nandra, who began volunteering at the nonprofit a few months ago and working alongside her father, Dr. Charn Nandra, the center’s medical director. -- Julie Stenger

Most of her patients refer to her as Dr. K, so as not to cause confusion when speaking of “Dr. Nandra,” she explained.

Dr. K., an internist established in Boardman and affiliated with East Liverpool City Hospital and Trinity Health System, is now serving as a volunteer provider at the health center. She started volunteering at OVHC a couple of months ago, noting those at the center helped her in the transition and set her up to succeed with patient care.

As a hospitalist working with emergency admittances, Dr. K. works in a fast-paced environment, taking on several in-patient cases in what can be a noisy and busy workplace.

Her work at the clinic allows her to experience a change of pace, with outpatient cases allowing for a more quiet setting.

“It is a nice contrast,” Dr. K. said, adding she gets to do what she loves in various settings.

When asked why she chose to enter the medical field, she responded how she was exposed to the profession from an early age. She recalled times she had to sit in waiting rooms and listened to her father’s lectures play. The profession appealed to her and she finds it to be very rewarding.

“Nothing changes as rapidly as this,” Dr. K said of the career choice. “There are always new studies coming out. And no two patients are ever the same.”

“It is such a privilege to give back,” she continued. “It feels like you really made it when you can give back to others. Everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect.”

Dr. K explained she decided to volunteer at the health center because Steubenville will always be the place which she considers “home.” She added she will always want to give back to the place she appreciates so much and the people whom she values here.

“We moved around a lot,” Dr. K. said, noting she was in Steubenville the longest, and considers it home. She left the Follansbee and Weirton areas in 1995 to attend various schools, including Boston University. She conducted her training in Chicago and then moved back to the Steubenville area for her residency. “It was nice to come home and provide care to people at home base,” she added.

“This community has given way beyond our expectations and it is only right that we give back as much as we can,” Nandra said.

“It is important for our generation to be active in the community and to volunteer,” Dr. K commented.

“All of our doctors and nurse practitioners are volunteers,” Quillen said. “We still have a waiting list of people who need help. So, we are always excited when a new volunteer comes on board because it cuts that wait list down.”

“It is a privilege to hold the hand of a needy person,” Nandra commented. Nandra stated compassion runs deep within his family, as his mother instilled in him the importance of family values and community service.

And in turn, his daughter learned those values through her father.

The health center hopes for its immediate future to celebrate 20 years of care in the Ohio Valley, which is a major milestone, Quillen concluded.

This year’s gala fundraiser will take place April 26. The gala is a key event of the nonprofit, as it provides approximately one-third of its operational budget.

Quillen said she would like to continue to grow the services offered to the public free of charge and expand the laboratory.

Nandra specializes in clinical, non-invasive and interventional cardiology. He is board certified in internal medicine, cardiovascular disease, interventional cardiology, nuclear cardiology and echocardiography. He is certified in electrocardiography.

He holds a bachelor of medicine degree; a bachelor of medicine, bachelor of surgery degree from Wales; was awarded the designation of Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians; awarded the designation of Fellow of the College of Chest Physicians; and awarded the designation of Fellow of the American College of Cardiology.