Our History
With a commitment to supporting Rhode Island’s most socioeconomically challenged children, the first board meeting of the Central Falls Children’s Foundation (CFCF) was held in September of 2019 where the mission for the foundation was formed – to provide free-of-cost consultations, x-rays, dental care and more to uninsured, primarily immigrant children through Jenks Park Pediatrics, which opened in February of 2020.
While this commitment has never wavered, the world as we knew it did with the onset of the pandemic. Faced with these extreme and unforeseen challenges, we knew that we needed to do all we could to support a community that was not just that state’s most disproportionately impacted by COVID, but at times had the highest positivity rates per capita in the country – and even the world!
CFCF and Jenks Park Pediatrics have been providing culturally aligned, free-of-cost supports to all CF residents – young and old and regardless of insurance or citizenship status.
Executive Director
Dr. Dioscaris R. Garcia
Dr. Dioscaris R. Garcia is our Executive Director. He leads initiatives focused on culturally responsive healthcare, workforce development, and social support for underserved communities. A first-generation Dominican-American, Dr. Garcia brings a lifelong commitment to equity and innovation, drawing from his own lived experience and academic training. He holds a Ph.D. in Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology from Brown University and a B.S. in Microbiology from the University of Rhode Island. His leadership has been instrumental in expanding access to care, building community-based pipelines into the health professions, and addressing systemic barriers through programs rooted in trust and cultural alignment.
Prior to his role here, Dr. Garcia served as Assistant Professor of Orthopaedics (Research) and Assistant Dean for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Brown University’s Warren Alpert Medical School. A nationally recognized scientist, he has published on antimicrobial technologies and trauma-related infections, and has mentored hundreds of students from historically excluded backgrounds into STEM and medical careers. His work has earned state and national recognition, including citations for leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Garcia continues to advocate for solutions that empower communities and drive lasting change at the intersection of health, education, and justice.