Eastern PA Minority-Owned Small Business of the Year
The U.S. Small Business Administration recently announced that Everest Medical Group with locations in the Greater Philadelphia Area and Delaware County, is the Eastern Pennsylvania Minority-Owned Small Business of the Year for 2022.
Everest Medical Group is owned by Dr. Guofang Wang and Dr. Xiaobin Li, who are internal medicine specialists primarily treating seniors and have been practicing for more than 14 years. Everest Medical Group is a small minority-owned healthcare business providing services in minority and underserved communities.
The business has 200 employees and three operating locations: Havertown, Upper Darby, and a new site in the City of Chester. Their services include primary care, urgent care, physical therapy, MedSpa, adult daycare, homecare, and workplace health. Everest Medical Group’s location in Chester is a 13.4-acre vertically integrated healthcare site named Silvercare Medical Campus. Soon the site will also provide skilled nursing facilities with memory care units, as well as a 100-unit affordable independent living apartment building for seniors.
“It’s a privilege to recognize the achievements of leading minority-owned Pennsylvania small businesses like Everest Medical Group,” said Steve Dixel, SBA Eastern Pennsylvania District Director. “Dr. Li and Dr. Wang are the true definition of spirited entrepreneurs who have created an impact in their local underserved and minority communities. SBA is proud of the role that Widener University Small Business Development Center played in helping Everest Medical Care Group purchase and renovate their newest facility in Chester, Silvercare Medical Campus.”
The Silvercare Medical Campus is located on the previous Community Hospital site that had been shuttered for nearly a decade. Dr. Wang and Dr. Li purchased the property in 2019 with the help of Widener University Small Business Development Center’s (SBDC) consulting services. Widener SBDC assisted with a financial feasibility analysis; market research; site acquisition, financing, and redevelopment assistance; and navigating the permitting process.
“Everest Medical Group and Dr. Li and Dr. Wang are dedicated to treating the medically underserved minority communities,” said nominator Lenin Agudo, Director, Widener University SBDC. “We provided our nocost consultation services for the purchase of the former hospital and our consultants will continue to work with them on the next phase of the redevelopment project.”
Widener SBDC is a member of the Pennsylvania Small Business Development Centers’ statewide network which provides quality, no-cost, confidential business consulting and training to small business owners and entrepreneurs thinking about starting a business, contemplating expansion or change in a current business, or are developing a new product.
Today Silvercare Medical Campus’s urgent care clinic is open, the adult daycare center is operational and soon there will be a restaurant and coffee shop within the complex. During the pandemic, SBA’s COVID Economic Injury Disaster Loan funded staffing to provide pop-up vaccine clinics at Chester City Hall, local churches, and senior apartment buildings to give shots to the medically underserved populations. Dr. Li and Dr. Wang also donated PPE to the City of Chester amid the pandemic when the city was in need.
“While other medical institutions are closing their doors, Everest Medical Group is continuing to move forward and invest in underserved communities,” said Dr. Wang. “It’s amazing to be named SBA’s Eastern Pennsylvania Minority-Owned Small Business of the Year.”
“When the Silvercare project is completed, it will drastically improve the surrounding neighborhood, bring increased economic opportunities, improve quality of life for patients, and provide much needed quality care to our local community. We are honored by SBA’s award, and we are thankful for the guidance and support received from Widener SBDC,” Dr. Li added.
Dr. Li and Dr. Wang are both on the advisory board of the Asian American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Philadelphia, and members of the Delaware County Chamber of Commerce. Dr. Li is on the Board of the Association of Chinese American Physicians in Greater Philadelphia, and both doctors have admitting privileges at Delaware County Memorial Hospital.
SBA’s Eastern Pennsylvania Minority-Owned Small Business of the Year award winner is selected annually from among nominees located across the 40 counties of eastern Pennsylvania. National Small Business Week recognizes the small business community’s contribution to the American economy. Learn more about National
Small Business Week at https://www.sba.gov/national-small-business-week.
