To Dr. Pater Schnatz, the fact that not everyone has access to doctors and treatment and medicine simply isn’t acceptable.
“Health care is so important,” he said. “It’s a fundamental need, and unfortunately there’s many people who don’t have good access to it.”
Schnatz and other likeminded medical professionals are doing their part to help fix that. He serves as CEO and board chair of the Berks County branch of FaithCare Inc., a nonprofit that provides free health care to the uninsured and underserved locally and abroad.
Originally founded in 1994 in Hartford, Conn., FaithCare has built a global network that serves those in need through clinics, hospitals and events domestically and in Africa.
The organization has done things like provide a leg brace for a 3-year-old Reading girl to correct in-toeing and allow her to walk confidently.
It has performed life-saving surgery on a Nigerian woman suffering from a fibroid tumor. It has treated, at no cost, a young Nigerian boy whose parents couldn’t afford surgery to treat his acute appendicitis.
Gary Heydt, spiritual counselor, prays with staff and volunteers during the monthly FaithCare clinic held at Life Church, 621 Centre Ave., on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2025. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)
Later this month, the organization’s Berks chapter, which was founded in 2009, will host a “Global Impact” conference and banquet to help share its message and raise much-needed funding to complete it.
The conference will be held Oct. 24 and 25 at the Reading Hospital School of Health Sciences, 1025 Old Wyomissing Road. It will feature a variety of presentations aimed at medical professionals and everyday people.
Doctor students at Drexel University College of Medicine Maha Vijayakrishnan, left, and Simrit Rajan look over a patient schedule list during the monthly FaithCare clinic held at Life Church, 621 Centre Ave., on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2025. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)
“It’s really designed for anyone, whether they have a health care background or not,” Schnatz said. “There will be talks on health care and faith-based topics. The idea is to grow with each other and encourage each other and network with each other.”
The fundraising banquet will be held Oct. 25 at 5 p.m. at Spring Valley Church in Temple.
To register for either event visit faithcare.net/faithcare-annual-banquet.
“I hope people walk away from this being encouraged and uplifted, with new information and opportunities to network with others that are like-minded in their desire to meet people’s needs,” Schnatz said.