Zufall readies new mobile medical unit
NEWTON. The health facility on wheels will serve people experiencing homelessness, agricultural workers, residents of public housing, veterans, senior citizens and schoolchildren.
Newton /
| 14 Sep 2025 | 12:15
Executives from Zufall Health and lead sponsor BD cut a ribbon on the new mobile medical unit. From left are Ami Simunovich, BD chief quality & regulatory officer and public affairs; Carla Burigatto, BD chief communications officer; Peg Zufall, a Zufall board member; Shana Neal, BD chief people officer; Fran Palm, Zufall president and chief executive; Annette Gonazlez, Zufall chief operating officer; David Woods, Zufall senior vice president of external affairs; and Peter Wolfson, Zufall Health Foundation board president. (Photos by April Ludwig)
The 40-foot mobile medical unit’s passenger side reflects three key populations served by the vehicle: children, older adults and veterans.
Fran Palm, Zufall Health president and chief executive, tells of three patients whose lives were saved by the organization’s mobile services.
Volunteer Lindsay Benoza-Morales hands a box of hygiene kits packed by BD volunteers to Zufall fleet coordinator Jorge Castro for delivery to patients via the mobile unit.
Zufall Health celebrated its new mobile medical unit during a ribbon-cutting at the BD (Becton, Dickinson and Co.) corporate headquarters in Franklin Lakes on Sept. 4.
The health facility on wheels will bring primary care to people where they live, work, learn and gather, expanding Zufall’s reach to underserved populations.
With two fully equipped medical exam rooms, the unit joins Zufall’s growing fleet of mobile vehicles, including its original Highlands Health Van, which has been on the road since 2009 and has logged nearly 100,000 miles.
That 38-foot vehicle began showing its age in 2023, prompting Zufall to launch a $500,000 campaign to fund a new medical mobile unit.
The campaign drew widespread support from the community, with lead backing from BD, which contributed $150,000.
“Purchasing and custom-outfitting a vehicle of this size in compliance with all standards requires significant time and resources, but BD’s generous donation helped accelerate our ability to advance health access in our community,” said Zufall president and chief executive Fran Palm.
“Our brick-and-mortar sites serve patients across seven counties, yet many - such as people experiencing homelessness, agricultural workers, residents of public housing, veterans, seniors and schoolchildren - face challenges getting to care. Mobile services let us meet them where they are so those who need medical care most can receive it.”
Like its predecessor, the Zufall Health Mobile Medical will prioritize those populations and will provide patients with the same full range of services: physicals; vaccinations; same-day sick visits; well-woman and gynecological care, including Pap tests; select family planning services; treatment for minor illnesses; and referrals to specialists.
“Zufall’s mobile medical unit is an exemplary example of how innovation can bring care directly into underserved communities and help close gaps forged by social determinants of health,” said Shana Neal, executive vice president, chief people officer and president of the BD Foundation.
“We’re proud to have the BD logo displayed on the unit as a reflection of our commitment to expand health access and advance the health of our communities - right here in New Jersey.”
Since 2013, Zufall has received more than $500,000 in philanthropic contributions from BD.
The health center was the recipient of the “BD Helping Build Healthy Communities Award” in 2013 and 2021 for its innovative care model in treating chronic disease among at-risk patient populations.
This award enabled Zufall to expand its diabetes care capabilities and strengthen its national presence.
BD also supported Zufall’s ÁNDALE initiative, a nutrition and fitness program for children with obesity, among other projects.
The Zufall Health Mobile Medical is expected to hit the road this fall after it is licensed.