When you meet Dr. Meera Singh, one thing becomes clear right away: she cares deeply about children, families, and the community she serves. A General Pediatrician at Yakima Neighborhood Health Services (YNHS) since 2015, Dr. Singh brings more than 20 years of experience working with underserved communities.
“I have spent my entire career working with underserved communities,” Dr. Singh says. “My parents immigrated to the US from India and raised my sisters and me here. They worked hard with very little to give us better opportunities. I appreciate that aspect in the families I serve. It’s my way of giving back and advocating for these kids and their families.”
Dr. Singh grew up in San Diego, California, and went on to earn her undergraduate degree in biochemistry at the University of California, Riverside. She completed her medical degree at St. George’s School of Medicine and her pediatric residency at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
After practicing in Chicago for a time, she and her family moved to Yakima. YNHS quickly felt like the right fit.
“The YNHS mission aligned most with what I was accustomed to in regards to patient population, working with homeless, etc.,” she explains. “It helped that Rhonda [Hauff, CEO] and Dr. [Jocelyn] Pedrosa were willing to take a chance on me and give me the opportunity to serve this community.”
For Dr. Singh, some of the most meaningful moments come from working with teenagers.
“I like having the opportunity to work with adolescents and hopefully motivate them to work hard, get educated, and make a better life for themselves and their families,” she says. She also feels proud of YNHS’s pediatric team.
“YNHS has a good team of pediatricians with great access in Yakima and Sunnyside. I feel patients have a great chance of getting an appointment when needed and with a pediatrician, which does set YNHS apart from the other health centers in the area.”
Outside of work, Dr. Singh and her family enjoy the many things Central Washington has to offer.
“We have been enjoying the outdoor activities—hiking, teaching our girls skiing—and the abundant fresh fruits and vegetables during the summer,” she says.
When she’s not outdoors, you’ll often find her baking, crafting with her daughters, volunteering at their school, or traveling with her family.
Dr. Singh’s advice for patients is simple but powerful: “Focus on setting goals to create good habits such as ways to eat healthier within the limited means you may have and ways to increase physical activity as a family.”
Dr. Singh says she hopes her work leaves a lasting impact: “If I can even motivate one child to set a goal, work for it, and improve their life, then I will feel that my work is worth the time and effort.”
At YNHS, we are grateful to have Dr. Singh on our team—bringing expertise, compassion, and a true dedication to children and families in our community.