Wenjing Zhang is the Primary Care Coalition's Lead Service Designer, responsible for developing system improvements to serve patients and providers better. Some of the organization's programs and systems, such as Project Access, were built many years ago when PCC was first founded.
"I have a creative and design background with technology skills," said Zhang. "My job is to meet with and listen to all stakeholders, including providers and patients, and research the technology systems. Then I design and propose solutions for system and program improvements with a business mindset."
Zhang earned her master's degree in service design from the Savannah College of Art and Design. While at school, she lived in Savannah, Georgia, then Atlanta for about six months, before settling in Charlotte, North Carolina.
The position at PCC drew Zhang to this area in September 2024, so she is still relatively new to the organization and the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.
"I love my job at PCC, particularly the human aspects," said Zhang. "Being able to talk to patients and providers face-to-face and seeing firsthand how my work can help them is rewarding."
"Providers have ideas to share about new systems and processes because they are the ones who work directly with patients and know how care can be delivered more efficiently. And patients want to be heard and understood."
"Visiting health clinics and experiencing the energy flow between people is my favorite part of the job," said Zhang. "I am outgoing and a people person. Whenever there is an opportunity, I want to be around people."
Zhang's colleagues may not know she is a licensed yoga teacher and an artist who works in oil, graphite, and charcoal. She dreams of one day opening a yoga studio with an art studio upstairs. She stays busy outside the office with yoga, art, and traveling. Since she has only lived in this area for less than a year, she is still exploring nearby towns and states. Recent trips have included Delaware and Virginia. She's visited the Shenandoah National Park and hiked in Charlottesville over the Memorial Day weekend.
"I want to visit every small town I can find on the map. I zoom in and out on Google Maps to find the names of towns and places I want to visit. I've visited most of the places in North Carolina and South Carolina when I lived in the South, and now I've started a new adventure here."
Zhang has a twin sister who lives in London and visits her often in the U.S. Whenever they can make the long trip, they travel home to see their parents.
Inspiration for Zhang comes from new opportunities and experiences. "I get excited when I hear about a new adventure, a challenge I can resolve, or a trip to a place I've never been before. I love new things."
"I love that most of my days at work are different. I get to do different types of work. Sometimes I get to be creative, sometimes I get to talk to different people, and sometimes I get to be at different places."
Zhang shares her life with a six-year-old cat named Turtle, a black and white domestic shorthair. Turtle sometimes pops up in Teams Meetings with Zhang when she works from home, seeking attention and begging for food. He is supposed to be on a diet to lose weight, and he likes to remind her how angry he is about the situation.
"Service design is such a new field that involves three components: people, process, and physical evidence (such as the artifacts we use or technology). What PCC is doing is so meaningful and special because I have the chance to design all three components, and my goal is to achieve a new system transition and make it a great case study," said Zhang. "I'd love to present it at a big design or healthcare conference and show our approach and methodologies for improving service to vulnerable people."
"I am really excited, and I will be super proud to be able to share our work and knowledge with others. I feel like we are getting close to being able to do that."
"I have a creative and design background with technology skills," said Zhang. "My job is to meet with and listen to all stakeholders, including providers and patients, and research the technology systems. Then I design and propose solutions for system and program improvements with a business mindset."
Zhang earned her master's degree in service design from the Savannah College of Art and Design. While at school, she lived in Savannah, Georgia, then Atlanta for about six months, before settling in Charlotte, North Carolina.
The position at PCC drew Zhang to this area in September 2024, so she is still relatively new to the organization and the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.
"I love my job at PCC, particularly the human aspects," said Zhang. "Being able to talk to patients and providers face-to-face and seeing firsthand how my work can help them is rewarding."
"Providers have ideas to share about new systems and processes because they are the ones who work directly with patients and know how care can be delivered more efficiently. And patients want to be heard and understood."
"Visiting health clinics and experiencing the energy flow between people is my favorite part of the job," said Zhang. "I am outgoing and a people person. Whenever there is an opportunity, I want to be around people."
Zhang's colleagues may not know she is a licensed yoga teacher and an artist who works in oil, graphite, and charcoal. She dreams of one day opening a yoga studio with an art studio upstairs. She stays busy outside the office with yoga, art, and traveling. Since she has only lived in this area for less than a year, she is still exploring nearby towns and states. Recent trips have included Delaware and Virginia. She's visited the Shenandoah National Park and hiked in Charlottesville over the Memorial Day weekend.
"I want to visit every small town I can find on the map. I zoom in and out on Google Maps to find the names of towns and places I want to visit. I've visited most of the places in North Carolina and South Carolina when I lived in the South, and now I've started a new adventure here."
Zhang has a twin sister who lives in London and visits her often in the U.S. Whenever they can make the long trip, they travel home to see their parents.
Inspiration for Zhang comes from new opportunities and experiences. "I get excited when I hear about a new adventure, a challenge I can resolve, or a trip to a place I've never been before. I love new things."
"I love that most of my days at work are different. I get to do different types of work. Sometimes I get to be creative, sometimes I get to talk to different people, and sometimes I get to be at different places."
Zhang shares her life with a six-year-old cat named Turtle, a black and white domestic shorthair. Turtle sometimes pops up in Teams Meetings with Zhang when she works from home, seeking attention and begging for food. He is supposed to be on a diet to lose weight, and he likes to remind her how angry he is about the situation.
"Service design is such a new field that involves three components: people, process, and physical evidence (such as the artifacts we use or technology). What PCC is doing is so meaningful and special because I have the chance to design all three components, and my goal is to achieve a new system transition and make it a great case study," said Zhang. "I'd love to present it at a big design or healthcare conference and show our approach and methodologies for improving service to vulnerable people."
"I am really excited, and I will be super proud to be able to share our work and knowledge with others. I feel like we are getting close to being able to do that."
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