LifeLong Medical Care

Community Health Centers Leading the Way to Serve 1 in 3 Americans 🌟🏥 Last week, I had the privilege of attending the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) conference in Atlanta 🏙️ It was truly inspiring to connect with fellow community healthcare leaders and engage in insightful conversations about the future of our field. 📈 The impact of our work is growing: community health centers now serve a record 32.5 million patients - that's 1 in 10 people nationwide! Perhaps the healthcare sector's most ambitious goal discussed is to increase our reach from serving 1 in 10 to 1 in 3 Americans in the coming years. The introduction of the Health Workforce Investment Act is a game-changer in achieving that goal, providing federal funding to scale our successful community-led workforce development partnerships. This bipartisan legislation will significantly boost our efforts to recruit and retain skilled primary care teams, ultimately improving patient care 🩺. This expansion would dramatically increase access to comprehensive, culturally competent care for millions more people, particularly in rural, urban, and tribal communities. NACHC CEO Dr. Kyu Rhee said it best, “[Health] centers are lasting. When [you] consider [their] impact on the importance of health in our families, in our communities, and the people we serve, we represent the center of hope, dreams, and opportunities." He continued, “We are the most resilient… [and] the most diverse part of the health system. Don't undervalue that diversity, whether it's racial, ethnic, geographic.” The conference reinforced my belief in the power of community health centers to drive positive change. I left Atlanta feeling energized and optimistic. The passion and dedication of my colleagues gives me great hope for the future of community health. Together, we're creating a more equitable and accessible healthcare system for all 🌟 #CommunityHealth #HealthcareLeadership #HealthEquity #AccessibleCare #WorkforceDevelopment

Today marks my last day interning with Health Career Connection at LifeLong Medical Care. As I take a step back and look at all of the work I've done, I can confidently say that, thanks to this opportunity, I have grown immensely. I remember when I first started my internship two months ago, I kept thinking that I wasn't fit for the role, that I wasn't good enough. However, thanks to the amazing support from HCC, throughout my time at LifeLong, that negative talk turned into confidence. Thanks to the HCC team, and Gisselle Marroquin, the other intern working at LifeLong alongside me, I was able to complete this internship with a positive outlook. I will always be grateful for the opportunity I was given this summer, and I will continue to use the skills I've developed throughout my personal and professional career. Thank you, HCC, for this invaluable opportunity, and for showing people like me that experiences like the ones created this summer can be made possible.

🏥🤝 FQHCs: The Unsung Heroes in the Battle Against Health Inequity This recent Richmondside article underscores the vital role Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) play in combating health inequities in underserved communities. I'm incredibly proud of our dedicated providers, like Dr. Emily Hunter-Adamson and our former staffer Niyi Omotoso, who go above and beyond to care for patients facing disproportionate health risks due to environmental factors like air pollution 🌍💨 Their tireless work treating respiratory illnesses and advocating for cleaner air in Richmond is a testament to the compassion and commitment of our staff. This article highlights a harsh reality: 🚨 while we can treat symptoms, we can't prescribe better living conditions. But we can work to improve the environments where our patients live. FQHCs like LifeLong Medical Care bridge the gap between healthcare and community well-being. Our involvement in initiatives like the Path to Clean Air and engagement with local government showcases our commitment to addressing the root causes of health disparities. As healthcare leaders, we have a responsibility to partner with policymakers, community organizations, and residents to find sustainable solutions to these environmental health challenges. LifeLong’s commitment goes beyond treating illnesses; we’re dedicated to creating healthier communities. By uniting our voices and expertise, we can advocate for policies that promote cleaner air, safer neighborhoods, and better health outcomes for all 🌟 🔊 I call on fellow healthcare leaders to join us in this crucial work. Let’s push for environmental justice, support our dedicated staff, and work tirelessly to create a healthier, more equitable future for the communities we serve. 🔗 Learn more in the article linked below. #HealthEquity #CommunityHealth #FQHCs #EnvironmentalJustice #PublicHealth

🌟 Celebrating AmeriCorps at LifeLong: A Legacy of Impact Last Friday marked a milestone as we celebrated the graduation 🎓 of LifeLong Medical Care's AmeriCorps Health Fellows. Their dedication to public health has been nothing short of inspirational. State Senator Nancy Skinner's presence at the event highlighted the crucial role of government partnerships in advancing health equity through legislation and funding. Our nine healthcare heroes - Takhmina Abdul, Yayra Abledu, Rebecca Bantum, Kelsey Daniels, Megan Goetz, Skai Denise Mendoza, Karina Montes De Oca, Helen Rosales, and Carlos Zurita-Delgado - are all remarkable individuals who have been at the forefront of delivering vital health education and support. I am thrilled that several of them will be transitioning to permanent roles 🌱 at LifeLong, allowing us to retain their valuable skills and fresh perspectives! A heartfelt thank you to the staff at LifeLong who make the program possible including our very own Sylvia Hacaj was a crucial part of drafting key legislation that led to the creation of the AmeriCorps program in 1993, and Lucinda Bazile, who is known as the program’s “mother” at LifeLong, and has driven our engagement efforts, positively impacting our services. 🤝 To everyone at LifeLong who has supported our fellows – THANK YOU! Together, let's continue to champion this spirit of service and advance community health. #HealthcareHeroes #AmeriCorpsHealthFellows #PublicHealth #HealthEquity #CommunityImpact

Critical Vaccine Gap Looms for the Uninsured and Underinsured Reflecting on my first week as CEO of LifeLong Medical Care, a critical issue highlighted in the The New York Times today has captured my attention. The ending of the CDC’s Bridge Access Program poses significant challenges for uninsured and underinsured communities—a reality my team at LifeLong Medical Care confronts daily. It is especially troubling that this is happening in August during National Immunization Awareness Month, a time when we emphasize the importance of vaccines for people of all ages. As we face the challenges brought by the end of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Bridge Access Program, the importance of sustainable healthcare solutions has never been more evident. The article highlights the pressing concerns faced by health centers like LifeLong nationwide as they scramble to ensure continued access to COVID-19 vaccines for the most vulnerable populations. Our very own Dr. Michael Stacey, LifeLong Medical Care’s Chief Medical Officer, expressed our shared concern in the article, stressing the financial hurdles we face: “We don’t have a good alternative at this point, except to try to find some money to figure out how to buy some vaccines ourselves. When a program like this is dropped, we don’t have a lot of money to do this work." His words, as reported by Dani Blum and Katie Mogg, resonate with the broader challenges that our staff has brought to my attention this week. Ensuring that no one - the uninsured, underinsured, or those with poor access to care - is left behind in our healthcare system is more crucial than ever. As we navigate these changes, my resolve to advocate for sustainable healthcare solutions and equitable access intensifies. I am thankful for the insights from our dedicated team and for their unwavering commitment to our community. Together, we are dedicated to overcoming these challenges. #HealthcareForAll #CommunityHealth #COVID19 #LifeLongMedicalCare #HealthEquity

Today marks the start of my role as CEO of LifeLong Medical Care, and I couldn't be more thrilled to begin this journey with a visit to our Berkeley Dental Care team. Understanding the passion and drive behind our staff's commitment to healthcare is a top priority for me. In the coming weeks, I will be visiting each of the sites where LifeLong delivers care – health, dental, and urgent care centers; schools, respite, addiction recovery, and supportive housing locations; and our mobile teams as well as our administrative offices. These visits will be an opportunity for me to listen, learn from the team's experiences, and gain invaluable insights into their perspectives on LifeLong’s work and future. I'm deeply grateful to Dr. Miriam Parker, our Chief Dental Officer, Luz Garcia, our Dental Operations Manager, and all our talented dentists and dental assistants for their warm welcome and the exceptional care they provide to our community. It's also National Health Center Week - a perfect time to experience the impactful work we do. Here's to many more visits and to continuing the LifeLong legacy of excellence in serving our patients and community. #HealthcareHeroes #HealthEquity #CommunityHealth #Healthcare #Leadership