Next week health centers across the country will be celebrating National Health Center Week (NHCW), August 8th-14th! To help kick off the national campaign, top Obama Administration Health officials will participate in a NACHC tele-town hall meeting. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and Dr. Mary Wakefield, the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) will discuss the latest news related to Community Health Centers and the impact on communities of the landmark Affordable Care Act. They will be joined by a health center clinician, Gary Wiltz, MD, CEO of Teche Action Clinic, Inc. in Franklin, LA; Velma Hendershott, President & CEO of Intercare Community Health Network, Bangor, MI; and Tom Van Coverden, President and CEO of NACHC. Check out the media advisory here.
Another not to miss event will be at the Center for American Progress (CAP). CAP will host a panel discusion at their headquarters in Washington, D.C. and issue a paper that will show the impact the additional health center funding from the newly passed Affordable Care Act will have in targeted communities, including how much additional economic activity will be generated and how many new jobs will be created. Health center leaders will also be in the spotlight at this event (read the media advisory): Rebecca Keen-Fan Sze, FNP, MSN, MPA, Director of Women’s Health at the Charles B. Wang Community Health Center, New York, NY and Stephanie Kenyon, Chief Operating Officer at the Loudoun Community Health Center, Leesburg, VA. There will be a live web cast of the event.
And,last but not least, health centers that participated in the NHCW video contest will be anxious to see if their submission won. Although NHCW starts in just THREE days there is still time to view and vote for your favorite video. The last day to vote is this Friday, August 6, 2010. Please be sure to vote for your favorite video by clicking the “like” button underneath it and remember to tune in next week for the results!