Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers

As we reflect on 2024, we at the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers are once again extremely grateful for our members and community partners and all that they have done to provide high-quality health care in our communities.  We recognize that sustaining our shared mission is both rewarding and taxing. With that in mind, and in the spirit of the holiday season, Mass League offices will be closed from December 25 through January 1 to enable our staff to celebrate and relax with their loved ones. We look forward to continuing our work with you in 2025.    May the New Year bring you good health and cheer! 

All the applications for the latest MA Repay programs are in! Thank you to the behavioral health and primary care professionals who applied. We received over 1300 applications. The Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers and the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services look forward to distributing student loan repayment awards to the dedicated individuals providing essential health services to Massachusetts’ communities. Award decisions will be announced in Spring 2025. Learn more at MArepay.org #MARepay #StudentLoanRepayment #HealthcareProfessionals #BehavioralHealth #PrimaryCare #CommunityHealth

Congratulations to Mass League Executive Director and Senior Vice President Cheryl Clark, MD, ScD, and NeighborHealth Vice President and Chief Equity Officer Mimi Gardner for being named 2025 Innovators in Healthcare honorees in the community health category by the Boston Business Journal.   Dr. Clark leads the Mass League's Institute for Health Equity Research, Evaluation & Policy (IHE). She and her team promote and engage in community-driven research, evaluation, and public policy to achieve health equity. IHE convenes communities and supports the scientific infrastructure, implementation, program evaluation, and training needed to identify and sustain the most effective strategies for attaining equity in health outcomes and health care as defined by those with lived experience of health inequities. Gardner has dedicated much of her 30-year career to passionately advocating for health equity and anti-racism practices. She oversees the development of community health programs for NeighborHealth. Dr. Clark and Gardner will be formally honored at an event at the Seaport Hotel Boston in February. Visit https://lnkd.in/eQXUMqNH to learn more about Clark, Gardner, and the other honorees. *Please note that there is a paywall associated with viewing the full article. 

Reminder: The deadline for submitting abstracts for the 2025 Community Health Institute (CHI) annual conference is January 16, 2025! Do you have any insight that could help shape a healthier future for Massachusetts communities? If so, we encourage you to read on. The Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers invites health center professionals, community partners, and vendors to submit abstracts for the 2025 CHI. This distinguished event centers on programmatic advances, operational strategies, and key policy and regulatory matters impacting health centers and their patients. Submission Themes of Interest: We seek presentations that resonate with the current needs and future direction of health centers. Priority will be given to abstracts that address: Technology and AI Integration: Innovations in digital tools and AI applications that enhance patient care and operational efficiency Workforce Recruitment & Retention: Strategies for attracting, engaging, and retaining top talent to build a resilient workforce Career Pipeline Development: Initiatives that create sustainable career pathways within community health centers Clinical Innovations: Cutting-edge clinical practices that improve patient outcomes and service delivery Health Policy and Regulatory Issues: Insights into policy developments impacting health centers and advocacy strategies Quality Improvement and Quality Assurance (QIQA): Best practices for maintaining and elevating quality standards in community health Leadership and Management: Effective leadership models, team building, and strategies for fostering a collaborative culture. Go to https://lnkd.in/dTm_h4SZ to submit your abstract today! Please contact Mollie Cronin at CHIconference@massleague.org for assistance. #CHI #communityhealthinstitute #callforabstracts 

Michael Curry, Esq., President and CEO of the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers, joined other community health advocates last week for a press conference celebrating a new Massachusetts law aimed at streamlining licensure for internationally trained physicians and alleviating primary care shortages in underserved communities. #physicianshortage #underservedcommunities

Are you interested in being a sponsor and/or exhibitor at this year’s premier community health event? From April 29 through May 1, 500 or more health center leaders and community partners are expected to convene for the 2025 Community Health Institute. This annual conference, hosted by the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers, is a prime opportunity for community health influencers — health center leaders, board members, and community partners — to connect, learn, and collaborate in shaping the future of community health.  Would your organization like to play a role in this worthy mission? Visit https://lnkd.in/eN_A7cd5 to get details about the benefits of our sponsorship and exhibitor opportunities. We have a wide range of sponsorship opportunities, any of which can be booked today! To secure a sponsorship opportunity, please contact Shade Cronan, Senior Vice President of Development and External Affairs at the Mass League, at communications@massleague.org. Registration for exhibitor tables (and attendees) will commence next month. Responding to last year’s demand, we have expanded the number of slots available for vendors. Another bit of good news is that we’re offering exhibitor tables at the same price as last year! #CHI2025 #CommunityHealthInstitute #healthcareconference

Mass League President and CEO Michael Curry, Esq., and Community Health Center of Franklin County CEO Dr. Allison van der Velden joined other community health care advocates in Turners Falls last month to celebrate the opening of the third location of the Community Health Center of Franklin County! Dr. Sarah Kemble’s push to get accessible quality health care for the county led to the opening of the health center’s first location in 1997, and this month’s opening of the Turners Falls location is another important step in improving health care access in rural areas of Massachusetts. As we keep fighting for quality health care for all, it’s important to celebrate every win along the way. Visit https://lnkd.in/eZ5D4X9d to learn more. #healthequity #ruralhealthcare

One more reminder: Applications for the latest MA Repay Student Loan Repayment Program initiatives are due tomorrow, Thursday, December 12! Apply today if you are an eligible behavioral health or primary care professional in Massachusetts and would like to reduce your student loan debt. Visit https://lnkd.in/eWEAR4Fj for more details on who's eligible and how to apply and visit https://lnkd.in/e6wwVCMC to learn more about the purpose of the program. #MARepay #CHCs

Reminder: Applications for the latest MA Repay Student Loan Repayment Programs are due Thursday, December 12th! If you are an eligible behavioral health or primary care professional in Massachusetts and would like to reduce your student loan debt, apply now. Don’t miss out on this opportunity! https://lnkd.in/eWEAR4Fj #MARepay #StudentLoanRepayment #HealthcareProfessionals #BehavioralHealth #PrimaryCare #CommunityHealth MassHealth Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services

If you’ve been impacted by the closure of Carney Hospital in Dorchester, there is an opportunity to make your voice heard. The Dorchester Region Working Group is hosting a Community Listening Session on Thursday, December 12, 2024, at 5:30 p.m. at the Sheet Metal Workers Local 17 Training Center, 1181 Adams St., Dorchester, MA 02124. During this free forum, members of the public will have the opportunity to share their first-hand insight into the health needs in Dorchester following the shuttering of Carney Hospital. Join your neighbors on December 12 to hear about the working group’s findings thus far and express your concerns to the group in person. Written comments will also be accepted through December 16. Visit https://lnkd.in/e96Uwea5 to learn more. #carneyworkinggroup #carneyhospital #dorchester