At the 2024 Policy & Issues Forum, NACHC honored 15 leaders with Lifetime Achievement Awards for their long-term commitment, dedication, and contributions to the Community Health Center Movement.
Winners of the Lifetime Achievement Awards have made lasting contributions to strengthening the Community Health Center Movement with their vision, dedication and commitment to health equity. No words we write here can sufficiently describe their legacy of achievement, but nevertheless we wanted to honor their work.
Thomas F. Curtin, MD, Bellaire & East Jordan Family Health Centers; NACHC
Dr. Curtin started his career as a physician in the National Health Service Corps. He went on to become NACHC’s first Chief Medical Officer with a drive to build a diverse pipeline of primary care providers. The partnership Dr. Curtin built with A.T. Still University, establishing two dental schools, a medical school and PA programs to educate and train the healers of tomorrow has made a lasting impact on the Community Health Center workforce.
“In 1978 I joined the National Health Service Corp (NHSC) and I committed to care for the underserved in America. Forty-six years of rewarding work, both morally and spiritually. It is an honor to receive this prestigious award. Though it is an individual award, it should be shared by all. Thank you for supporting me.”
Dr. Bery Engebretson, Primary Health Care, Inc.
Dr. Bery Engebretsen founded Primary Health Care (PHC) in Des Moines, IA, in 1981. PHC offers a spectrum of medical and dental services including family practice, behavioral health, HIV care and services, pharmacy and Homeless Support Services for people experiencing homelessness in Polk County. PHC has 400 employees who serve 37,680 patients.
“What I am most grateful for is the privilege of serving as a physician … for so many of our communities with people from so many places throughout the world, living so many roles and overcoming so many challenges. They have been my real teachers, sources of inspiration, and sometimes, even fascinating stories. What has always drawn me to the Community Health Center world is the diversity of the people we serve and the people we are.”
Patricia Fernandez, Bedford Stuyvesant Family Health Center
Patricia worked her way up at Bedford Stuyvesant Family Health Center from the dental department to leadership positions and then CEO. Patricia developed the federal 340B drug pricing program.
C. Dean Germano, Shasta Community Health Center
Dean held the role of CEO at Shasta Community Health Center in Redding, CA, for 32 years – from 1992 to 2024. During his tenure, Shasta expanded from a $2 million budget, 23 employee operation in the basement of the old county hospital, to a $77 million budget with 500 staff members in several locations around Shasta County.
“I am very grateful to my colleagues who demonstrated through their own execution of innovation and creativity, how to have real impact on the communities they serve. I am a big believer in leaving whatever you do in a better place than when you found it. While I think this in the case with my work at Shasta Community Health Center, I know this philosophy, whether stated or not, is at the heart of what we all do.”
Molly Kaser, Center for Family Health
As President and CEO, Molly led the Center for Family Health in Jackson, MI, from its beginnings as a prenatal clinic to a full-service Community Health Center that today serves more than 35,000 people and includes a walk-in service, dental clinic, and four school health centers.
“With an outstanding leadership staff and board of directors, the Center for Family Health has consistently led health care efforts in Jackson County and, through close partnerships with the Michigan Primary Care Association, has impacted the State of Michigan. My belief has always been that we can achieve so much more by working with others and the success of our health center is a shining example of this.”
Harvey Lawrence, BMS Family Health and Wellness Center
Harvey served as both a member and an officer with CHCANYS and held the position of President & CEO of Brownsville Multi-Service Family Health Center.
“As a member and an officer of New York State’s PCA, CHCANYS, it has been an incredible honor for me to serve alongside exceptionally committed and innovative health center leaders from across the state. Over the past 30 years I have had an extraordinary opportunity to work alongside and among an extended family of community health center workers/professionals who through their commitment and deeds are the manifestation of ubuntu. As I have, they strive to achieve the realization of earned humanness/ humanity through their service to fellow human beings.”
Lolita Lopez, Westside Family Healthcare
Lolita served 33 years as President and CEO of Westside Family Healthcare in Delaware. She dedicated her career to ensuring that all Delawareans have equal access to quality health care, regardless of ability to pay. She joined Westside in 1990 when there were only three employees working in a small two-exam room office. Under her leadership, Westside’s workforce has grown to 230 professionals delivering culturally competent care to 28,000 Delawareans annually. As an advocate for the uninsured, she forged relationships with key leaders at the local, state and national level to ensure policies are focused on advancing health equity.
“For three decades, I worked with influential health center leaders across the country to build a vibrant community health center movement. We dedicated our careers to improving the health of millions of families across the nation”, said Lolita Lopez. “I am deeply honored to be part of a distinguished group of community health leaders and pioneers in the field.” Lolita Lopez was also honored by NACHC for her advocacy work in 2014. View a video about Lolita’s legacy here.
Randy Runyon, Ohio Association of Community Health Centers
Randy Runyon served as President and CEO of the Ohio Association of Community Health Centers (OACHC) from August 2010 through August 2023. He also spent 35 years working with Community Health Centers and community development issues all across Ohio.
“I am highly honored to receive this recognition from NACHC. Almost 50 years ago, as part of a local community action organization, I joined our community in Appalachian Ohio to start the journey that led to the creation of Valley View Health Centers. Today, Valley View provides high quality health care to over 15,000 residents in four of Ohio’s poorest counties. Since that time, I have worked at this organization and later with the PCA in Ohio with a singular purpose. How do we improve the life of those who live in our country’s forgotten and neglected communities? For me, the answer has been focused on working to expand and improve the health centers of my community, Ohio and the nation. And we, working together, have accomplished so much. I am proud to have had a part in the creation and success of Valley View and Ohio’s 58 health centers. But as I look back at past years, I realize this is not the work of one lifetime. Unfortunately, the effects of poverty and racism will last after I’m gone. However, I’m proud to have played my part and will continue to do so long as I am able.”
Arvind Shaw, Generations Family Health Center
Since it began in 1984, Generations Family Health Center has cared for underserved patients in eastern Connecticut. The health center provides a full continuum of primary health care, oral health care, behavioral health care, support services and care coordination services to a primarily medically underserved population including children, at-risk families, HIV, homeless, and migrant populations.
“Our work together has made a difference for patients. I consider myself fortunate to have done my best work for community health centers. The safety net is the hardest part of the health care system to reform, but with creative collaborations and technology we have provided our best care — with patients in our center.”
Douglas Smith, Greene County Health Care
Douglas served as President and CEO of Greene County Health Care for 26 years. Doug Smith’s career spanned 47 years in the health care, operations, and arts arenas. He most recently retired in 2022 as CEO and president of Greene County Health Care in Snow Hill, NC, after 26 years of service.
“I retired in 2022 after working with CHCs for 36 years. Community Health Centers are the most vital part of the primary health care system in this country. Without them, hospital ERs would be totally overwhelmed and many more hospitals would fail.”
Ludwig Spinelli, OPTIMUS Health Care
Ludwig Spinelli served as CEO of OPTIMUS Health Care in Bridgeport, CT, for nearly 40 years and was the architect of the center’s rise as leading provider of health services in southwest Connecticut. Optimus provides more than 210,000 patient visits each year to people across southwest Connecticut, regardless of insurance coverage or ability to pay.
“This award is a tribute to the board of directors at the Center and the many dedicated staff. NACHC with its many support services and Hill Day visits was a critical part of my CHC career. I am deeply moved by the award and am pleased that the health center movement continues to serve millions in our country. It is a cost-effective model of care with strong bipartisan support.”
Brian Toomey, Piedmont Health, Inc.
For almost three decades, Brian Toomey has worked in Community Health Centers, in two states. First in Massachusetts, at Harbor Health Services (including a stint as the Executive Director at Geiger Gibson CHC) and for the last 19 years in North Carolina, as the CEO of Piedmont Health Services.
Brian led PHS in developing a health center -based PACE program, a joint UNC PHS Family Medicine Residency Teaching Program, training for all staff including MA’s, DA’s, Pharm Techs, Social Workers, Nurses, Community Health Workers, Nutritionists, MPH students, Physicians, Nurse Practitioners, Physician Assistants, Dentists, etc. Other innovations include being one of 6 Community Health Centers nationally to offer rapid HIV testing as part of every visit for teens and older, organizing LGBTQ care and training, and expanding on-site pharmacy services. Among his accolades, he was named Boston College School of Social Work Alumni of the year in 2012 and inducted into the NACHC Grassroots Hall of Fame. Brian He is blessed to have met two of the founders of the Community Health Center Movement – Dr. Jack Geiger and Dr. John Hatch. He is very proud that in 2024 PHS developed the Dr. John Hatch Scholarship at the UNC Gillings School of Public Health to train future health center leaders.
“NACHC is the most incredible organization. I have been blessed to work with so many great people from around the country to provide access to health care. It is exciting to know NACHC is still doing great work – the future looks bright.”
Eva Turbiner, Zufall Health Center
Eva led Zufall Health Center as President and Chief Executive Officer of Zufall Health more than 16 years. During her tenure, Zufall expanded from a small single health center in Morris County to a network of 11 clinical sites in seven New Jersey counties, serving 45,000 patients annually, including a large portion of veterans. Eva has served as a board member of both the National Association of Community Health Centers and the New Jersey Primary Care Association, advocating to ensure that health justice and access to quality health services for all remain a strategic local, state and national focus.
“As the daughter of refugees who received assistance and support when they came to the US, helping people in need has been my lifelong passion. In 2006, I took the CEO position at Zufall Health Center, which was then a very small, new FQHC in New Jersey with one site and fewer than 3,000 patients. But the Zufall staff and board joined me in a vision of what that little health center could become. And, together, we built a comprehensive system of care that would respond to community needs wherever they might be. When I retired last year, Zufall had 45,000 patients at 12 offices, 450 employees, and was nationally recognized for quality and innovation. Of course, Zufall’s story of successful service to the neediest is only one of many that have been repeated in hundreds of vulnerable communities throughout the US. It has been my great privilege to be a small part of this crucial effort. “
Katherine Yacavone, Southwest Community Health Center, Inc.
Katherine devoted her 40-year career to furthering the mission of the community health center movement through leadership positions at Charter Oak and Bridgeport’s Southwest Community Health Center (SWCHC), the Community Health Center Association of CT (PCA), the Hartford Primary Care Consortium, and as a private consultant for health centers across CT.
Working at Charter Oak and Hartford Primary Care Consortium, she helped to initiate dental services, develop the McKinney Homeless Health Care Program, and she was instrumental in launching Hartford’s school-based health center program.
Kim Wyard, Northeast Valley Health Corporation (NEVHC)
Kimberly Wyard serves as Chief Executive Officer of Northeast Valley Health Corporation, a position she has held since 1996. Ms. Wyard first joined the staff of NEVHC as an intern in 1974, the year after NEVHC opened its first health center in the City of San Fernando. During the intervening years as NEVHC has grown to 13 health centers providing over 240,000 medical and dental visits a year. Her illustrious career has been marked by unwavering commitment and a string of remarkable achievements in the pursuit of better community health. With over 1,000 valley residents employed and annual service to more than 81,000 unique patients, NEVHC is a testament to Kimberly Wyard’s enduring impact.