Bethesda, MD — Sonja W. Bachus, BBA, MJ, CHCEF, will join the leadership team of the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) as Senior Vice President (SVP), Primary Care Association (PCA) and Health Center Controlled Network (HCCN) Relations. A transformational leader, Ms. Bachus brings to the role deep roots in the Community Health Center Movement and more than 20 years of experience working across the healthcare spectrum. Her selection underscores NACHC’s commitment to partnering with critical stakeholders to work toward measurable change for the movement.
NACHC conducted a nationwide search in partnership with Diversified Search Group, the largest woman-founded and woman-led executive search firm in the U.S., to fill this critical position. Diversified Search Group is an industry leader in recruiting diverse, inclusive, and transformational leadership for clients across all industries and sectors.
Ms. Bachus most recently served as the Chief Executive Officer of Community Care Network of Kansas. Under her leadership, key legislative and agency relationships were developed which resulted in a 34% increase in state grant funding and a 72% increase in capital improvement grant funding available to member health centers, which serve one in nine people across the state. Ms. Bachus led a multi-agency effort which secured $10M in grant funding over five years for five member clinics to launch and/or expand integrated behavioral health in primary care clinics, and she launched an Accountable Care Organization (ACO) to pursue value-based contracts with seven of the network’s FQHC/LAL members.
Prior to her tenure in Kansas, Ms. Bachus served as the Chief Executive Officer of Greater Baden Medical Services (GBMS), a Maryland Community Health Center that serves 20,000 patients. While at GBMS Ms. Bachus led a financial and operational turnaround, which resulted in a 48% increase in annual revenue, an over 80% increase in days cash on hand, a 60% increase in 340B program usage, and professional advancement for 20% of internal team members. Ms. Bachus served in leadership capacities at several other community health centers across the country to include Service Line Administrator for the satellite health centers of Swope Health Services in Kansas City, MO, and Chief Operating Officer of HealthNet, Inc., Indiana’s largest Community Health Center in Indianapolis, IN.
Ms. Bachus earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from Washburn University and a Master of Jurisprudence in Health Law from Loyola University Chicago Law School. She also holds the designation of Community Health Center Executive Fellow from the Kansas Medical Center and a Public Policy Certificate from the National Institute of Lobbying and Ethics.
Ms. Bachus will officially join NACHC in December 2024.
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NACHC is the leading innovative change agent collaborating with affiliates and partners to advance Community Health Centers as the foundation of an equitable health care system free from disparities, and built on accessible, patient-governed, high-quality, integrated primary care.