1. health and fitness

Winter 2015
A health and wellness publication of
Greater Lawrence Family Health Center
All that I ever
wanted to do was to
work as a doctor in
Africa.
It is not clear why. I had no
personal role models, but
this goal drove me to create a
training and experience that
would enable me to do this.
Inspirations came later but
were not the source of my
motivation.
It was my thrill to be
accepted into medical
school. The idea was now
becoming a reality as I chose
electives that put me in
Africa. Indeed, I was not at
my medical school
graduation because I was in
From Lawrence to Africa by Dr. Vince Waite, MD - In his own words the Central African Republic.
Profile In Caring
In This Edition
In Pink 2014
Highlights and Photos
Page 5
Tabit named
Medical Site Director
at GLFHC South Site
Page 7
CEO Corner
After 14 years, Ingala
stepping down from GLFHC
Now that 2015 is upon
us, I would like to wish
you the happiest of
New Year’s and thank
you for your support
and commitment to
GLFHC. Last year was
an eventful year for
the Health Center. We
certainly could not
have achieved our
success without the support from the
community, our patients, and our employees.
After 14 years as President and Chief Executive Officer of
Greater Lawrence Family Health Center (GLFHC), Bob Ingala has
announced he will be stepping down from his position within
the organization in order to dedicate more time to family and
personal interests.
In his announcement to staff, Ingala looked back on his career
at GLFHC with pride and appreciation. “During my tenure at
GLFHC I have been privileged to work with some of the finest
individuals of my career. I am so very proud to have been a part
of the GLFHC team. The commitment of our Board, clinicians,
management and staff to achieve our mission each and
every day is unparalleled and improves the lives of so many.
As I look back over my time at the health center I think about
what we have accomplished. GLFHC today is a very different
organization than it was 14 years ago, with more
comprehensive services; improved access to outstanding
care and a national reputation for a stellar residency program.
Our clinical outcomes and patient centered care continue to
improve and exceed national benchmarks. Financially, GLFHC
continues to be one of the best performing health centers in
Massachusetts. None of this would be possible without the hard
work and dedication of our employees,” according to Ingala.
Since our last issue, we celebrated and thanked
our donors and volunteers at our Friends of
GLFHC event. At the event, we released our
Fall edition of Pulse which also served as our
Annual Report for FY2014.In October, we held
our 5th Annual In Pink event at the Andover
Country Club to benefit the New Balance Imaging
Center. This was once again a wonderful day
full of emotion as we raised awareness for the
patients in our program. The support we
received this year was a record for this event and
had an unprecedented number of attendees.
In this edition, we have highlighted Dr. Vince
Waite, one of the lead clinicians in GLFHC’s
Healthcare for the Homeless Program.
The program is vital to the region and is
underfunded. With that, we have chosen to
have the proceeds of this year’s 10th Annual
Making a Difference Gala benefit the program. I am confident that it is something many
supporters and sponsors will feel good about
and get behind.
Charles Zanazzi, Interim Chair of the GLFHC Board of
Directors, expressed his sentiment and appreciation following Bob’s
announcement. “Bob was instrumental in leading the Health
Center over a long period of growth and constant market change.
His dynamic leadership and long term outlook has been critical
to our success. The entire Board thanks Bob for his many years
of service and his willingness to remain involved in the Health
Center until such time as an effective and permanent leadership
transition is in place. We congratulate him on this exciting
personal step and are fortunate to have benefited from his
leadership as both a colleague and friend.”
Looking ahead, the Health Center is on
solid ground and actively pursuing important
strategic imperatives established by the senior
management team, approved by the board
and embraced by our staff – a great recipe for
success to have everyone involved at all levels of
the organization. These focus areas will set
the course for the Health Center and provide
the necessary framework for us to handle the
challenges ahead in the delivery of family
medicine services to our current and future
patients.
The Board of Directors has retained the services of a national
recruitment firm to find Ingala’s successor. Ingala intends to
stay in his current role until a successor is announced. GLFHC is
the second largest community health center in Massachusetts,
serving over 54,000 patients. With nearly 600 employees,
including 92 physicians, GLFHC is ranked as one of the top 10
employers in Greater Lawrence. GLFHC also serves as the home
of the Lawrence Family Medicine Residency, one of the leading
programs in the country for training family medicine physicians.
Thank you for all you do for GLFHC and thank
you for all your support throughout the years.
2
Pulse Winter 2015
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Continued from Page 1
Family medicine offered me a broad
base of training in general medicine,
surgery, obstetrics and pediatrics,
becoming the clear choice to prepare
me for a work in resource limited
areas. Once I had added training in
General Surgery and an MPH in
Tropical Medicine, my toolkit was
ready.
I was married with a nearly two year
old child, and we set out for Ghana,
West Africa. My dream began to
unfold and with time, unravel.
After 15 years as the medical
superintendent of a rural district
hospital in Ghana, I was burned out
and did not know it. The loss of my
family, my dream and spiritual
disequilibrium was devastating. The
re-entry shock to American life and
medicine was bewildering. My sense
of failure was overwhelming.
My exodus took me to a rural
practice in Georgia after some false
starts. There, I worked in a hospitalowned practice and then went on to
serve as the primary care provider at
a public HIV clinic. Massachusetts and
Lawrence were never on my radar.
A good friend, a pediatrician who
moonlighted at Lawrence General
Hospital, whom I had met in Africa,
spoke to one of the residents and she
suggested GLFHC.
Pulse Winter 2015 After interviewing at three
institutions, GLFHC offered by far
the lowest salary but I chose it.
The program offered me a chance
to refashion my dream to serve
those with limited resources.
GLFHC had a homeless program
and limited federal funding to do
this work. GLFHC wanted me to be
part of this outreach. They were
willing to support my desire to
continue working in Africa along
with the privilege of taking Family
Practice Residents with me.
The latter has been on ongoing
source of personal and intellectual
growth. I was asked recently to
serve on faculty, a position that I
never really felt qualified to fulfill.
The work here has given me a new
language and culture to
communicate in.
I had bemoaned the fact that I
had lost my dream and could
never reclaim it. How could I ever
find meaning again? Victor Frankl,
the Viennese Psychiatrist,
experience in the Holocaust
taught him that there is not a de
facto meaning for our lives but it
is we who are questioned by “Life”
about our own meaning. Our
meaning must come from within.
The answer lies in the fruitfulness
of a life characterized by right
action and right conduct, based
ultimately in love.
My life generally goes unnoticed
as I have never been a big
picture person and have no
major program accomplishments
to my credit. I have not changed the
lives of millions. The hospital in Africa
pre-existed me, as did the HIV clinic
in Georgia and the Homeless Clinics
in Lawrence. I find solace in the words
of Mother Teresa “We cannot do great
things on earth. We can only do small
things with great love”. It is even
presumptuous to say that I have small
love.
Just so you don’t get the idea that I
am just about my “quest”. I am a
Sportsman who had the privilege
to run in the Division 1 NCAA Cross
Country Championships while in
college. I am also the Vice President
of Friends of West Africa, an NGO that
provides prosthetic limbs to
amputees in Northern Ghana. My
2 beautiful daughters, Jennifer and
Mary (born in Ghana), are both Nurses
in the same CVICU in Macon, Georgia.
Last but not least, it is also my great
privilege to share in a long term
relationship with Dr. Sheila
Morehouse, a pediatrician, who
introduced me to GLFHC and has
accompanied me to Ghana, many
times, where I first met her. Because of
her, I am here!
3
Worksite
wellness
takes shape
Over 100 GLFHC employees took
place in the first of what will be
ongoing efforts by the health
center to encourage physical
fitness and wellness in our staff.
GLFHC was pleased to be visited in October by Congresswoman Niki
Tsongas for the presentation of a federal award for over $300,000
under the Expanded Medical Capacity and Service Expansion Grant.
The funding allows our Haverhill Street pharmacy to be open 7
days a week and helps offset the cost of the recent expansion of our
Haverhill Street clinical site. The expansion has allowed access to
more than 4,000 additional patients.
“In the fall of 2014, GLFHC
began a Worksite Wellness
program with the goal to improve
the overall health of our employees,”
according to Jim Ryan, Training
and Development Manager. “The
“Step It Up Walking Challenge”
lasted six weeks with 108 staff
members taking part. The program
was very successful, with a total of
22,705,993 steps taken, equaling
10,700 miles.”
(L-R) Michael A. Curry, Esq., Legislative Affairs Director & Senior
Counsel - Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers,
Lawrence Mayor Dan Rivera, Congresswoman Niki Tsongas,
GLFHC President and CEO Robert Ingala, Christie Hager, HHS Regional
Director, Jeff Beard, Acting Regional Administrator, HRSA
By The Numbers: Patient visits at Haverhill St.
The program was organized by the
Worksite Wellness Committee and
they expect to offer a number of
programs in the upcoming year.
TOP 10 WALKERS
NAME
TOTAL STEPS
Angie Caban............................599,168
Diane Gatchell Martin..........478,171
Katherine Stanton.................469,214
Jacqueline Benlian................446,900
Marcia Joyce............................444,118
Yanira Delarosa.......................427,414
Carmen M. Diana...................421,953
Laura Wright............................418,631
John Raser................................411,522
Lisa Howe.................................403,273
4
Pulse Winter 2015
In Pink 2014
Shop owners and models from In Pink 2014
Candy O’Terry - Magic 106.7 FM
Keynote Speaker
L-R: May Doherty - Chic Consignment,
Nancy Dube - Coco Collection, Katrina
Batal - Cristina’s Bridal and Formal Wear,
Amy Finefold - dresscode
Michelle Olivieri - GLFHC
Pulse Winter 2015 Loyda Barias wearing Cristina’s Bridal
More than 300 people in attendance
Sheryl Parsons - Enterprise Bank
5
daCunha receives
Young Pharmacist Award
Greater Lawrence Family Health Center is proud to recognize
Alicia Mam daCunha, PharmD, AE-C for receiving the 2014
Distinguished Young Pharmacist award for Massachusetts.​
The award was designed to acknowledge young pharmacists
for individual excellence and outstanding contribution to
their pharmacy association and community.
daCunha graduated with her Doctor of Pharmacy from
MCPHS University in 2010. daCunha has served as a Clinical
Pharmacist for GLFHC, specifically dealing with Coumadin
patients. Last year, daCunha began serving as the Pharmacy
Residency Program Coordinator in partnership with MCPHS
in Boston. In this program, she is charged with developing
the post-graduate pharmacy program to meet the American
Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) accreditation
requirements, as well as overseeing the operation for the
program at GLFHC.
A week in the life of a family medicine resident
Upon returning to clinic, we shared what we
learned at the public housing center as well as at a
number of other affordable-housing related stops on our
community medicine scavenger hunt with the
other interns in my class and their advisers. Each
intern’s scavenger hunt was thematic and touched on an
important issue in our community, including
finding housing, immigration law, homelessness, food
insecurity, schooling /child care, and substance abuse
support. Each of our experiences opened our eyes to
the degree to which our patients’ lives are complex and
difficult, with each of these issues putting significant
barriers in the way of them accessing health care at
our community health center. At the same time, these
scavenger hunts demonstrated the plethora of
resources our community surprisingly has to offer.
Editors note: As part of the 20th anniversary of the
Lawrence Family Medicine Residency, each edition of
PULSE will feature another aspect of LFMR. In this edition,
a look at residency through the eyes of first-year resident
Dr. Joshua St. Louis, MD, MPH.
During my first week of family
medicine residency, I was surprised
to find myself at the local public
housing office picking up a housing
application. Although we were
supposed to be undercover, my
adviser Jenny and I just didn’t look
like typical residents of Lawrence,
Massachusetts. After asking a few pointed questions, the
receptionist finally asked “Are you doctors from
GLFHC? They always come around this time of year
pretending to need housing applications.”
Realizing that the jig was up, we came clean and the
receptionist pulled us through a side door to have a
meeting with the Director of Public Housing.
6
To read more of Dr. St. Louis’s experiences, visit our
website at glfhc.org
Pulse Winter 2015
PULSE
P
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Ingala honored for service to
community
Robert Ingala, President and CEO of
Greater Lawrence Family Health Center,
was awarded the St. Marguerite d’Youville
“Pilgrimage of Love Award” by Mary
Immaculate Health/Care Services in
September.
“Bob has an extensive background
in organizational leadership, strategic
planning,
physician
relations,
market growth, operations and finance,”
said Gerard J. Foley, MIHCS President
and CEO. “Throughout his career, no
matter what the challenge, Bob has
demonstrated the ability to build
meaningful professional partnerships
that serve the community well. His
willingness to collaborate has time and
time again brought local hospitals,
physicians,
post-acute
providers
(including MI) and insurance providers
together to meet the needs of our
community.”
Keep up with
GLFHC online
Online at glfhc.org
On social media:
facebook.com/greaterlawrencefhc
Scan the box below with your
mobile device
Pulse Winter 2015 Rosalyn Wood, President’s Leadership Circle member, recently toured the Haverhill Street clinical
expansion including the New Balance Imaging Center along with Mary Lyman from Development and
Maggie Kuliga, Imaging Center supervisor.
Tabit named Medical Site Director at GLFHC South Site
Jean Tabit, DO who has been in practice at the Greater
Lawrence Family Health Center since 2004, has been named
the Medical Site Director of GLFHC’s site at 73D Winthrop
Avenue (Route 114) in South Lawrence.
Dr Tabit is a graduate of the University of New
England College of Osteopathic Medicine and New
Hampshire Dartmouth Family Medicine Residency. She
holds a faculty position at the Tufts University School of
Medicine teaching medical students and family
medicine residents. Dr Tabit is Board-Certified by the
American Board of Family Medicine.
While
continuing
her
clinical
practice
of
family medicine, Dr Tabit will be responsible for
leading the South clinic with Site Operations Director Bill DiFederico, coordinating
clinical care teams to provide patients the highest quality primary care. Dr Tabit
will also work closely with Jeffrey Geller, MD, fellowship director of GLFHC’s
nationally known Integrative Medicine fellowship training program and group
medical visit program based at the site. Dr Tabit will be collaborating with the
Health Center’s nursing leadership and medical leadership on system-wide clinical
initiatives.
GLFHC Chief Medical Officer Dr Joe Gravel stated, “Dr Tabit is a widely
respected physician with tremendous leadership skills, who makes all decisions
with one clear priority - what is best for patients and the Lawrence community.
Her devotion to her patients inspires others. We are very fortunate to have Dr
Tabit’s clinical and administrative talents on our medical leadership team.”
7
Non-Profit
U.S. Postage
PAID
N. Reading, MA
Permit No. 234
Greater Lawrence Family Health Center
34 Haverhill Street
Lawrence, MA 01841
Everyone’s Home For Health
10th Annual Making A Difference Gala
Andover Country Club ~ Thursday, April 16, 2015
Proceeds to benefit the GLFHC Healthcare for the Homeless program
Making A Difference
Special Guest
Jerod Mayo - Linebacker
New England Patriots
2015 Making A Difference Award Recipient
John Albert, President and CEO
Home Health VNA ~ Merrimack Valley Hospice
HomeCare, Inc.
Making A Difference
Master of Ceremonies
Dan Roche - Sports Anchor
WBZ TV 4 Boston
For more information, please call or email Rich Napolitano at 978 722 2870, [email protected]
or Mary Lyman at 978 722 2871, [email protected]
GLFHC Board of Directors
www.glfhc.org
Charlie Zanazzi - Chairperson
Gretchen Dulong - Vice Chairperson
Ana Rodriguez - Secretary
Joanna Kroon - Treasurer
Solange Acevedo - Director
William Chrisemer - Director
Delia Duran-Clark - Director
Vivian Garcia - Director
Ivy Polanco - Director
Richard Smith - Director
Jim Winning - Director
Robert Ingala: President & CEO
[email protected]
PULSE is published by the Greater Lawrence Family Health Center.
PULSE is dedicated to providing health perspectives
and news from the GLFHC community.
Richard J. Napolitano, Jr: SVP, External Relations/Chief Development Officer
Marc Lemay: Communications Manager
Mary Lyman: Donor Relations/Event Manager
Gia Angluin - Development Associate
Beth Short: Interim Grants Administrator
David Caccamesi - Development Intern