Section: People & Places in the News, March 2018
Connectus Co-CEOs Honored as "Dynamic Duo"
Congratulations to Suzanne Hurley (left) and Caroline Portis-Jenkins (right), co-CEOs of Connectus Health, who were recently recognized as the “Dynamic Duo” in the Nashville Business Journal’s 2018 "Women of Influence" awards.

The awards recognize women in Middle Tennessee who are shaping their companies, improving the business community, and paving the way for the next generation of female leaders.
Matthew Walker Celebrates 50 Years of Service to the Community
(from Nashville Medical News)

Matthew Walker Comprehensive Health Center (MWCHC) has continuously served the needs of Nashvillians for 50 years.

Renowned physician, surgeon, educator and community activist Matthew Walker, MD, founded the Meharry Neighborhood Health Center in March 1968 to care for area residents where he saw gaps in services and insufficient access to care.

"I believe his vision was that North Nashville, particularly, would have a place of affordable quality care," said Katina Beard, CEO of MWCHC. "He believed in culturally competent care, even then."

Walker was inspired to replicate a center he visited in Mound Bayou, Miss., where he spent part of his time training young surgeons. "Mound Bayou had the first community health center in the South," said Beard. "He saw the model and brought it back here."

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Health Center Leaders Visit the State Capitol for Hill Day
Health Center CEOs, staff members, and board members who traveled to Nashville in February for Hill Day met with their legislators to talk about issues that impact health centers. Advocates scheduled meetings with more than two dozen legislators and also sat in on hearings regarding mental health/substance abuse and TennCare.
 

Pictured:

(Top) Phillip Tatum (right), Three Rivers Community Health Center CEO and TPCA board president, meets with Representative Michael Curcio.

(Bottom) Shantelle Leatherwood (left), Christ Community Health Center CEO, and Joel Hornberger, Cherokee Health Systems chief strategy officer, prepare to meet with state leaders.


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