The Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation today announced the cohort of 16 emerging community health leaders selected for the 2016-17 class of the Massachusetts Institute for Community Health Leadership (MICHL), which is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year.
MICHL provides leadership training to people working on the frontlines of community health, including those working for organizations serving low-income and uninsured individuals and families. Participants include new managers and directors of community health organizations; clinicians who are transitioning to a management role; direct service workers seeking senior management responsibilities; and advocacy and policy managers seeking leadership roles.
“The Institute is a pillar of the Foundation’s work, in that it ensures that we have skilled, energetic and enthusiastic leaders running important community health programs across Massachusetts,” said Audrey Shelto, President of the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation. “As we begin our 10th year, it is important to reflect on the contributions of the nearly 150 graduates of the program, who work in public and community health agencies at the state and local level and are committed to improving access to health care.”
MICHL is an 18-day educational program presented over the course of nine months, featuring a curriculum of classroom work, peer-to-peer exchanges, and experiential and collaborative learning. Participants will conclude their tenure by identifying and proposing recommendations to address a health care issue affecting the state's low-income and vulnerable residents.
This year’s cohort, in keeping with past years, features developing leaders from state and local departments of public health, community health centers, mental health centers, advocacy groups, hospitals and academia.
The 2016-17 participants are:
Kris Bloch | Tufts Health Public Plan - One Care | Product Manager |
Alexandra DePalo | Hudson Board of Health | Director of Community Health |
Tom Edwards | Ethos | PCA Program Manager |
Joanna Gattuso | Cambridge Health Alliance | Manager |
Daniel Joo | Upham's Corner Community Health Center | Director of Strategic Planning, Quality & Risk Management |
Dr. Phil Laidlaw | Brookline Mental Health | Director of Diversity Initiative/Director of Couples & Family Team |
Breda McCarron | Partners Healthcare | Assistant Director, Administration & Finance |
Ra'Shaun Nalls | Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health | Director of Community Engagement |
Nassira Nicola | Boston Center for Independent Living | Director, Community Integration |
Tomide Oyelakin | Manet Community Health Center | Senior Director, Performance Improvement |
Quyen Pham | Dorchester House | Quality & Reporting Coordinator |
Claire Santarelli | Mass. Department of Public Health | Director, Office of Health Promotion & Partnerships |
Eva Stahl | Community Catalyst | Project Director |
Jackie Toledo | Mass. Association of Community Health Workers | Director of Leadership Development |
Meenakshi Verma-Agrawal | South Jamaica Plain Community Health Center | Board Member |
Louise Weed | Codman Sq. Community Health Center | Director of Med. Management & Improvement |
About the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation
The mission of the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation is to expand access to health care for low-income and vulnerable individuals and families in the Commonwealth. The Foundation was established in 2001 with an initial endowment from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts. It operates separately from the company and is governed by its own Board of Directors.
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