Ria Roberts, M.D., a geriatric medicine physician at Lowell Community Health Center, received the prestigious 2023 George H. Kaye Alumni Award for Outstanding Service to Others from the Biomedical Science Careers Program (BCSP) at Harvard Medical School.
BCSP is a professional organization that provides support and mentoring for underrepresented minority students from 391 schools around the world who are pursuing careers in medicine, health, and the biomedical sciences. Dr. Roberts took part in this program as a college and medical school student, and now proudly serves as a mentor and student advisor.
A native of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr. Roberts is a graduate of The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences in Washington, DC. She completed her internship and residency training in Internal Medicine at Yale New Haven Hospital in New Haven, CT, and completed her fellowship in Geriatrics at the Harvard Medical School Multicampus Geriatric Medicine Fellowship Program. As a Geriatrician at Lowell Community Health Center, Dr. Roberts is developing a novel Geriatric Clinic, bringing her geriatric expertise to the health center’s most vulnerable and underserved populations, and currently serves as both a geriatric primary care physician and consultant.
Dr. Roberts also has appointments at the Harvard Medical School (HMS) and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, serving as a Clinical Instructor in Medicine at HMS. She also serves as Director for Diversity, Inclusion, and Advocacy for Graduate Medical Education and Director for Diversity Recruitment and Retention within the Department of Medicine, both at Beth Israel Deaconess.
https://www.lchealth.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/unnamed.png228300BrentCa@lchealth.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/lchc-logo-1.pngBrentCa@lchealth.org2023-03-27 09:11:062024-02-15 18:11:30Dr. Ria Roberts of Lowell CHC Recognized for Service to Others
Dr. Daza Nunez is carrying the torch for early literacy at Lowell CHC, where children receive brand new books during well-child visits through Reach out and Read.
Dr. Nunez has always had a love of language and community health. She speaks English and Spanish and is working hard to perfect her Portuguese. Lowell Community Health Center is the perfect place to sharpen her skills.
“I really love the values here … it means a lot to me to be part of a work place where I am not just a doctor, my background makes a difference, where I can understand the culture of my patients.”
Growing up in Colombia, Dr. Nunez always felt drawn to public service. The Reach Out and Read program brings her love for service to life. Dr. Nunez understands the impact reading has on our young patients. Reflecting the health center’s mission, she has ensured the program provides books in a number of languages to reflect our evolving patient population, including Portuguese, Dari and Pashto, much to the delight of newly arrived patients from Afghanistan.
“I love absolutely everything about this reading program” Dr. Daza Nunez says. “It goes beyond just promoting literacy. It’s about a connection between parents, their children, and our providers. It creates such benefits for families. When they see and interact with these beautiful books, especially in their own language, it means so much.”
Our whole-child model of care is only possible thanks to community support.
https://www.lchealth.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/DrDazaNunez_Reading.png816720BrentCa@lchealth.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/lchc-logo-1.pngBrentCa@lchealth.org2023-03-21 09:31:432024-02-15 18:13:40Lowell CHC Places High Priority on Childhood Literacy
LOWELL — Are we ready for the next pandemic? What lessons were learned?
These questions were discussed during a pandemic preparedness roundtable hosted by U.S. Rep. Lori Trahan at UKG on Monday. She was joined by Massachusetts Health and Human Services Secretary Kate Walsh, and 15 area health care leaders, in a frank conversation about recovering from and preparing for the next COVID-style biothreat…
Michael Curry, who is president and chief operating officer of the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers, said his biggest takeaway from the pandemic was that community partnerships worked. He was one of four such nonprofits represented at the table.
That observation was endorsed by CEO Susan Levine of the Lowell Community Health Center.
“We reach over half the population in the city of Lowell,” Levine said. “We learned during the pandemic how critical community health centers are in being the trusted providers of care for our communities.”
https://www.lchealth.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Screenshot-2023-03-15-at-11.26.31-AM-e1678894073754.png506605BrentCa@lchealth.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/lchc-logo-1.pngBrentCa@lchealth.org2023-03-15 11:28:572024-02-15 18:15:35Lowell CHC CEO, and Chief Engagement & Equity Officer, Join Lori Trahan For Listening Session on Lessons from COVID
Ten years ago, Lowell Community Health Center moved into its new home in a renovated textile mill building on Jackson Street. Our staff, patients, and community knew then that creating a welcoming, dignified space reflecting the quality of care provided would be transformational. It has been.
Over the past decade, our number of patients has increased by more than 50%, we’ve added dental and eye care services, and expanded our work out in the community. In all, we reach nearly 50,000 people a year, in and outside of the exam room. Our staff has also more than doubled, now numbering 500.
https://www.lchealth.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Screenshot-2023-03-13-at-1.50.00-PM.png3541176BrentCa@lchealth.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/lchc-logo-1.pngBrentCa@lchealth.org2023-03-13 13:55:322023-03-15 11:46:13Building a Just and Healthy Community
Thank you to our friends at Jeanne D’Arc for supporting a just and healthy community as an Annual Sponsor!
Did you know that in 2022 alone, JDCU supported more than 400 nonprofit partners by donating over $550,000? Employees also volunteered over 4,000 hours. Now that’s walking the walk!
Recently, we had breakfast with Alison Hughes, Jeanne D’Arc’s Community Engagement Officer (at the Owl Diner, of course!) to learn more about their approach to community building.
Why does Jeanne D’Arc make these investments in the community – and encourage its employees to do the same? Jeanne D’Arc Credit Union considers social responsibility to be an integral part of our overall mission. Our sense of duty and concern for the community, including those who reside here, are at the root of our efforts and commitment to be involved with many area charities. We are all connected in the community and when we help our members, nonprofit partners, and neighbors, we all benefit. It’s no mistake that our tagline and the name of our Foundation are both “We Share A Common Thread”.
Tell us a little more about how Jeanne D’Arc gives back? We stay connected through our Foundation and charitable giving and just as meaningful are the hours our team members spend volunteering in the community.
In 2022, Jeanne D’Arc Credit Union supported over 400 nonprofit partners by donating over $550,000 and 198 team members volunteering over 4,000 hours. That is nearly an 80% participation rate by our team.
Why does Jeanne D’Arc support Lowell CHC as an Annual Sponsor? The focus of our foundation is to partner with local philanthropic organizations to expand access to food, shelter, clothing, healthcare, and education. Lowell CHC is the perfect partner to help us highlight healthcare to our members because you provide education, programming, and services to help reduce health disparities and enhance the health of the Greater Lowell community. We strive to bring financial wellness to our members and the community just as LCHC strives to empower each individual to maximize their overall well-being.
What’s one thing that stands out to you about Lowell CHC’s work in the community? Teen BLOCK is a program that truly stands out. The program’s goal to help empower our youth to be strong leaders in our community aligns with our goals as an organization. The program allows teens a safe space to be when not in school while teaching them key life skills like communication, collaboration, healthy habits, and civic engagement.
Any key upcoming community events you would like to share? We are excited to announce Jeanne D’Arc Credit Union’s annual We Share A Common Thread Foundation Fundraiser on March 29, 2023, at 6:00 pm at Lowell Memorial Auditorium.
Jeanne D’Arc Credit Union values the compassionate work of local non-profits. We are committed to providing assistance to those who serve the many needs of our community. We truly live the mission of our Foundation, We Share a Common Thread. Proceeds from this event will be used to continue our efforts to make a difference in the lives of our members and the public at large by assisting with food, shelter, clothing, health, and education.
In 2022 our fundraiser raised over $110,000 and directly benefited 140 local organizations. We hope to assist even more organizations in 2023. There are several ways to get involved; become a sponsor, make a donation, or attend the event, please visit www.wsact.com for all the details.
Please join us, meet some of the worthy charities we support, and be a part of the community where we all “share a common thread”. If you have questions or need additional information, please contact Alison Hughes at alison.hughes@JDCU.com or 978-323-4712.
Photo caption: We share a common thread, indeed… Alison Hughes (right; next to Lowell CHC Development Manager, Carley Monell) is a true community champion. We sure are lucky to have her in our corner.
“Lowell CHC is the perfect partner to help us highlight healthcare to our members because you provide education, programming, and services to help reduce health disparities and enhance the health of the Greater Lowell community.” – Alison Hughes, JDCU
https://www.lchealth.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/JeanneDarc.png816720CarleyMo@lchealth.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/lchc-logo-1.pngCarleyMo@lchealth.org2023-03-13 11:25:572024-02-15 18:15:01Community Conversations: Jeanne D’Arc Credit Union
Attention Patients and Staff – Lowell Community Health Center has been alerted by the City of Lowell that on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, Central Street traffic will be temporarily halted for work between 8:00 AM and 3:00 PM. Those traveling by vehicle or walking in that area should expect delays.
The traffic impacts are to accommodate bridge beam installation on Central Street over the Pawtucket Canal.
For more details about the City of Lowell’s advisory, information about the project, and tips for staying up-to-date on traffic conditions in Lowell, please visit the City’s website: https://www.lowellma.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=700
https://www.lchealth.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/semaphore-traffic-light-isolated-2022-10-03-18-51-32-utc-scaled.jpg24292560BrentCa@lchealth.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/lchc-logo-1.pngBrentCa@lchealth.org2023-03-08 08:02:482023-03-08 08:02:49Traffic Alert for March 8th
