Lowell Community Health Center has been nationally recognized by the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) through the 2024 Community Health Quality Recognition (CHQR) Badges. These prestigious recognitions highlight the health center’s commitment to improving health outcomes and access to care in Greater Lowell.
Lowell Community Health Center has been awarded badges in the following categories:
Access Enhancer – for increasing access to comprehensive care.
Health Disparities Reducer – for improving care for underserved populations and reducing health disparities.
Advancing Health Information Technology (HIT) for Quality – for leveraging technology to improve patient outcomes.
Addressing Social Risk Factors – for addressing the social determinants of health impacting our patients.
Additionally, Lowell Community Health Center continues to be recognized as a Patient-Centered Medical Home, reflecting our focus on comprehensive, coordinated care that puts our patients first. These recognitions underscore the health center’s ongoing commitment to providing high-quality, equitable care to the people of Greater Lowell. We are proud of the work our dedicated staff does every day to serve our community.
/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/lchc-logo-1.png00BrentCa@lchealth.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/lchc-logo-1.pngBrentCa@lchealth.org2024-11-22 11:37:582024-11-22 11:37:59Lowell Community Health Center Recognized by HRSA
Annual Award Highlights Women Leaders’ Impact on Massachusetts’ Economy and Community Health
Boston (November 1, 2024) – The Women’s Edge, in partnership with The Boston Globe, has once again recognized Lowell Community Health Center (Lowell CHC) among the Top 100 Women-Led Businesses in Massachusetts for a sixth consecutive year. This honor celebrates women-led organizations that drive substantial economic and societal contributions statewide. This year’s honorees collectively generated more than $124 billion in revenue, underscoring the critical role of women leaders in advancing the region’s economy.
“We’re thrilled to be honored by The Boston Globe and The Women’s Edge once again this year,” said Susan West Levine, CEO of Lowell Community Health Center. “This acknowledgment reflects our team’s commitment to serving the community with compassion and innovation. With our new pharmacy offering high-tech, multilingual service, the planned Health Justice Learning Institute aimed at creating future health career pathways for local youth, and our upcoming Family Medicine Residency Program addressing urgent workforce needs, we’re continually evolving to provide accessible, equitable care for Greater Lowell.”
UMass Lowell and Lowell CHC Teams at the Annual Top 100 Women-Led Businesses Breakfast on November 1, 2024.
Lowell Community Health Center congratulates UMass Lowell Chancellor Julie Chen, the other Lowell organization recognized on this year’s list, as well as Deb Fowler, Co-Founder and Executive Director of History UnErased, for receiving The Women’s Edge Impact Award. We are honored to be part of such a distinguished group making a meaningful impact throughout the Commonwealth.
Susan West Levine, who nominated Deb for this recognition, added, “I am incredibly proud to congratulate Deb Fowler on receiving The Women’s Edge Impact Award. Her leadership and dedication to inclusive education through History UnErased have transformed classrooms and empowered students to see themselves reflected in history. This award is a testament to her remarkable contributions.”
This is the 24th year that The Women’s Edge has curated the Top 100 list, in collaboration with The Boston Globe for the past twelve years. The selection process includes evaluating revenue or operating budgets, workplace diversity, board composition, and innovative projects.
About Lowell Community Health Center
Lowell Community Health Center, established in 1970, is the healthcare home of choice for more than 36,000 individuals in Greater Lowell. At the heart of our mission lies a strong commitment to offering comprehensive and culturally responsive healthcare services, ensuring that every patient receives the care they need, regardless of financial status.
About The Women’s Edge
The Women’s Edge, a Boston-based nonprofit, supports women in leadership by offering relevant programs and fostering a diverse community of high-performing leaders. Visit thewomensedge.org for more information.
/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/lchc-logo-1.png00BrentCa@lchealth.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/lchc-logo-1.pngBrentCa@lchealth.org2024-11-01 12:43:282024-11-01 12:43:30The Women’s Edge and The Boston Globe Name Lowell CHC Top 100 Women-Led Businesses in Massachusetts for 2024
Funding Will Expand Lowell CHC’s Initiative to Establish Youth Career Pathways and Revolutionize Community Programming
Lowell CHC is the recipient of a $5M grant by the Atrius Health Equity Foundation to expand youth-led community health solutions. The initiative aims to ensure all residents have the opportunity to thrive.
This award is part of the Youth as Health Care Change Agents grant program, a new initiative that funds community organizations in Eastern Massachusetts to establish youth health career pathways, while supporting youth to become health educators, health navigators, future health care professionals, and community health advocates.
In Greater Lowell, health is shaped by social and economic factors such as income inequality, education access, and housing stability. Since 1970, Lowell CHC has been actively providing trauma-informed preventive healthcare services and addressing these social determinants of health. For this initiative, Lowell CHC will be collaborating with Community Teamwork, Inc., Coalition for a Better Acre, Greater Lowell Health Alliance, MassHire, and Lowell General Hospital/Tufts Medicine.
Funding from the Atrius Health Equity Foundation will support Lowell CHC’s Health Justice Learning Institute™’s groundbreaking initiative of establishing youth health career pathways and revolutionizing programming to increase social connectedness, improve family health outcomes, support youth mental wellness, boost high school graduation rates and promote post-secondary educational attainment, and address substance use – all tailored to community needs. The program will also bring together numerous cross-sectoral partners and establish a Youth and Health Coalition in Lowell.
Sheila Och, Executive Director of the Health Justice Learning Institute and Chief Equity Officer of Lowell Community Health Center, stated about the grant: “We are deeply grateful for the support from Atrius Health Equity Foundation for our Youth Health Program (YHP). This program will focus on youth and their families, addressing health, economic security, and life expectancy.”
Och continued, “By leveraging the health center and our partners’ expertise in innovative, culturally responsive services and youth programming, we will create new health career pathways and improve health outcomes. In collaboration with our partners, the program will ensure youth are supported from all corners of our city. The Youth Health Justice Academy, part of our Health Justice Learning Institute, will offer opportunities for young people to explore health careers in a community health setting and through a health justice lens. By centering youth and their families, we aim to combat chronic diseases, enhance wellness, and drive systems change. This grant propels our vision of a just and healthy community.”
Lowell CHC is among eight awardees selected through a highly competitive and rigorous selection process shaped by community input. View the full list of awardees at www.atriusfoundation.org.
More information about the work underway at Lowell CHC can be found at www.lchealth.org.
About the Atrius Health Equity Foundation
Established in 2022 as an independent organization, the Atrius Health Equity Foundation carries forward Atrius Health’s historic focus on improving health outcomes for all. The Foundation’s grantmaking emphasizes collaboration and community leadership and seeks to achieve lasting impact by transforming systems to promote health equity with the ultimate goal of creating a future where everyone in Eastern Massachusetts lives a longer, healthier life. More information about the Foundation’s work can be found at www.atriusfoundation.org.
About Lowell Community Health Center: Lowell Community Health Center, established in 1970, is the healthcare home of choice for more than 36,000 individuals in Greater Lowell. At the heart of our mission lies a strong commitment to offering comprehensive and culturally responsive healthcare services, ensuring that every patient receives the care they need, regardless of financial status.
https://www.lchealth.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/atrius-final-logo-full-color@3x.jpg11251500BrentCa@lchealth.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/lchc-logo-1.pngBrentCa@lchealth.org2024-07-24 11:35:242024-07-29 09:14:00Lowell CHC Awarded Grant By Atrius Health Equity Foundation To Improve Health and Longevity In Greater Lowell
Lowell Community Health Center is proud to announce the recipients of this year’s DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses: Sary Sem and Tiffany Yonhorn. This prestigious recognition is a testament to the extraordinary care and compassion they demonstrate daily. Presented during National Nurses Week, the DAISY Award honors those who go above and beyond in delivering exceptional nursing care. Sary and Tiffany have distinguished themselves by their commitment to patient well-being and their ability to inspire their colleagues. The award highlights their invaluable contributions to the Lowell Community Health Center and underscores our commitment to excellence in nursing.
This year’s ceremony marked the third annual presentation of the DAISY Award at Lowell Community Health Center, which was the first community health center in the nation to begin presenting the Daisy Award annually. The award is part of the DAISY Foundation’s programs nationwide to recognize the extraordinary care nurses provide every day. The awards were presented during a luncheon last week for the health center’s nurses as part of the National Nurses Week celebrations held from May 6 to May 12. This year’s theme, “Nurses Make the Difference,” honors the incredible nurses who embody the spirit of compassion and care in every healthcare setting.
(L to R) Mary Wolfenden, Nurse Director of Family Medicine and the Metta Health Center, Dr. Kumble Rajesh, Chief Medical Officer, Susan West Levine, CEO, Tiffany Yonhorn and Sary Sem – 2024 DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses awardees, Elizabeth Hale, Chief Operating Officer, Melanie Goyette, Nurse Director of Adult Medicine the Patient Walk-In Center and Specialty Care.
https://www.lchealth.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Image-5.jpeg450600BrentCa@lchealth.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/lchc-logo-1.pngBrentCa@lchealth.org2024-05-15 16:54:352024-05-20 08:25:00Lowell CHC Announces 2024 DAISY Award Recipients
Lowell Community Health Center proudly announces that Dr. Ria Roberts has been honored as the Essex North District of the Massachusetts Medical Society’s 2024 Community Clinician of the Year.
An Andover resident, Yale-trained internist and Harvard-trained geriatrician, Dr. Roberts is the inaugural Medical Director for the Program for Healthy Aging at Lowell Community Health Center. Her expertise in geriatric medicine is exemplified by her comprehensive care model based on the “5 Ms” of Geriatric Medicine: Mind, Mobility, Multi-Complexity, Medications, and Matters Most. This award acknowledges her dedication to patient-centered care and her significant contributions to the field of geriatrics.
“Dr. Ria Roberts’ approach to addressing complex health issues in older adults, such as cognitive health and mobility, as well as her efforts to optimize medication management, truly sets her apart,” said Dr. Kumble Rajesh, Chief Medical Officer at Lowell Community Health Center. “This accolade is a fitting reflection of her exceptional work and the tangible impact she has made on our patients’ lives.”
Dr. Roberts holds a staff appointment at Lowell General Hospital and is a clinical instructor in medicine at Harvard Medical School. She also co-leads the Harvard Medical School’s Black Women in Medicine Committee. At Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Dr. Roberts contributes her expertise as a part-time academic hospitalist and leads initiatives for diversity, inclusion, and advocacy in Graduate Medical Education and the Department of Medicine.
Originally from St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr. Roberts earned her medical degree from the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences after completing her undergraduate studies at Brandeis University.
https://www.lchealth.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Untitled-design-35.png945945BrentCa@lchealth.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/lchc-logo-1.pngBrentCa@lchealth.org2024-04-24 09:00:442024-04-24 09:00:46Dr. Ria Roberts Awarded Community Clinician of the Year
Lowell Community Health Center is proud to announce that Sheila Och, Chief Engagement and Equity Officer, has been recognized by The Institute for Health Equity Research, Evaluation & Policy (IHE) as part of their “Women Leading the Charge” feature for Women’s History Month. This distinguished acknowledgment celebrates Sheila’s exceptional contributions to advancing health equity within the community health sector in Massachusetts.
In the “Women Leading the Charge” feature, Sheila shares her invaluable perspectives alongside other influential women leaders. Her dedication to enhancing community health through cultural proficiency, comprehensive engagement, and a steadfast commitment to addressing the social, emotional, and cultural factors impacting healthcare sets a benchmark for leadership in health equity.
In receiving the recognition, Och remarked about community health centers, “We aim to actively engage our communities and collaborate in health initiatives, outreach programs, and health education. This engagement helps foster a sense of ownership and empowerment, centers our communities’ voices and strengths in our work, and advances our mission to bridge the gap in health disparities.”
Lowell Community Health Center is thrilled that Sheila’s work and the impact of our collective efforts are being recognized on such a prestigious platform. This accolade not only honors Sheila’s individual contributions but also highlights the critical role of community health centers in providing accessible, quality healthcare to underserved populations.
The Institute for Health Equity Research, Evaluation & Policy is an initiative of the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers.
https://www.lchealth.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Sheila-Och-scaled.jpg25601703BrentCa@lchealth.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/lchc-logo-1.pngBrentCa@lchealth.org2024-03-20 14:12:352024-03-20 14:20:15Sheila Och Honored by The Institute for Health Equity Research, Evaluation & Policy
Lowell Community Health Center (Lowell CHC) is proud to announce Cynthia (Cindy) Slaga, NP, as the 2024 Community Health Center Clinician of the Year, awarded by the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers. Joining Dr. Stephanie Billings of Holyoke Health Center, Cindy is one of only two statewide recipients. She will receive this honor at the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers’ Annual Awards Gala on June 7th.
Cindy leads Lowell CHC’s school-based health center program, which includes centers at Lowell High School and Stoklosa Middle School.
Susan West Levine, CEO of Lowell CHC, speaks highly of Cindy: “Cindy’s dedication is evident the moment she speaks about her students and you see the smile and passion on her face. Her leadership has transformed our School-Based Health Centers into environments that are safe havens for students where they can receive comprehensive care and support.”
Kumble Rajesh, Chief Medical Officer, comments on Cindy’s holistic approach: “Cindy ensures all students, particularly those from marginalized backgrounds, receive complete health services. Her work addresses their physical, mental, emotional, and social well-being.”
Elizabeth Hale, Chief Operating Officer, remarks on Cindy’s role: “Cindy is more than a clinician; she’s a trusted caregiver and advocate. Her innovative practices and commitment to health equity exemplify what this award signifies.”
Cindy Slaga reflects on the award: “Thank you! I am truly honored. I appreciate all the support that has been given to the growth of the school-based health program. I am excited to share this recognition with our entire school-based health center team and the youth of Lowell. This award inspires me to continue the very important work of a community health center in meeting the unique healthcare needs of the community.”
Since 2016, Cindy has been pivotal in Lowell CHC’s School-Based Health Center program, focusing on adolescent health. Her efforts during the pandemic and her continuous work in promoting health equity and innovative youth health services underscore her worthiness of this recognition.
Cindy’s initiatives, like offering diverse contraceptive services and LGBTQIA+ support, and integrating behavioral health services into the School-Based Health Center program, demonstrate her commitment to addressing the varied needs of students. Additionally, her work providing healthcare and vaccines to refugees and new arrivals during summer breaks highlights her dedication to health equity. Most recently, she’s launched a Youth Advisory Council to further engage and ensure a student-centric program.
Lowell CHC’s School-Based Health Centers facilitate academic achievement by ensuring medical and behavioral health services are accessible in the school environment. Recognizing that addressing students’ physical and mental health needs increases their readiness for learning, the centers aim to reduce class time missed and enhance lifelong success.
https://www.lchealth.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Cynthia-Slaga.jpeg9171169BrentCa@lchealth.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/lchc-logo-1.pngBrentCa@lchealth.org2024-01-31 07:00:002024-02-15 18:09:13Lowell CHC’s Cindy Slaga, NP Recognized As 2024 Community Health Center Clinician of the Year
The Women’s Edge, in collaboration with Globe Magazine, has once again named Lowell Community Health Center (Lowell CHC) as one of the Top 100 Women-Led Businesses in Massachusetts. This is the fifth consecutive year Lowell CHC has received this honor. This prestigious recognition celebrates women-led organizations that have a profound economic and societal impact here in Massachusetts.
“Our staff choose to dedicate their careers to this community, and our patients purposefully choose us for their care — a testament to the mutual trust and respect cultivated at Lowell CHC. Receiving this acknowledgment from The Women’s Edge and Globe Magazine for a fifth consecutive year is a remarkable honor that genuinely reflects the commitment and passion of our team,” expressed Susan West Levine, CEO of Lowell Community Health Center. “We are honored to be included among such influential women-led organizations, including UMass Lowell, collectively driving progress and making a meaningful impact throughout Massachusetts.”
Now in its 23rd year, The Women’s Edge, a Boston-based nonprofit organization, has been steadfast in its commitment to uplifting women in leadership roles. This collaboration with Globe Magazine marks a decade of recognizing excellence across both for-profit and not-for-profit sectors. Criteria for the Top 100 list include revenue or operating budget, workplace and management diversity, board composition, and innovation in projects.
The 2023 awardees were celebrated at a special ceremony on November 3rd, with the full list of honorees available on Globe Magazine’s website.
WASHINGTON – As part of a multi-year collaboration between Advocates for Community Health (ACH) and UnitedHealthcare, five community health centers are receiving $500,000 each to address complex problems affecting the overall wellness of the underserved communities where they provide care. The Community Health Entrepreneur Challenge, launched in April 2023, is the first collaboration between UnitedHealthcare and ACH and was crafted from a joint commitment to empower federally qualified health center (FQHC) leaders to drive change in their communities. Through the competition, ACH member health centers submitted concepts to target improved health outcomes, decrease health disparities, promote system change, and engage organizations across multiple sectors including public, private, government and community groups. Winners receive technical support and seed funding to implement and measure their innovation impact.
/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/lchc-logo-1.png00BrentCa@lchealth.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/lchc-logo-1.pngBrentCa@lchealth.org2023-09-19 11:34:312024-02-15 18:17:24Lowell CHC one of five community health centers selected in nationwide entrepreneurship competition
We are thrilled to announce that Carla Caraballo, a longstanding Community Health Worker at Lowell Community Health Center, has received the esteemed 2023 Esther M. Holderby Extraordinary Community Health Worker Award from the National Association of Community Health Workers.
This award celebrates Community Health Workers who excel in improving public health and advocating for community needs. Over her 15-year career at Lowell CHC, Carla has climbed the ranks from an asthma-focused health worker to becoming the Program Manager of the Social Determinants of Health strategy.
Not only does she mentor other Community Health Workers, but she also forms and sustains critical partnerships within the community. Known statewide for her expertise in asthma management, Carla is also involved in several statewide initiatives and has shown remarkable resilience and commitment, particularly during the pandemic.
The award was presented at the National Association of Community Health Workers’ Unity Conference in Austin, Texas last month, but Carla could not attend in person. Earlier this week, Carla got a pleasant surprise during Lowell CHC’s Leadership Meeting with a special presentation by her colleagues and leadership from the MA Association of Community Health Workers who joined the meeting remotely to thank Carla for all she does.
Congratulations Carla!
https://www.lchealth.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/MicrosoftTeams-image-102-1030x825-1.jpg8251030BrentCa@lchealth.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/lchc-logo-1.pngBrentCa@lchealth.org2023-08-25 16:48:582024-02-15 18:07:56Lowell CHC’s Carla Caraballo Receives 2023 Esther M. Holderby Extraordinary Community Health Worker Award
