For Immediate Release
October 10, 2024
Contact: Juliana Baumann, NJPCA Communications and Events Specialist
(609) 376-1004 (cell) or jbaumann@njpca.org
Community Health Centers, Dignitaries, MCOs, and Stakeholders Join for NJPCA Annual Conference
Princeton, New Jersey – The New Jersey Primary Care Association (NJPCA) held its Annual Conference today at the Hyatt Regency in Princeton, convening Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) from across the State. This year’s one-day conference was a time for the New Jersey FQHCs to network with colleagues and community partners from across the Mid-Atlantic region. With a lineup of thought-provoking presentations and expert-led training sessions, the conference challenged participants to discover new and innovative practices in primary care. The theme of this year’s conference was “Building a Healthy Community, One Patient at a Time,” which illustrates FQHCs’ commitment to providing individual healthcare services that foster overall community health.
“This theme is reflected in the high quality, one-on-one care that our centers provide every day, the empathy they show when listening to their patients, and the extra mile they go to resolve each patient’s care challenges they are confronted with each day. The Conference provides an opportunity for us to come together as a group – share our challenges and successes, learn from each other, honor our dedicated health center members, and show appreciation for our federal, State and local partners and stakeholders,” said Dr. Selina Haq, NJPCA President and CEO.
NJPCA’s Annual Conference commenced with the Exhibitor Networking Breakfast: Getting to Know Your Community Partners, proudly sponsored by Aledade, Inc. This gathering offered a unique opportunity for FQHCs from around the State to connect with each other and industry partners before participating in expert-led training sessions. The educational sessions delved into critical topics and best practices in workforce development, compliance and governance, clinical quality, finance, and cybersecurity, leaving participants equipped with insights to elevate the community impact at their Federally Qualified Health Centers.
Sheila Robinson-Kiss, MSW, LCSW was the Keynote Speaker of the 2024 Annual Conference. A clinically trained licensed therapist, Ms. Robinson-Kiss is also the Founder and CEO of Rebalancing America and Beyond. She was recently honored as a Blue Cross Blue Shield and NJ BIZ Healthcare Education Hero of the Year for her work delivering impactful programs that promote life productivity and balance. Ms. Robinson-Kiss shared tools in resilience planning, specific to the fast-paced climate in which FQHCs operate.
“As community servants, it is both our personal and professional obligation to keep our lives and minds lifted by attending to our mental health,” said Sheila Robinson-Kiss, MSW, LCSW.
At the Healthcare Heroes Luncheon, NJPCA honored Joan Quigley, President and CEO of North Hudson Community Action Corporation (NHCAC) Health Center, recognizing her 40+ years of dedicated work in healthcare and public service, as she plans to retire at the end of the calendar year. Ms. Quigley has been at the helm of NHCAC, serving as President and CEO for over 11 years.
“Health centers provide critical services to people enrolled in Medicare, Medicaid/CHIP, and the Marketplace. Their dedication and passion for providing high-quality primary care to historically underserved populations is truly commendable. We celebrate the New Jersey Primary Care Association and applaud all the hard work they do to support health centers across the state,” said Kathleen Otte, CMS, Region II, Regional Administrator.
Over 200 participants, including FQHC CEOs and staff, government officials, managed care organizations, and other community stakeholders attended NJPCA’s 2024 Annual Conference. Dignitaries from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), New Jersey Department of Health, and New Jersey Department of Human Services were also in attendance. Horizon NJ Health and Labcorp were the Silver sponsors and Aetna Better Health of New Jersey was the Bronze sponsor of the Annual Conference. Special contributions were also made by Aledade, Inc. and Wellpoint.
“As we gather for this year’s annual conference, we are reminded of the vital role that primary care plays in fostering health and wellness within our communities. FQHCs are committed to empowering healthcare providers, enhancing patient experiences, and driving innovation to ensure that every individual has access to quality care,” said Dr. Kerri Powell, MD, NJPCA Board Chair and Neighborhood Health Services Corporation CEO. “By collaborating and sharing best practices, we can transform lives and build a healthier future ‘One Patient at a Time.’”
The day concluded with the Healthcare Heroes Ceremony, which recognized FQHC employees who were nominated by health center staff for exceeding their organization’s definition of healthcare excellence.
The list of Healthcare Heroes from across New Jersey can be found below.
2024 NJPCA Annual Conference – Healthcare Heroes
Health Center | Hero Nominee | Job Title |
Alliance Community Healthcare, Inc. | Dr. Gerald Belgrave | Director of Family Dental Services |
AtlantiCare Health Services | Mohini Barot | Patient Navigator |
CAMcare Health Corporation | Dr. Nikhil Bhalla | Primary Medical Doctor of Internal Medicine |
Central Jersey Medical Center | Marta Ferreira | Director of Human Resources |
CHEMED (Center for Health Education, Medicine and Dentistry) | Valeria Izquierdo | Front-End Supervisor |
CompleteCare Health Network | Lillian Colon | Program Improvement Director |
Henry J. Austin Health Center | Lakeishia Cooper | Director of Nursing |
Jewish Renaissance Foundation | Dr. Amarjit Saini | Internal Medicine Physician |
Mary Eliza Mahoney Health Center | Deborah Devlin | Clinic Attendant |
Metropolitan Family Health Network | Bryant Nguyen | Patient Navigation Coordinator |
Monmouth Family Health Center | Mayra Perez | Biller/Coder |
Neighborhood Health Services Corporation | Adebisi Osho-Okunnubi | Nurse Practitioner, Adult Medicine |
Newark Community Health Center, Inc. | Dr. Afamefune Onejeme | OB/GYN |
North Hudson Community Action Corporation Health Center | Javier Romero | Assistant Director of Facilities |
Ocean Health Initiatives, Inc. | Veronica Smith | Regional Practice Director |
Osborn Family Health Center | Nicole Hill | Nurse Practitioner |
Project H.O.P.E., Inc. | Jennifer Farestad | Adult Gerontology Nurse Practitioner |
Saint James Health, Inc. | Rebecca Paulino | Community Health Worker |
Southern Jersey Family Medical Centers, Inc. | Esther Carpenter | Vice President & Chief Operating Officer |
Visiting Nurse Association of Central Jersey Community Health Center | Samantha Ricciardi | Lead Practice Manager |
Zufall Health Center | Evelyn Torres | Human Resources Credentialing Specialist |
About the New Jersey Primary Care Association
The New Jersey Primary Care Association (NJPCA) is an advocate for Community Health Centers as well as a provider of comprehensive education, training, and technical assistance to Health Centers in New Jersey. The 23 Federally Qualified Health Centers and one FQHC Look-alike in New Jersey and their 139 satellite sites provide healthcare services to over 577,000 individuals annually. For more information about the NJPCA, please visit njpca.org.
Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), also known as Community Health Centers, are in every state across the nation. FQHCs are authorized under Section 330(A) of the Public Health Services Act to provide healthcare to the medically underserved. Many Community Health Centers and their sites are specially designated to serve the needs of special populations, including homeless populations, public housing residents, migrant and seasonal farm workers, veterans, and school-aged children. For more information about the HRSA Health Center Program, please visit bphc.hrsa.gov/about/index.html.
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For more information and photos, please contact Juliana Baumann.