Rep. Summer Lee Earns National Health Care Leadership Award

Richard Rinehart, CEO Cornerstone Care and President of the BOD of the PA Association of Community Health Centers, Rep. Summer Lee, and Bethany Blackburn, CEO of North Side Christian Health Center

Top Award Honors Lawmaker Who Advocated for Investments in Community Health Centers

The National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) has presented Representative Summer Lee with the Distinguished Community Health Center Advocate Award. The award recognizes members of Congress who have advocated for increasing access to primary care and whose initiatives and leadership have served to sustain and strengthen public investment in Community Health Centers. 

The national award was presented during the kickoff of National Community Health Center Week at North Side Christian Health Center in Pittsburgh on Monday, August 5, 2024 at the NSCHC Middle Street location. 

(l. to r.) Dr. Jerome Gloster, CEO, Primary Care Health Services; Bethany Blackburn, CEO NSCHC; Rich Rinehart, CEO, Cornerstone Care, Inc. & President of the Board of Directors of PACHC; Rep. Summer Lee; Susan Kalson, CEO, Squirrel Hill Health Center; Shelly Duncan, CEO, Sto-Rox Family Health Center; Susan Chase, TRACHC Program Manager

“I’m very pleased to be able to present this award on behalf of the National Association of Community Health Centers,” said NSCHC CEO, Bethany Blackburn, who presented the award to Rep. Summer Lee. “North Side Christian Health Center is a small community-based health care center, that never turns anyone away who is seeking health care. It is dependent on the advocacy and voice of those like Representative Summer Lee who understands how critical federally qualified health centers are for communities such as the Northside.”  

Rep. Summer Lee with NSCHC staff and Board members

Community Health Centers are the health care home for over 31.5 million adult and pediatric patients in 15,000 communities across the country and U.S. territories. Demand for their comprehensive array of services including mental and behavioral health, substance use disorder treatment, oral health, veterans, and senior services continues to grow. Each year, health centers save the overall health system more than $24 billion due to reduced emergency room visits and hospitalizations. Furthermore, health centers create over 500,000 jobs—generating $85 billion in direct and indirect economic activity in local communities.

About National Association of Community Health Centers

NACHC is the leading change agent collaborating with affiliates and partners to advance Community Health Centers as the foundation of an equitable health care system free from disparities and built on accessible, patient-governed, high-quality, integrated primary care. Learn more about NACHC at www.nachc.org.

About North Side Christian Health Center

North Side Christian Health Center has been providing patients with primary and preventive health care services to improve health and well-being for over 30 years. As a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), all services are available on a sliding fee scale to income eligible patients. Our services include primary medical, pediatric, dental, and behavioral health care.

NSCHC sees patients of all ages, from infants to senior citizens. In keeping with the teachings of Christ, NSCHC warmly welcomes all persons without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, or political beliefs.