News

November 12, 2021

Whitney Young Health and Equinox Announce Intent to Affiliate

Whitney Young Health and Equinox, Inc., two long-standing health and human service organizations in the Capital Region, have agreed to form an official affiliation.

Both organizations entered an agreement to explore a potential affiliation in 2020, citing the potential to strengthen the healthcare, human service and social determinants of health safety net for the Capital Region’s most vulnerable citizens through combined resources and staff.

“Equinox and Whitney Young Health provide complementary services with minimal duplication,” said Whitney Young Health CEO Dave Shippee. “This affiliation will enhance our ability to expand services, improve the effectiveness and efficiency of service delivery and improve clinical outcomes for the community.”

Following the development of an affiliation agreement that addresses operational structure, information systems, administrative provisions, and a master services agreement, approval from several federal and state regulatory entities is required. It could take up to a year to finalize approvals so that the affiliation can proceed and a new organizational structure can be established.

“We share a mission and commitment to serve low-income, at-risk populations,” Equinox CEO Virginia Golden said. “The new organization will provide additional services to current patients and clients while remaining a vital community resource.”

At this time, both Boards of Directors and CEOs have agreed that Dave Shippee will be appointed the CEO of the affiliated entity. Virginia Golden has accomplished what she was hired to do as Equinox’s CEO: to lead the agency in a time of transition and get to an affiliation decision. As of December 18, 2021, Golden will take on a part-time role at Equinox to help with the affiliation transition, and current COO Kathy Fletcher will become interim CEO to lead Equinox over the next 12 months through completion of the official affiliation.

When the affiliation is complete, the staff, board of directors and executive leadership of both organizations will remain an integral part of the new organizational structure of the affiliated entity. Due to program staffing requirements and limited overlap of services, it is expected that the majority of employees will be retained.