News
June 12, 2017Milestone Event to Recognize Growth of Schenectady’s Only Not-for-Profit, Federally Qualified Health Center Over Past Four Decades
Community partners, business leaders and board members will gather Thursday, June 15 from 5:30-9 p.m. at the Glen Sanders Mansion in Scotia to celebrate the 45th anniversary of Hometown Health Centers (HHC), Schenectady County’s only not-for-profit, federally qualified health center.
The event, which will draw more than 130 attendees for cocktails followed by dinner and awards, will reflect upon the organization’s founding as a one-room facility staffed by a voluntary solo practitioner, lives touched by the grassroots organization, and what the future holds with advancements in technologies and health care.
“Since our founding in 1972 by Hendrik Rozendaal, M.D., HHC has made truly significant strides,” said HHC CEO Joe Gambino. “Today we proudly celebrate Hometown Health Centers as a state-of-the-art health center providing the highest quality primary care, comprehensive dental, OB/GYN, behavioral health services, tele-psychiatry, and vision care, as well as on-site lab services through our partner LabCorp, to 20,000 patients annually at our main facility located at 1044 State Street in Schenectady. We also offer primary healthcare at our Amsterdam health center at 67 Division Street.”
“HHC’s continued growth has been fueled by its ongoing commitment to reach more individuals — regardless of their income levels — with an expanded array of services,” added HHC Board Chair Bill Faubion. “To that point, in March 2016 we partnered with Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences to open College Hometown Pharmacy, the first student-operated pharmacy in New York state. Later that year we also teamed up with Schenectady City School District to open the county’s first school-based health centers at Mont Pleasant Middle School and Schenectady High School.”
As part of the evening’s festivities, HHC will hand out awards to two individuals who have helped HHC remain true to its core mission:
- Greg Dewey, president, Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, who led the initiative to locate a student-operated pharmacy — one of only a handful of student-run pharmacies nationwide — in HHC’s main health center in Schenectady.
- Laurence Spring, superintendent, Schenectady City Schools, who spearheaded a three-year effort to create a HHC-operated school-based program in two Schenectady city schools.
Schenectady Mayor Gary McCarthy will also posthumously recognize Robert Watts for his dedication to bring accessible healthcare to those in need — a vision that ultimately resulted in the launch of Hometown Health Centers. Watts, who passed away in 2010, was the former president of the Carver Community Health Center board of directors and chief health planner for the New York State Department of Health. His son, Roderick Watts, will accept the award on his behalf.
“HHC has come a long way and we look forward to celebrating our successes at this dinner — and looking to the future — with our valued health partners and supporters,” added Gambino.
For more information about the event, which is sponsored by Fidelis Care, Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences and MVP Health Care, please call HHC Marketing/Communications Director Susan Stuhr at (518) 370-1441 x 4104.
