The Wright Center for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education receives Gold Advocacy Center of Excellence Designation

The National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) has recognized The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education as a Gold Advocacy Center of Excellence (ACE) – the first community health center in Pennsylvania to achieve the gold standard.

The ACE designation from the national body shows The Wright Center is dedicated to advocating for and supporting community health centers that provide comprehensive primary and preventive health services to medically underserved populations in rural and urban areas.

“It is an incredible honor to be recognized by NACHC with the Gold ACE designation,” said Dr. Linda Thomas-Hemak, president and CEO of The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education. “Our advocacy efforts extend throughout our organization, as our 625 dedicated employees live and deliver our shared mission to improve the health and welfare of the communities we are privileged to serve. I am very proud of their collective service efforts to ensure high-quality primary and preventative care are available for all of our patients.”

An ACE is a community health center that creates a culture of advocacy to ensure that policymakers at all levels of government commit to investing in affordable, equitable and innovative care that health centers provide. ACE levels recognize consistent engagement, success and demonstrated ongoing commitment to making advocacy an organization priority. ACEs are actively engaged with NACHC and forums addressing federal policy issues, as well as their state primary care association and platforms to address key state and local-level policy issues that impact community health centers and their patients. NACHC awards three levels of ACEs: bronze, silver and gold. Each designation is valid for two years.

In order to earn ACE status, a community health center must complete a checklist of activities and accomplishments as outlined by NACHC. Wright Center employees, for example, develop and write guest editorials that raise awareness and address important public health issues that affect community health centers and patients. An in-house advocacy committee offers training, while the organization also hosts elected officials at its regional primary care practices. The executive leadership team participates in important meetings at the local, state and national levels that promote responsive solutions to important health care delivery issues and health outcomes.

For more information about The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education, go to TheWrightCenter.org

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