SJFMC in the Community (Spring/Summer 2019)


April 30, 2019 SJFMC AND THE AC LINKS TEAM UP TO PUT FRESH PRODUCE ON LOCAL PLATES Sweet potatoes, mushrooms, collard greens and kale were just a few healthy favorites given out in sacks and bunches during our farm stand in April at the Merle Pavilion. The event, in collaboration with the Atlantic City chapter of the Links Inc., is part of the SJFMC Farmacy program, making fresh produce the medicine for a healthy soul. About 150 families received bags full of fresh produce at the event. The program, aimed at improving health outcomes through healthy eating, will continue at SJFMC next harvest season. May 22 SJFMC participated in the Atlantic City Regional Stand Down event, held at the All Wars Memorial Museum in Atlantic City, NJ. Our staff distributed much-needed health information to homeless veterans’ households. June 14 SJFMC staff participated in Wear BLUE Day as part of the year-round Wear BLUE awareness campaign created by the Men’s Health Network to raise awareness about the importance of male health and to encourage men to live longer and healthier lives. The event also aimed to get women involved to encourage men to do so.

June 14

The Outreach Team hit the streets of Burlington, stopping in barbershops to distribute goodie bags to local men. The push, in partnership with the Burlington Department of Health, was part of Men’s Health Awareness Month. June 14 Check out this smiling face, Patient Engagement Manager Stephanie Weaver, at the Atlantic City Board of Education’s Health and Wellness Expo. The event at O’Donnell Park connected community members with valuable health information to protect their families. August 23  Burlington County seniors received blood pressure screenings and valuable health information at the Doreatha Campbell Senior Complex in Willingboro.

SJFMC Celebrates National Health Center Week 2019


SJFMC observed National Health Center Week August 4-10 with a series of successful community events. With the theme of “America’s Health Centers: Rooted in Communities,” the week was an opportunity for SJFMC to celebrate its own health center heroes with luncheons at our eight centers. At these “Honoring Health Center Heroes” events, we applauded the staff winners, nominated by their peers through state-wide elections, who demonstrate the values of our organization. Check out our page for a list of winners. We also held four community health fairs to celebrate National Health Center Week. The fairs included free immunizations, dental screenings, blood pressure and glucose testing, entertainment, community partners, back-to-school book bag giveaways, food and much more in all three of the counties we serve: Burlington, Atlantic and Salem. Our SJFMC Pleasantville event at the Merle Pavilion attracted 150 people  and our event in Salem attracted about 100 residents. We culminated the week with two health fairs in both Burlington and Atlantic Counties. Elected officials showed their support for our mission at our  Burlington City Center event that attracted more than 200 patients and community partners. Our Atlantic City sites hosted more than 250 attendees. Thanks to all our managed care organizations, Aetna, Horizon NJ Health, United Healthcare, WellCare and Amerigroup, for providing monetary donations and outreach services. We also appreciate all of our community partners and SJFMC employees and Health Center Heroes who supported our efforts. Go TEAM!

Congratulations to our 2019 Health Center Heroes!


This year’s finalists are being honored for their commitment to our mission of providing quality health care to our patients. They all are dedicated to the Community Health Center Movement and deserve to be recognized. Here are our 2019 Heroes and Sheroes!!!!! AC1: Dr. Robert Hill, Dentist AC2: Milagros Centeno-Cooper, Front Desk Manager Burlington: Esther Kwofie, Certified Medical Assistant   Buttonwood: Dr. Wayne Shaw, Internal Medicine English Creek: Narda Bernal-Castaneda, Financial Counselor Hammonton: Desiree Washington, Patient Service Specialist Merle Pavilion: Alisia Charles, Certified Medical Assistant Migrant Outreach: Ashley Dasny, Migrant Outreach Coordinator Salem: Evette Washington, Patient Service Specialist  We Are Proud to Announce This Year’s Super Hero Dr. Robert Hill!  Dr. Hill is our Super Hero this year due to his tireless commitment to our patients. Our Super Hero Dentist, who has worked for SJFMC for more than 30 years, said, “I give back to the community I grew up in. It makes my day to be able to help people who come in need of jobs but are compromised in their smiles. Because of our mission, I am able to help them and give them back their confidence, and that makes me smile.” Thanks to all of our Health Center Heroes and our Super Hero. Because of the support from these committed staff members, our health centers bring incredible value to the most vulnerable populations. We thank each employee for being rooted in communities and serving as examples of stellar service. All of our heroes will be honored at our Holiday Awards Breakfast in December.

Chiamaka Nwangwu


Nekia Love


Kelsey Schroeder


SJFMC Provider Day 2019


Pictured, left to right in front row: SJFMC CFO Ron Kaplan, President/CEO Linda Y. Flake, COO Esther Carpenter, PI/Director of Compliance Tarena Rivera. Back row: SJFMC Providers. Photo Credits: Tracie Van Auken. Southern Jersey Family Medical Centers recognized the contributions of its provider staff on March 15 during Provider Day. The event, which honors Doctors, Dentists, Nurse Practitioners, Licensed Clinical Social Workers, Physician Assistants and Dental Hygienists, was held at Paris Caterers. In addition to breakfast and presentations from SJFMC leaders, nine clinical team members received productivity and quality awards and incentives for their hard work. CEO Linda Flake said, “It is our way of saying thanks to our providers for their commitment to our mission. They work every day to keep the patients and the community healthy.” The SJFMC Board has signed a resolution marking the third Friday in March as Provider Day every year. Next year’s celebration will be held on March 20, 2020. 2019 Provider Day Honorees

Chike Obianwu


Ada Contreras


Stephanie Torres


DO Pediatric Physician Pediatrics English Creek DO: University of Medicine and Dentistry, School of Osteopathic Medicine, Stratford NJ Pediatrics Residency, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, New Brunswick, NJ Board Eligible In Pediatrics