Happy New Year! I’m hoping all of our friends, supporters, and partners had a lovely holiday season! I am so excited and filled with gratitude to start 2020 as part of Health Outreach Partners (HOP). From my first visit, I knew that I wanted to be part of this amazing organization. We have a dedicated and brilliant team working tirelessly to advance health equity across our nation. My years working in community health centers, combined with my passion to expand health center access for patients, feels like a natural fit with the values of HOP – values that seek to ensure that all people have access to quality health care regardless of where they live, work, or play.
During my first few weeks at HOP, I saw first-hand the commitment and dedication of our HOP team of change leaders. They are innovators in the community health setting and leaders devoted to advancing health equity – the foundation of our mission. My tenure began with a crash course in preparing a federal proposal for HRSA. Fortunately, I had the expertise and guidance of my predecessor Kristen Stoimenoff as the perfect resource. I am grateful to her for welcoming me and for giving me an opportunity to dive right in. I wish her all the best on her future career journey.
With the frenzy of the holidays behind us, I have taken time to reflect on the year ahead and am filled with excitement and hope. This year HOP celebrates an exceptional milestone: our 50th anniversary. It is an extraordinary testimony to our sustainability and to the strength and determination of our team.
In 2020, we are projecting a year of growth. For example, our structural competency curriculum is embraced (and in hot demand) by health centers and primary care associations across the country. Our organization is committed and resolute in our determination to shape the future of community health care. As partners we can change the structure of health care to cultivate greater equity and to expand access. Making these changes is paramount to ensure the delivery of quality care to the most vulnerable populations. This focus will guide us as we embark on our strategic planning process in the next several months.
I am also hopeful that our country will continue to work toward a more inclusive, kind, and equitable society. It is a pivotal year not only for HOP but for our nation. We have an important election as well as the 2020 census. Both will impact the future of health care. As leaders in health care, our work to facilitate a structural change in the health care delivery system is as critical as it has ever been.
I thank each of you for your encouragement, generosity, and support. The opportunity to meet our partners and supporters brings a wonderful anticipation to the New Year. In the meantime, please do not hesitate to reach out and say hi, ask a question, or give me feedback. Together we will expand and nurture our existing partnerships and develop new collaborations. Welcome to 2020 and the exciting decade ahead!
-Cindy Selmi, Executive Director