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League receives national recognition for loan repayment program

9-30-09 Feature Story:

WASHINGTON, DC - The Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers recently received a 2009 Summit Award from the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) and the Center for Association Leadership in recognition of its primary care provider loan repayment program, an initiative that has increased health care access for thousands of medically underserved and newly insured residents across the Commonwealth.

Offering medical and nursing school loan repayment to primary care physicians and nurse practitioners who make a two-to-three year commitment to practice at one of the state's 52 community health centers, the initiative has helped secure the placement of 99 primary care providers at 44 health center sites since its inception just two years ago.

The Summit Awards honor associations that have implemented ground-breaking community-based programs in areas such as public information and education; economic development; business and social innovation; skills training; and volunteerism. The League was one of six awardees chosen from among a field of 38 national finalists.

"We are thrilled to recognize these organizations with the highest association honor - the Summit Award," said Janet C. Gibbs, CPA, chief financial officer of Feeding America and 2008-2009 chair of ASAE & the Center's Associations Advance America Committee. "Every single award winner from this year portrayed thoughtful campaign management and their work truly supports the importance of associations in our communities. The 2009 Summit Award winners are a testimony to the commitment and dedication of association professionals and association members across the country who strive to help others and continuously propel America forward."

The program launched in 2007 with a $5 million catalyst grant from the Bank of America Charitable Foundation. It is a public-private partnership managed by the League and funded by donations from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Neighborhood Health Plan, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation, Bank of America and Partners HealthCare.

League CEO Jim Hunt and League Primary Care Workforce Initiatives Manager Leslie Bailey were presented with the award at the 10th Annual Summit Awards Dinner on September 29 at the National Building Museum in Washington, DC.

ASAE is a membership organization of more than 22,000 association executives and industry partners representing 11,000 organizations. Its members manage leading trade associations, individual membership societies and voluntary organizations across the United States and in 50 countries. The Center for Association Leadership provides specialized training and cutting-edge research for the association profession.

Click here for more information on the Community Health Center Provider Loan Repayment Program.