Linda Harris-Ashton is the new Executive Director of the PHMC Public Health Campus on Cedar. A leader in the health care field with a passion for fostering organizational and community partnerships, she has more than 20 years of experience overseeing business development, team performance enhancement and customer satisfaction.

In her current role, Linda provides strategic leadership and collaborates closely with clinical and operational leaders from PHMC, the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia to ensure that Campus services align with community needs. Prior to joining PHMC, she held leadership roles at Crozer Health, Trinity Health Pace and InnovAge.

Linda earned her Master of Business Administration from Wilmington University and a Certificate in Organizational Leadership from the Executive Leadership Institute at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School of Business. Additionally, she holds a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Certification from the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA).

PHMC is seeking input from community members about health services offered in Southwest Philadelphia and by the PHMC Public Health Campus on Cedar through a new survey. People are eligible to participate if they live within these selected block areas. The resulting feedback will help the Campus plan services for the neighborhood in the future. 

Those who complete the survey will receive a $20 gift card from Amazon. Eligible households will have received a letter or postcard in the mail. If you're not sure if you should participate or how to take the survey, please read the FAQ or contact us by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or calling 267.530.1764.

FRESH START, a program of PHMC subsidiary Health Promotion Council’s (HPC) Workforce Development division, supports justice-involved youth ages 14-21 years by providing job readiness and professional certification preparation.

The program was created in 2017 when PHMC’s Workforce Development division was awarded funding from STRIVE International and the U.S. Department of Labor to service formerly justice-involved individuals with an employment-focused adult reentry program consisting of job training and career preparation services, case management, legal services to address barriers to housing, employment and education, and job placement. PHMC also partnered with the United Safety Group to provide its construction industry readiness certifications and an employer pipeline for paid work experience or direct hire within the construction industry. In subsequent years, Workforce Development was awarded funding from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) to offer a job readiness and certification program for youth between the ages of 14-21 years.

FRESH START currently provides an insurance billing and coding program geared toward participants ages 18-21 years and offers a six-month training toward a National Certified Insurance Coding Specialist (NCICS) certification. Students are prepared for employment in a hospital setting, physician’s office and third-party billing companies where they can assist with claims processing and billing services.

FRESH START also offers a training in partnership with HPC’s Nutrition and Active Living (NAL) to offer the ServSafe Food Handlers and Food Managers certification program to youth ages 14-21 years. The training is rooted in the latest science and best practices from regulatory agencies, academia, and the food services industry. The program also includes soft skills training, resume and interview preparation, and job placement assistance.

For more information, please contact Veronica Phillips by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or calling 215.667.5580.

Three years ago on March 25, the PHMC Public Health Campus on Cedar was launched by PHMC and its coalition partners, including Penn Medicine, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and the Independence Blue Cross Foundation. Together, we’ve worked toward our vision of providing integrated health care and social services to the West and Southwest Philadelphia neighborhoods while becoming a part of these communities.

As the Campus continues to grow and expand, several important developments and initiatives have happened in its first three years. Below are a few key highlights.

• The PHMC Health Center on Cedar, a Federally Qualified Health Center and part of PHMC’s Health Network, opened its doors in November 2021. It currently offers primary and preventive care to adults and children.
• Penn Medicine opened its Crisis Response Center in September 2023. The center offers care for patients experiencing mental health or substance use emergencies. Penn Medicine also operates the on-site Emergency Department and provides inpatient psychiatry, inpatient detoxification, and psychiatric consultation.
• PHMC subsidiary The Visiting Nurse Association of Greater Philadelphia opened its Hospice Inpatient Unit in August 2023. The unit provides 24/7 care and monitoring to terminally ill patients. It also offers support for patients’ families, including respite services for caregiver relief, social and spiritual guidance, and private space for families to spend time together.
• PHMC Medical Respite on Cedar opened in November 2023. The state-of-the-art facility provides post-acute medical care for individuals experiencing homelessness who are discharged from a hospital and require additional medical care to recover from a physical illness, surgery or injury.
• PHMC Dental opened in January 2024 as an expansion of the services offered by the PHMC Health Center on Cedar. Staffed by predoctoral students, dental residents and supervising faculty dentists from Penn Dental Medicine, it offers general, emergency, and pediatric dentistry.
• Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) opened its Behavioral Health & Crisis Response Center in February 2024. The center provides care and support for children and teens with acute mental and behavioral health needs that require inpatient treatment.