A Message from our President & CEO

The people at PHMC talk frequently about our role as a trusted partner. I use the words “partnership” and “collaboration” quite a lot. But sometimes it can be hard to make the creative leap from the concept to what it means in practice. In this issue of DIRECTIONS, we take that leap with you.

Consider our cover story that—in addition to saluting World AIDS Day on December 1—explores the nearly 25 years of PHMC’s engagement in critical HIV/AIDS work. At every turn, that effort has been the result of key partnerships at local to national levels. Those collaborations have yielded results where they matter— in the lives of at-risk or infected individuals: prevention interventions across the US; social marketing that brings direct, effective, community-level safe sex messages to high-risk populations; and primary care for infected patients, integrated with direct access to a substance abuse treatment program.

As you read the story on our hepatitis C work, you’ll find that our ability to partner with government has brought essential screening to nearly 1,300 Philadelphians and our capacity to leverage across PHMC spurs a key annual outreach event. Plus we work with a variety of community partners to ensure access to hepatitis C education in settings from homeless shelters to primary care.

Some of our least visible relationships are the ones that touch people at the most basic levels. It may be hard to imagine the effect of managing funds on behalf of city government, but as you’ll read it’s much more than bookkeeping. It’s how parents get the beds they need in order to reunite with their children.

In our Targeted Solutions feature, you’ll learn that when we deliver consulting services we view it not as a transaction but as a collaboration that helps our client serve their clients better.

So it’s true that my PHMC colleagues and I use the word “partnership” a lot. That’s because we know it means so much. As you read Michael Pearson’s rule for board involvement—to be sure you’re adding value—know that we put the same requirement on ourselves at PHMC. We partner to add value. Because doing business this way is how we most effectively carry out our mission to improve the health of the community.

Yours in public health,