STATEMENT OF RECORD RELEASE
May 19, 2022
Media Contact:
For Public Health Management Corporation
Emily Charles, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., 215-589-7183
Dr. Richard J. Cohen, President and CEO of Public Health Management Corporation, Receives Public Health Innovation Award
Recognized by National Network of Public Health Institutes for the development of PHMC Public Health Campus on Cedar
PHILADELPHIA – Public Health Management Corporation (PHMC), a nonprofit public health institute that creates and sustains healthier communities, President and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Richard J. Cohen has been awarded the Public Health Innovation Award from The National Network of Public Health Institutes (NNPHI) for the development of the Public Health Management Corporation Public Health Campus on Cedar, an innovative and integrated public health campus designed to serve the West and Southwest Philadelphia communities. Dr. Cohen was presented with the award at the 2022 NNPHI Annual Conference in New Orleans on May 18, 2022.
“I'd like to express my gratitude to NNPHI for this incredible honor and for shining a spotlight on how collaborative public health partnerships can come together to close a gap in care for those we serve,” said Richard J. Cohen, Ph.D., FACHE, President and CEO of PHMC. “Thanks to the incredible work of our partners – Penn Medicine, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and the Independence Blue Cross Foundation – the PHMC Public Health Campus on Cedar will health equity for our West and Southwest Philadelphia neighbors and serve as a model for innovative health care delivery and addressing social determinants of health through meaningful collaboration and community engagement.”
Dr. Cohen is noted for the exemplary demonstration of entrepreneurship and innovation of the
PHMC Public Health Campus on Cedar, which was born on the guiding principle of providing high-quality, community-informed, patient-centered health care and social services tailored to the individuals and families living in West and Southwest Philadelphia.
In 2020, Dr. Cohen was an integral partner in discussions that led to the formation of an alliance of key health care institutions, including PHMC, Penn Medicine, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), and Independence Blue Cross Foundation, to join together to transform the former Mercy Philadelphia Hospital into the Campus. The plan leverages the coalition’s expertise and resources to provide the community with access to a full continuum of care, including primary and behavioral health care, emergency services, acute care services, substance use treatment, and other social support services. A key element of PHMC’s plan for the Campus also includes a robust community engagement strategy with the launch of a community advisory board and ongoing community outreach.
Most recently, PHMC celebrated the opening of the PHMC Health Center on Cedar, a federally qualified health center (FQHC) located inside the Campus. The Health Center provides community members with access to high-quality, integrated, patient-centered health care in collaboration with Penn Medicine.
Since 2001, NNPHI’s Annual Conference has supported and honored the work of the nation's public health institutes. The Public Health Innovation Award celebrates entrepreneurship and recognizes an organization or individual who has taken a risk and developed an out-of-the-box solution or created a unique partnership resulting in new approaches, scalable ideas, and new ways of working together.
For more information on PHMC, its programs, and services, please visit www.phmc.org.
About PHMC
Public Health Management Corporation (PHMC) is a nonprofit public health institute that creates and sustains healthier communities. PHMC uses best practices and evidence-based guidelines to improve community health through direct service, partnership, innovation, policy, research, technical assistance, and a prepared workforce. PHMC has served the region since 1972. For more information on PHMC, visit www.phmc.org.
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