Fall 2020
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came into this world ahead of schedule. The medical community who saw to my safe arrival would say that my appearance was premature and that my low birth weight would prove troublesome. However, the family that I was born into and the community health center that assumed responsibility for my ongoing care focused on my resilience in the face of distress and adversity and believed that I would be fine. The wisdom of the community health system prevailed.
committed advocate, and healthcare professional. I
The comprehensive offerings of Federally Qualified Health Centers have been with me as a lifelong patient,
Crisis renders a stress test that reveals fitness for duty, and
assume the position of CCI Health & Wellness Services’s fourth Chief Executive Officer, amid a global pandemic, deriving my power not from the title but instead from purpose. Through that influence, my personal aim is to change the trajectory of lives at the individual, systemic and generational levels. That is the purpose on which I stand and why you will find that we are on the move, even in this time of turmoil, uncertainty, and disruption. I trust that our hardiness will prevail.
The nearly 300 people who dedicate their time and
The individual, foundation, and corporate donations that
talents to providing high quality, holistic, culturally
we receive from all sources brings us closer to fulfilling
honoring care unite around this cause, which is bigger
our purpose. We remain focused on shepherding all within
than each of us but achievable as we work together.
our target service area through this health emergency and
CCI’s ultimate concern is the health and wellbeing
emerging more determined on the other side. We know
of Montgomery County and Prince George’s County
that a well-formed community offers space for everyone
residents. We understand and remain committed
to join-in. To that end, we invite new and continued
to those needs because our workforce mirrors the
partnerships in the fulfillment of our mission:
community that we serve. Those connections play a significant role in guiding our medical, dental, behavioral health patients and our WIC participants along their journey toward wellness. We have been fortunate to receive additional grant dollars dedicated to combating the spread of infectious
We are a group practice, empowering patients to partner with staff for an unparalleled healthcare experience. Through integrated teams in a learning environment, we deliver high-quality care to every patient, during all stages of life.
diseases such as HIV and the Coronavirus. Through
Thank you to our current supporters. Welcome to those
those provisions, we have expanded our technological,
who will soon come on board. Together our strength will
testing, and service capabilities.
continue to shine through!
CCI President & CEO 3
We felt deeply the desire to be there to offer medical services and to keep those who might be at greater risk as healthy and strong as possible. – Dr. Sonya Bruton, CCI President & CEO
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The CCI
On March 5th, the first three Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in the state of Maryland were confirmed. In the blink of an eye, the world was turned upside down and we and our lives were all thrust into a moment made for the history books. In the months that followed, the number
impacting operations and activate protocols
of COVID cases exploded and within eight
to ensure that services would be available in
months, the state registered more than
whatever form necessary to keep people safe
130,000 confirmed cases and 4,000 deaths.
and slow the outbreak, including:
Prince George’s and Montgomery counties, both served by CCI Health & Wellness
•
Implementing best public health
Services, have the state’s highest COVID
practices proven effective for dealing
positive and death rates. Since that fateful
with infectious disease outbreaks.
day, CCI has remained open, serving at the front line of a battle that is predicted to
•
equipment (PPE) inventory and
ratchet up in the months ahead and produce physical, mental, and financial effects that will linger. “From the beginning we knew the
strategizing how to restock supplies. • •
healthy and strong as possible,” says CCI President and CEO, Sonya Bruton, Psy.D., MPA. “We also knew that we were essential
CCI staff assembling PPE kits for our health center staff.
Accelerating and expanding telemedicine efforts, with research, adaption and training conducted within
the hardest. We felt deeply the desire to keep those who might be at greater risk as
Keeping staff who were pregnant or at-risk away from direct patient contact.
community we serve was going to be hit be there to offer medical services and to
Deploying personal protective
two weeks. •
Establishing and improving operational
At a time when the only
guidelines to ensure greater safety of
certainty was the rapid and
staff and patients.
daily change, we continued to
“At a time when the only certainty was
remain strong in our efforts to
overwhelmed.”
the rapid and daily change, we continued
support the members of our
That desire pushed CCI to lean into the
the members of our communities and
storm in spite of the local emergency orders
our staff,” said Dr. Bruton. “Our initial
to keeping our local hospitals from being
to remain strong in our efforts to support
communities and our staff. Dr. Sonya Bruton 5
strategic response turned out to be what the Maryland State Department of Health proposed as guidelines for healthcare providers in the region and our universal precautions established since the advent of the pandemic have successfully prevented new staff infections.”
Caring for Women, Infants, and Children Along with providing health care, CCI is the largest WIC provider in the state of Maryland. More than 30,000 moms and children rely on CCI-WIC’s food packages, nutrition counseling, and breastfeeding support. While the state closed the doors to WIC centers, CCI-WIC staff quickly adapted and continued to serve the community virtually through the following: •
Virtual breastfeeding support service
•
Remote appointment options
•
Real time assistance via phone
•
An online form for submitting documentation
As the weather warmed and farmers’
Support staff, Kelsey Norton and Alexandria McIntosh, creating face masks at our July All Staff Meeting.
markets began to open, CCI-WIC staff met participants at the markets to distribute their food vouchers.
Moving from Surviving to Thriving In the early days of the outbreak, CCI
More than 30,000 moms and children rely on CCI-WIC’s food packages, nutrition counseling, and breastfeeding support.
afforded all staff the opportunity to participate in government sponsored leave programs that could be withheld to front line health workers or the option to request to be furloughed due to infection fears. CCI’s workforce shrunk to 205 during this
contracting the virus or taking it home.” Internal communications were just as critical; our leadership made changes to ensure our staff was supported during this time. Transparency and staff communication were encouraged in a variety of ways, such as: •
Organization-wide phone calls each day to provide operational, clinical, and
time. Due to some who chose not to return
state updates
from furlough, we have yet to fully rebound. • “The vast majority of our staff sacrificed
Open lines for staff to ask questions, suggest new ideas, and troubleshoot
tremendously during this period and remained on duty,” Dr. Bruton said.
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progressed to resignations out of fear of
COVID-19-related issues together. •
Self-Care hours awarded to staff who
“However, we have had those who started
worked continuously onsite during the
as what I call the ‘working worried,’ and
early months to combat stress.
•
Wellness programs offered to staff virtually. Four instructors taught various classes that included yoga, mindfulness and therapeutic based guided conversations.
Feedback from staff indicated that these interventions were powerful tools to avoid misinformation, lower anxiety, express fears, and harvest ideas and suggestions from those on the frontlines.
The Emotional Pendulum Swings from a Virus with Unpredictable Outcomes The wide-ranging outcomes of impacted patients are felt emotionally by CCI staff. Experiencing the loss of patients have left scars on clinical teams. CCI Chief Medical Officer Melissa Clark, M.D. recalls working with two families who experienced multiple
being hospitalized for two months due
This loss was the
to respiratory complications caused by
hardest because I have
his diabetes after being able to receive
known this family since my first time working at CCI (2010-2013), and it was my first patient to
COVID-19, a patient gained control of medication regularly. The CCI care team saw this as a chance to bolster the patient’s support. They worked steadfastly to align resources for the patient to receive assistance and supplies through other community programs after his release from the hospital.
die from COVID-19. Dr. Melissa Clark family’s loved one made it home. “This loss was the hardest because I have known this family since my first time working at CCI (2010-2013), and it was my first patient to die from COVID-19,” said Dr. Clark.
family members falling ill. Each family
But there have also been times to celebrate
experienced a hospitalization, but only one
when patients came out ahead. After
Building a Foundation of HOPE As the winter months approach, CCI is preparing its patients and the communities it serves by providing flu vaccines and catching children up on their immunizations. Dental services have returned to all CCI sites. At CCI–Greenbelt, a new pediatrician has been added to the team. This increased access provides moms who receive their prenatal care at CCI a safe place to continue to receive support for the care of their newborns. “What we offer at CCI is more than health and wellness,” says Dr. Bruton. “It’s compassion, it’s understanding, and it’s hope for the future. We have shown that we have the talent and dedication to get through this historical time. Thanks to our supporters, both new and long standing, this community resource will not only survive, but we are poised to thrive.”
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Thank you, Donors
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Because of generous supporters like you, CCI
continue to provide comprehensive primary
has been able to remain open and operational
care with heightened safety measures for
for our patients throughout this pandemic. In a
all patients and staff. Thank you for your
time of crisis, you stepped up by providing PPE,
continued support. With your help we can
cleaning supplies, home monitoring devices,
continue to support the health and well-being
and needed dollars to help keep our doors
of those in greatest need during this
open. Your financial support enabled us to
unprecedented public health crisis.
Because of your support, we raised over $11,000
for our Maternal and Child Health Programs in support of healthier moms and babies. In August, over 160 runners, joggers, and walkers joined us for our third annual Run Baby Run 5K. This year, participants not only joined us at Wheaton Regional Park, but also ran with us virtually all across the country. A huge thank you to all the participants, community members, donors, and sponsors. It was you who made the Run Baby Run 5K a great success in light of COVID-19.
You helped raise over $11,000 to help provide prenatal care.
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New CCI Leadership
Dr. Sonya Bruton
Dr. Melissa Clark
Michelle Preston, MSN, RN
Chief Executive Officer & President
Chief Medical Officer
Chief Operating Officer
Dr. Sonya Bruton is no stranger to the community health center movement, having worked with community health centers at the state, national, and local levels since 1999. She served as Executive Director of the North Carolina Community Health Center Association for 8 years and has served as a programmatic and operations consultant within the Bureau of Primary Health Care and at specific health center sites.
Dr. Melissa Clark began her career in a small private practice. She found purpose in improving the health and well-being of those communities made vulnerable by social, economic, and cultural barriers and became part of CCI in 2010. Dr. Clark’s knowledge of public health, racial health disparities, and community health has only continued to expand with her role at CCI.
Michelle Preston’s nursing career started as a technician in the Emergency Department where she quickly became Assistant Director. She transitioned to the inpatient world from her growing desire to see patients throughout their care, rather than in acute situations.
Dr. Bruton earned a Doctor of Psychology degree and master’s degree in clinical psychology from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology – Washington, DC Campus. She received her undergraduate degree from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in journalism, and her master’s in public administration with a concentration in nonprofit and association management from North Carolina State University.
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Dr. Clark is board-certified in family medicine and an alumna of Wittenberg University. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in biology with a minor in chemistry and sociology. She received her medical degree at Wright State University’s Boonshoft School of Medicine and completed her family medicine residency at the University of Illinois, Chicago—Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center.
Michelle brings a wealth of healthcare administration experience and a successful track record of advancing teams and agency initiatives. Before joining CCI Health & Wellness Services, Michelle served as Chief Nursing Officer for the State of Maryland and at Universal Health Systems and was Director of Nursing and Interim Chief Nursing Officer at Lifebridge Hospital. Michelle is a certified Change Management Specialist (CMS), Six Sigma Lean Professional (SSLP), Lean Six Sigma White Belt (LSSWB), Six Sigma Black Belt (SSBB), and Disney’s Approach to quality service professional.
2020 is the year no one ever dreamed would be so historic and challenging. The disruption created by COVID-19 reverberated throughout CCI Health & Wellness Services’ operations and touched every staff member on a personal level as well. The organization also went through internal change, ushering in new leadership, starting with a new Chief Executive Officer.
Sekou Murphy, MBA
Robert Baror, ESQ
Jose Luis Diaz
Chief Financial Officer
Chief Legal Officer & General Counsel
Chief Administrative Officer
Sekou (“Koe”) Murphy brings more than 26 years of experience to his role in leading the organization’s financial initiatives and reporting. Previously, Mr. Murphy was the Chief Financial Officer at Bread for the City, where he managed the organization’s finances and structured its $26 million real estate expansion.
Robert Baror is experienced in health law, employment law, civil litigation, and general transactional and regulatory matters. His experience includes representing the largest integrated healthcare system in the Hudson Valley, New York.
Jose Luis Diaz led the technology, design, and administration team at TransCen, Inc before joining CCI Health & Wellness Services in 2013. He managed several multi-agency projects for the Social Security Administration and the U.S. Department of Education. He is an experienced award-winning creative director with a keen ability to convey and transform complex concepts into useful tools.
Mr. Murphy received his BBA in Accounting from Howard University and his MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. He is also the winner of the 2012 SmartCXO Award for Chief Financial Officers.
Before joining CCI, Mr. Baror was the Managing Partner of The Baror Law Firm (Baror Law). He litigated nearly all facets of employment law and negotiated employment agreements for healthcare executives. Mr. Baror is a cum laude graduate of Harvard University and the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law of Yeshiva University. He served as Chair of the Employment Law Committee of Maryland Defense Counsel, Inc. and Board of Governor of the Maryland Chapter of the Federal Bar Association. Mr. Baror has authored articles for publications such as The Federal Lawyer, Federal Bar Association, and the Defense Research Institute magazine.
Jose Luis has a bachelor’s degree in information design & systems analysis from U.C.L.A. and has studied urbanism at George Mason University and architecture at N.O.V.A.
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