PRESS RELEASE
ANTHONY L. JORDAN HEALTH CENTER
Contact: Meredith Rutherford / AJHC
Telephone: 585.423.2861
Email: mrutherford@JordanHealth.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jordan Health Center Board Appoints Interim CEO
Rochester, NY, October 15, 2012 – Anthony L. Jordan Health Center (AJHC) corporation board chair Dr. Buddhi Shrestha announced today that its dental director, Dr. Janice Harbin Joseph, has been appointed interim CEO, effective November 1, 2012. He also announced that Jordan Health Center will soon commence a local and regional executive search, to recruit the successor for the current Health Center CEO Dr. Bridgette Wiefling, who last week tendered her resignation to join Rochester General Health System.
“Dr. Wiefling turned Jordan Health Center around and we are all happy for her new opportunity. We are very pleased that Dr. Harbin Joseph has agreed to accept the position of Jordan’s interim CEO and we expect to stay the course,” Shrestha said. In her current position as dental director overseeing dentistry at all of Jordan’s sites, Dr. Harbin Joseph has highlighted good dental practices for children and adults, and increased patient visits.
Dr. Harbin Joseph joined Jordan Health Center earlier this year. She came to the Center from Detroit, MI bringing more than 30 years of clinical and leadership experience with a primary focus in Public Health. Shrestha informed the staff of the continuity of leadership, noting: “As a public health advocate, Dr. Harbin Joseph believes in Jordan’s mission; as a provider, she understands the needs of our patients, and as a leader she understands the vision and direction of our Health Center.”
Prior to joining AJHC, Dr. Harbin Joseph headed the Adult Dental Department for the Detroit Department of Health and Wellness Promotion. From 2003 to 2009, Harbin Joseph served as Dental Director for Detroit Health Care for the Homeless. She is the Immediate Past Chair of the Michigan Oral Health Coalition Board of Directors, serving for eight years as a board member. In 1999, Dr. Harbin Joseph worked on the President’s Council on Sustainable America with Vice President Al Gore.
Dr. Harbin Joseph is an active member of the American Dental Association, National Dental Association, Michigan Dental Association, Detroit District Dental Society, Wolverine Dental Association, and the Michigan Oral Health Coalition. Past awards include the Distinguished Service Award from Michigan Primary Care Association, the Champion for the Underserved Award from Voices of Detroit Initiative, and the Promoting Oral Health Award from Colgate Dental Health Education Advisory Board. Dr. Harbin Joseph holds a Doctorate of Dental Surgery degree from Howard University College of Dentistry.
In addition to her strengths in dentistry and healthcare leadership, Dr. Harbin Joseph honed her community organizing skills with Metropolitan Organizing Strategy Enabling Strength (MOSES), a grassroots initiative working for social justice across southeast Michigan. Dr. Harbin Joseph worked with city and suburban, Christian, Jewish and Muslim faith-based organizations, and many cultural institutions, which provides her with a unique perspective and sensitivity when working with the population served by Jordan Health Center.
“As a healthcare professional well-acquainted with the role Federally Qualified Health Centers play in the community, I am honored to have this opportunity,” Harbin Joseph said. “I look forward to continuing the great work of the Center with Jordan’s board and staff during this transition period,” she said, adding: “the journey continues for Jordan.”
About The Center
Jordan Health Corporation operates three comprehensive health centers: Anthony Jordan at 82 Holland St., Brown Square at 322 Lake Ave., and Woodward at 480 Genesee St.; and medical/dental suites in Andrews Terrace, Glenwood Gardens and Kennedy Tower. As the largest non-hospital outpatient primary care provider in Rochester NY, more than 30,000 patients use us as their medical home to receive 13 medical, dental and behavioral health services from more than 60 providers without regard to financial status. Located in the city where health disparities are the greatest (primarily northeast, northwest and southwest), Jordan collaborates with health and community advocates, government, schools and other neighborhood-based assets to increase access to care. Jordan welcomes partnerships across the region whose missions are dedicated to strengthening, shaping and sharing the healthy community. For more information, please visit JordanHealth.org.
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