Photo courtesy of Hillman's Thunder Bay Community Health Services Director of Business Operations Stacey Skiba (left) poses with the Elizabeth K. Cook Advocacy MVP Award she received from the National Association of Community Health Centers. Take.
The National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) has awarded the Elizabeth K. Cook Advocacy MVP Award to Stacey Skiba of Hillman's Thunder Bay Community Health Services.
This award recognizes the dedication and mobilization efforts of advocates to generate public and political support for the nation's community health centers. Mr. Skiba was presented with the award during NACHC's 2024 Policy and Issues Forum in Washington.
The annual conference brings together thousands of health center leaders from across the country to focus on strategies to expand access to affordable primary care services in underserved communities.
Skiba is Thunder Bay's director of business operations and has been with the team since 2007. Her responsibilities include overseeing the health center's advocacy programs, health policy, revenue-related programs and marketing for Thunder Bay Regional Health Services.
Skiba graduated from Central Michigan University with a Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration (Community Development) and a Graduate Degree in Public Administration. She is a Northern Michigan native and is proud to continue serving her community and being a voice standing up for others.
When asked why she became an advocate for community health centers, Skiba said: “I care about people and believe that with the right resources, we can continue to positively change the narratives of individuals within and outside of our communities.”
Health Centers is the largest primary care network in the United States, serving 31.5 million people at more than 1,400 facilities nationwide. The Health Center's network of grassroots advocates is comprised of doctors, nurses, CEOs, frontline staff, executives, and patients who are dedicated to improving health equity in rural, urban, and remote communities. Masu. Thunder Bay Regional Health Services represents approximately 19,000 of these patients across the northern region, served by five primary care facilities and 19 schools.
“We are thrilled to celebrate the largest group of grassroots advocacy award winners in NACHC history,” said Dr. Kyu Li, NACHC President and CEO. “These honorees consistently go above and beyond to foster a culture of advocacy within their organizations and within the community health center movement. Their efforts to inspire and mobilize others are It is essential to building hope for a future where residents in every community across the country have access to quality, affordable health care.”
Thunder Bay Community Health Services CEO Dr. Richard Bates said advocacy is part of Thunder Bay Community Health Services.
“This is a foundational element of the work we do in our communities, and Stacey exemplifies speaking up on behalf of TBCHS at the highest level,” Bates said.
Champions are essential to the sustainability of community health centers that have saved countless lives since they were founded nearly 60 years ago. Thunder Bay is recognized as a Gold Level Advocacy Center of Excellence, the highest level of achievement, and has over 200 health center advocates on its team who support health center causes. The Health Center relies on bipartisan support from Congress and is grateful for its decades-long partnership.
