Community Health Centers sees change in leadership, expansion

A major promotion, a new center and an upcoming hiring event — there’s plenty happening within Community Health Centers.

President and CEO Debra Andree started in her new role with the company last month. She replaces Margaret Brennan, who retired.

Before taking on her new role, Andree spent the last 17 years working at Community Health Centers, starting as a pediatrician before being promoted to chief of pediatrics, associate medical director and, finally, chief medical officer.

Andree said she currently is learning her new position and eventually will develop a strategic plan with the board of directors and leadership team.

“It’s a great honor, privilege and responsibility that I take seriously and recognize all the leaders and team members from Community Health Centers (who) came before me and that are present today,” Andree said. “(I’m) pleased with the team that supports me in this role.” 

Andree said her new plan will include a continued focus on expansion, the quality of care being delivered, financial sustainability and employee satisfaction, retention and recruitment.

Community Health Centers provides primary health care services to insured, uninsured, underinsured and underserved children and adults. Those services included pediatrics, obstetrics, family medicine, optometry, behavioral health, lab services and radiology.

The private not-for-profit organization serves 66,000 patients each year across 15 locations in Orange and Lake counties.

“At the end of the day, our focus is always on the patient and providing them with optimal health care for where they are at their point in life,” Andree said. “It’s not me and me alone. It’s (the) team members, it’s a board of directors and it’s a 47-year history of Community Health Centers offering health care with many team members that came before us.”

COMING TO CLERMONT

Community Health Centers also is on the verge of opening its 16th location in the first half of 2020. Four Corners Community Health Center, at 508 Cagan View Road in Clermont, will offer pediatrics, family medicine, pediatric dental, adult dental, optometry, behavioral health, pharmacy and lab.

“We’re excited and pleased regarding the future opening of Four Corners Community Health Center, as we anticipate it will serve 10,000 patients in an area where there’s a need for health care access and quality health care,” Andree said. “We look forward to our full-service site with all of our services being offered and integrating into the needs of the population in that area. We always like to get to know the community and those that we serve and make certain that we can meet the needs of the specific communities we’re in.”

LOOKING FOR A JOB?

The organization also is hosting a hiring event for various positions in the healthcare field from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 29, at 13275 W. Colonial Drive, Winter Garden. Candidates can participate in on-site interviews for positions that include family physician, pediatrician, optometrist, psychiatrist, nurse practitioner, licensed practical nurse, medical assistant, lab assistant and dental hygienist.

“We continue to be mindful of the needs of our workforce throughout the different generations,” Andree said. “(We) want to tailor our work environment to ensure a happy workforce that can focus on the patient.”

For a list of open positions and to apply, visit chcfl.org/jobs.