FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media contact: Stephanie Taylor
844-422-3632 ext. 1021
November 21, 2023
Acenda Integrated Health Announces the Formation of the
Center for Health Equity and Wellbeing: New Jersey’s Public Health Institute Board of Directors
[Glassboro, NJ] – Acenda Integrated Health, a leading advocate for public health and well-being, is thrilled to announce the establishment of the Center for Health Equity and Wellbeing: New Jersey’s Public Health Institute Board of Directors. Acenda is serving as the “incubator” organization, providing administrative, operational and strategic infrastructure for the development of The Center for Health Equity and Wellbeing.
The establishment of the Center for Health Equity and Wellbeing is significant in the journey towards a more robust public health system. Kevin Sumner, MPH NJ Assoc. of County and City Health Officials, states, “After over fifteen years of working with various partners toward the development of and hoping for a neutral body to fill the role of the Center for Health Equity and Wellbeing. I am very happy to still be involved as a Board Member, to see the Center for Health Equity and Wellbeing come to fruition and will work to shape the Institute into a body that supports our public health system to better serve all New Jerseyans.”
The Center for Health Equity and Wellbeing Board of Directors comprises a diverse group of eminent leaders and experts from various disciplines, all dedicated to the mission of improving public health policies, practices, and research. The board members bring a wealth of experience and knowledge, empowering them to pave innovative approaches in addressing public health challenges.
The members of The Center for Health Equity and Wellbeing Board of Directors are:
- Melissa Fox, MHA, FACMPE, FACHE Acenda, Inc
- Jeremy Wampler, CPA Acenda, Inc.
- Maisha Simmons Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
- Raquel Mazon-Jeffers Community Health Acceleration Partnership
- Nicole A. Vaughn, PhD Rowan University
- Betsy B. Erbaugh, PhD Stockton University
- Victor Murray Camden Coalition of Healthcare Providers
- Linda Schwimmer, JD New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute
- Cecile Edwards, M.Ed. NJ Birth Equity Funders Alliance
- Timothy Castano Community Health Acceleration Partnership
- Kifle Mihrete, PhD, MPH Atlantic City Health Department
- Chris Pernell, MD, MPH, FACPM The Esther Group
- Sreelekha Prakash, MD, MPH, Stockton University
- Kevin Sumner, MPH NJ Assoc. of County and City Health Officials
- Paul Roman NJLBHA, NJ Public Health Council
- Laura Mickley Norwescap
- Lee G. Ruszczyk, LCSW, ACS Henry J. Austin Health Center
- Nancy Gerrity, MSN, RN, HO Public Health Nurse Consultant
- Joel Cantor, ScD Rutgers Center for State Health Policy
- Lisa Wolff, ScD Health Resources in Action
- Crystal D. Charley, MBA, CD Melanin and Maternal Wellness
Melissa Fox, MHA, FACMPE, FACHE, Chief Operating Officer of Acenda and Inaugural Board Chair for the Center for Health Equity and Wellbeing expresses, “we are proud and honored to have such a distinguished group of experts and leaders serving on the Board of Directors. Their collective expertise and passion for public health will be instrumental in guiding the Center for Health Equity and Wellbeing in making an impact that will support our communities and a modernized public health infrastructure around our state.”
The newly formed board will play a crucial role in shaping the strategic vision, offering guidance on public health policies, spearheading research projects, and collaborating with various stakeholders to foster meaningful change.
“Selection of the board of directors marks another milestone on New Jersey’s journey to create the first U.S. public health institute with advancing health equity as a founding priority,” said Maisha Simmons, senior director of New Jersey grantmaking at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. “These public health leaders are passionate about and dedicated to advancing health and racial equity in New Jersey. We look forward to collaborating and ensuring all New Jerseyans have an opportunity to achieve a healthy life.”
About Acenda Integrated Health
Acenda Integrated Health is a nonprofit organization dedicated to industry-leading prevention, treatment and wellness services compassionately delivered to ensure that every individual, family and community achieves their greatest potential. Acenda is at the forefront of community-based services, providing over 100 health and social service programs at 60+ locations throughout a 12-county region in New Jersey. For more information, visit acendahealth.org.
About the Center for Health Equity and Wellbeing
The Center for Health Equity & Wellbeing focuses on the importance of addressing health disparities to build a healthier, more equitable New Jersey. The Center for Health Equity & Wellbeing’s mission is to actively promote collaborative and community-driven partnerships to effect policies and practices that improve health, strengthen public health infrastructure, leverage resources to foster collective impact and social justice, and systemically advance equity and quality of life for all.
Visit equityandwellbeing.org for updates, news, and contact information.
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