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News & EventsStay up-to-date on information about news, special events, clinics, and programs. Download our most recent newsletter at the bottom of the page. Free Clinic of the New River Valley Announces Staff ChangeMarch 21, 2008The Free Clinic of the New RiverValley has announced that Rhonda G. Seltz, M.S. has been promoted to the position of Director of Programs. Seltz will be responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of the clinic’s programs which include pharmacy, dental and medical. Seltz has worked with the Free Clinic of the New RiverValley as a Dental Program Consultant since 2007. Seltz will continue to manage the Dental Program in her new role as Director of Programs. Along with her full time position at the Free Clinic, Seltz is also an Assistant Instructor at RadfordUniversity teaching Social Work classes to undergraduate students and the coordinator for RadfordUniversity’s FAMIS Outreach Project where she assists families with their applications for state health coverage. Seltz helped in drafting a proposal for FAMIS which helped the organization receive one of 18 grants offered throughout the nation. Prior to coming to the Free Clinic, Seltz was also a social worker for Floyd County Department of Social Services and a Legal Aid in Christiansburg. The Free Clinic of the New RiverValley provides high quality medical, dental, and specialty heath care to people of the New RiverValley area who are uninsured and who cannot otherwise afford health care. Contact the Free Clinic of the New River Valley at 540-381-0820 for more information.
Leadership Change at New River Valley Free ClinicsJanuary 15, 2008 The Mental Health Association of the New RiverValley and the Free Clinic of the New RiverValley have announced that their Co-Executive Director, Amy Forsyth-Stephens, has resigned from both organizations, effective February 29, 2008. Ms. Forsyth-Stephens has plans to concentrate her work in the area of health care fund development at the national level. “The loss of Amy from our local non-profit leadership circle will be difficult, personally and professionally,” stated Harriet Dorsey, Chair of the Board of Directors of the Mental Health Association of the New RiverValley. “We so trust and respect her talent and vision. Over the past fourteen years, Amy has taken our small non-profit and turned it into one of the most progressive and prestigious Mental Health Association chapters in our nation. She has been the primary creative force behind our remarkable growth. We are truly fortunate and appreciative to have had her at the helm for as long as we have.” Zach Slagel, Chair of the Board of the Free Clinic of the New RiverValley, underscores these sentiments. “Over the past two years, Amy has successfully implemented many fantastic changes that have resulted in improved health care services to our area’s most needy individuals. She has doubled our service volume with the addition of a full-time staff nurse practitioner at our Christiansburg facility, opened a strong satellite clinic in GilesCounty, and stabilized our much-needed Dental Program. Her focus on documenting health outcomes of our patients has solidified our place as one of the most progressive and comprehensive free clinics in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
The Mental Health Association has appointed agency Associate Director, Patrick Halpern, to assume the position of Executive Director after a period of transition. Likewise, the Free Clinic has chosen their second-in-command, Michelle Brauns, to assume the Executive Director job. These internal selections will ensure continuity for patients, staff and community partners. “I am very pleased that the Boards of both organizations have chosen as my successors two key people who have been instrumental in our successes over the past months. Both are solidly behind our advancement toward increased “interoperability” of the local health care safety net. The transition to new executive leadership should be virtually seamless as a result,” said Forsyth-Stephens. “Leaving a position after fourteen years is not an easy thing to do, but it helps to know that the organizations will be in very capable hands and that momentum will not be sacrificed.” Contact the Mental Health Association of the New River Valley at 540-951-4990 or the Free Clinic of the New River Valley at 540-381-0820 for more information.
Free Clinic Honors Volunteers in Annual Award Recognition ReceptionDecember 6, 2007The Free Clinic honored its volunteers in an appreciation reception and seven people received special "Volunteer of the Year" awards for their long-term involvement, leadership and activism. Daniel R. Kelly, MD, received "Medical Volunteer of the Year." Michael Barry, MD, a physician volunteer at the Radford Satellite of the Free Clinic, was recognized with the "Satellite Volunteer of the Year.” William Armour, DDS, received the "Dental Volunteer of the Year" award. George Fetko, RPh, received the "Pharmacy Volunteer of the Year" award. Sally Linares, RN, a retired nurse, was honored with the "Nursing Volunteer of the Year" award for 7-loyal years of service as the referral specialist. Margot Thompson, a 17-year volunteer of the Free Clinic, was honored with the "Administrative Volunteer of the Year" award. Zach Slagel of Blacksburg and current Board President of the Free Clinic was presented with the "Board Member of the Year" award. "These honorees are representative of the 400 plus volunteers who are steadfastly dedicated to the Free Clinic's mission," states Amy Forsyth-Stephens, former Executive Director. "Our agency has only 13 paid staff. Yet each month, because of our wonderful crew of volunteers, we provide 600 medical visits, arrange 400 lab procedures and 150 specialty appointments, service 160 dental patients, and fill 2,000 prescriptions.”
Amy Forsyth-Stephens, left Karla Soukup & Patrick Halpern of the Mental and Margot Thompson Health Association with Helen Robinson, FNP
Free Clinic Highlights Opening of New Giles Satellite Clinicin Pearisburg with Ribbon Cutting
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