At Memphis Health Center, Cohen Awarded with 2014 Distinguished Community Health Advocate Award

[MEMPHIS, TN] – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) was awarded with the National Association of Community Health Centers’ 2014 Distinguished Community Health Advocate award this morning. Congressman Cohen accepted the award during National Community Health Center Week at the Memphis Health Center, which is expanding thanks in part to $4.7 million in federal funds provided by President Obama’s Affordable Care Act. A photo of this morning’s event is available here.

“Community health centers play a critical role around the nation by delivering care to the most vulnerable among us regardless of their ability to pay,” said Congressman Cohen. “Whether in the General Assembly or in Congress, I have always been a champion for community health centers, and I am honored to accept this Distinguished Community Health Advocate award. I will keep working to ensure that health centers in Memphis and around the nation continue to receive strong support from the federal government.”

The Memphis Health Center, Inc., a non-profit 501(c)3 community health center, provides a comprehensive array of primary and preventive health and dental services to the uninsured/underinsured and medically underserved populations of Shelby and Fayette Counties. It was founded 45 years ago to address concerns over health care access disparities for underserved populations in the Mid-South area. Congressman Cohen spoke at the facility’s “top-out” ceremony today, which was held to commemorate expansion construction reaching its highest level.

“The Memphis Health Center provides incredibly important health services and high-quality, affordable care to citizens throughout the Ninth District,” said Congressman Cohen. “I am pleased to be here for this construction milestone, and I look forward to seeing the completed project. When finished, the Memphis Health Center will be better equipped to achieve the goals of President Obama’s Affordable Care Act and reduce health inequalities and disparities in Shelby County.”

Today, the Memphis Health Center aims to improve community health and well-being for the citizens of Shelby and Fayette counties through an integrated program of comprehensive, culturally sensitive, quality health care services under a primary care delivery model emphasizing preventive care across the entire life cycle (i.e. prenatal, perinatal, pediatric, adolescent, adult and geriatric).