Greater Lawrence Family Health Center was honored to host Luis Padilla, MD, Chief Health Officer at the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC), for a leadership meeting and clinic tour at 34 Haverhill St., Lawrence, on March 17. The visit was hosted by GLFHC Chief Medical Officer Nick Weida, MD, and brought together clinical and operational leaders for a wide‑ranging discussion on issues shaping the future of GLFHC and community health centers nationwide.
Participants included Jenni Somers, MD, Jonathan Lichkus, MD, Tuhin Roy, MD, Chief Operating Officer Jon Beauchesne, Vice President of Operations & Community Support Services Sandra Silva, Chief Advancement Officer Susan Kinney, Chief Medical Officer Nick Weida, MD, and Vice President of Pharmacy Alicia Mam daCunha, PharmD, reflecting GLFHC’s strong integration of clinical leadership, operations, education, and advancement.
Dr. Padilla shared a national perspective on pressing challenges facing health centers, including threats to the 340B drug discount program and the urgent need for stable, long‑term funding to sustain workforce development and access to care. His insights were informed by nearly a decade at the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), where he led the Bureau of Health Workforce and directed the National Health Service Corps.
A key focus of the conversation was teaching health centers. Several leaders from the Lawrence Family Medicine Residency (LFMR) participated in the discussion, highlighting why GLFHC is widely recognized as a national model for community health center–owned residency programs. Participants shared how the program’s structure, mission alignment, and emphasis on team‑based care contribute to strong outcomes for both physician learners and patients.
The group also discussed GLFHC’s successful integrated care team model, the essential role of clinical pharmacists, and our robust legislative advocacy efforts — both at the Massachusetts State House and on Capitol Hill. Dr. Padilla underscored the importance of sustained state‑level advocacy, noting that even in a state renowned for high‑quality health care, policy decisions and funding priorities have a direct impact on access, workforce stability, and the ability of health centers to serve their communities.
Dr. Padilla was eager to learn more about GLFHC’s pharmacy residency program, which embeds residents in ambulatory and team‑based care while preparing them for advanced clinical practice and health center leadership. Residents contribute directly to chronic disease management, transitions of care, and interdisciplinary teaching, while gaining hands‑on experience with 340B program operations and medication access strategies that are essential to community health centers. The program strengthens GLFHC’s clinical teams today while building a pipeline of pharmacists equipped to serve safety‑net settings nationwide.
We were grateful for the opportunity to spend time with Dr. Padilla while he was in Boston for a national medical conference and deeply appreciate his engagement with GLFHC. His visit underscored the important role our health center plays at both the local and national levels in advancing high‑quality, workforce‑driven, patient‑centered care.
The National Association of Community Health Centers’ Chief Health Officer, Luis Padilla, MD, (fourth from right), visited GLFHC’s Flagship clinic and pharmacy. He is pictured with health center leadership, from left, Chief Operating Officer Jon Beauchesne; Jonathan Lichkus, MD; Tuhin Roy, MD; Vice President of Pharmacy Alicia Mam daCunha, PharmD; Vice President of Operations & Community Support Services Sandra Silva; Padilla; Chief Advancement Officer Susan Kinney; Jenni Somers, MD; and Chief Medical Officer Nick Weida, MD.