CHI Celebrates National Health Center Week: Honoring the Past, Celebrating the Present, and Looking Towards the Future
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Hammocks Health Center staff members (from left to right) Jacqueline Deulofeu,
Anni Diaz Quintero, and Gloria Cedano smile together with their gifts for Staff Appreciation Day.
For more than 60 years, community health centers have provided care with access, equity, and compassion. They give vital healthcare services to millions of Americans who might otherwise go without. During this year’s National Health Center Week, CHI proudly joined the National Association of Community Health Centers in celebrating its own more than 50-year legacy of service, impact, and community care.
It was a week of reflection and celebration, honoring the visionary trailblazers who identified the pressing healthcare needs in underserved areas and took bold steps to meet them. One of those trailblazers was Doris Ison, who in 1971 laid the foundation for CHI with only two trailers in Goulds. From these humble beginnings, CHI has grown into 13 state-of-the-art centers for comprehensive care and 58 school-based suites.
The week-long celebration kicked off with School Physical Day at five CHI locations. Children across Monroe and Miami Dade County were able to do school and sports physicals prior to starting school.
All week long, CHI shared stories and historic photos on social media. These posts showed how CHI grew from its early days into a lifeline for many families in Southern Miami-Dade and Monroe counties. Today, community health centers serve 1 in 10 Americans, with the goal of reaching 1 in 3 in the years to come. In 2024, CHI served more than 62,000 patients from all walks of life and backgrounds. Every patient is the heartbeat of CHI’s mission. From appointments to outreach events, CHI works to build trusted relationships and make sure patients receive the compassionate, high-quality care they deserve.
(from left to right) Florida Association of Community Health Centers representative,
Mario Negron joins CHI Outreach members providing health screenings and information
to the community at the Karis Carrfour Supportive Housing on Population Health Focus
Day during National Health Center Week.
National Health Center Week also highlighted the importance of staff. From CHI’s dedicated providers and logistics teams to security personnel and more, each plays an important part in making healthcare work at its best. In appreciation, all staff received
a token of gratitude for their important contributions. Patients were also celebrated, with gifts and messages of thanks for the trust they put in CHI, allowing the organization the privilege of serving as their medical home.
This year’s celebration included new themed days, such as Health Conditions Focus Day and Population Health Focus Day. For Population Health Focus Day, CHI’s Outreach team provided health screenings and information at the Karis Carrfour Supportive Housing for formerly homeless families. Both spotlighted the essential role community health centers play in addressing chronic and acute conditions through preventive screenings and vaccinations, while also caring for the most vulnerable. CHI emphasized pediatric vaccines, colorectal cancer screenings, and critical vaccines for people with weakened immune systems, promoting both awareness and action.
The week ended with gratitude and hope for the future.
“CHI is deeply thankful for everyone who contributes to our mission and shares our vision for a future where health is accessible to all,” said Dr. Saint Anthony Amofah, Executive Vice President. “As the community grows, so will our services and outreach. But
this progress depends on continued support. Community health centers across America need advocacy and funding to sustain and expand their reach. Raise your voice and let your local and national leaders know how important these services are to the well- being of our communities.”
Dr. Joseph Mitchnader speaks with patient and dad on School Physical Day
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