ACPHS President Greg Dewey was honored at Hometown Health Centers' 45th anniversary dinner for leading the effort to open the College's first student-operated pharmacy in HHC’s Schenectady location.
Community partners, business leaders, and board members were among those who gathered at the Glen Sanders Mansion in Scotia on June 15 to celebrate Hometown Health Centers (HHC) and recognize individuals who have helped the federally qualified health center stay true to its core mission.
“Since our founding in 1972 by Hendrik Rozendaal, M.D., HHC has made truly significant strides,” said HHC CEO Joe Gambino. “Today we proudly celebrate Hometown Health Centers as a state-of-the-art health center providing the highest quality primary care, comprehensive dental, OB/GYN, behavioral health services, tele-psychiatry, and vision care, as well as on-site lab services through our partner LabCorp, to 20,000 patients annually at our main facility located at 1044 State Street in Schenectady. We also offer primary healthcare at our Amsterdam health center at 67 Division Street.”
“HHC’s continued growth has been fueled by its ongoing commitment to reach more individuals — regardless of their income levels — with an expanded array of services,” added HHC Board Chair Bill Faubion. “To that point, in March 2016 we partnered with Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences to open College Hometown Pharmacy, the first student-operated pharmacy in New York state, and one of only a handful such pharmacies nationwide."
In addition to recognizing Dr. Dewey, HHC honored Laurence Spring, superintendent, Schenectady City Schools, who spearheaded a three-year effort to create an HHC-operated school-based program in two Schenectady city schools.
Schenectady Mayor Gary McCarthy also posthumously recognized Robert Watts for his dedication to bring accessible healthcare to those in need — a vision that ultimately resulted in the launch of Hometown Health Centers. Watts, who passed away in 2010, was the former president of the Carver Community Health Center board of directors and chief health planner for the New York State Department of Health.