Jennifer Griffith Named One Community Health Chief Executive Officer
One Community Health’s current Chief People Officer will assume the role on January 5, 2024
Hood River, Ore., December 7, 2023 – One Community Health’s (OCH) Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Jennifer Griffith, OCH's Chief People Officer, has been selected to lead OCH as their new Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Jennifer has been a key architect of OCH’s growth and community impact, and OCH is excited for her vision to carry the organization into the future.
Jennifer joined OCH in 2019 and immediately made a positive impact. She led OCH’s talent acquisition, training and development, and human resources teams and she has worked tirelessly to support equity-focused services at the community health center. Jennifer’s leadership of the Preventative Health department during the COVID-19 pandemic was a key component of OCH’s successful COVID-19 vaccination campaign. OCH has provided more than 50,000 COVID vaccines to date, with 47% of those vaccines going to community members identifying as Latino/a/x and/or Hispanic. Her focus on systems change is illustrated by the launch of paid medical and dental apprenticeship programs where local individuals become certified while earning a living wage. OCH’s Dental Apprenticeship program is the first such program in the state of Oregon. Jennifer has also transformed OCH's approach to advocacy and grants – OCH’s average annual grant revenue increased by more than 50% under Jennifer's leadership. Grants allow OCH to fund programs that bring health care and wellness programs to all community members but are not traditionally reimbursed, such as OCH’s mobile medical clinics and free exercise and cooking classes.
“I am excited to serve the One Community Health team, patients and our community in a new way,” says Jennifer. “With the integration of NorthShore Medical Group into the One Community Health team beginning in January 2024, we are well-positioned to continue serving our communities in the Columbia River Gorge, grow the services we offer, and innovate in how we provide comprehensive primary care. I am so proud of the work our teams are doing and honored to lead our combined organization moving forward.”
This change in leadership comes as OCH’s CEO of over four years, Max Janasik, departs the Gorge to join AllCare Health in Southern Oregon, where he will continue to focus on improving healthcare access and quality. Max’s leadership through enormous challenges, changes, and growth have made OCH a much stronger and more effective organization for the Gorge community, OCH patients, and staff. OCH is immensely grateful for his dedication, spirit, and empathy, and his strong leadership through the COVID-19 pandemic. This transition will be effective with Max's departure on January 5, 2024.
For more information about One Community Health, please visit www.onecommunityhealth.org.
About One Community Health
One Community Health (OCH) is a nonprofit, Federally Qualified Health Center with physical locations in The Dalles and Hood River, Oregon, and two mobile medical units. Formerly known as La Clínica del Cariño Family Health Care Center, Inc., it was founded in 1986 and today has evolved into a 5 Star Patient-Centered Primary Care Home and was recognized as the Best Primary Care Clinic in 2019 by the Central Oregon Independent Practice Association. OCH currently provides medical, dental, behavioral health, and outreach services to more than 23,000 patients. In addition, OCH excels in providing educational programs and support that reflect an integrated approach to health and wellbeing. Dedicated to advancing health and social justice for all its community members, OCH serves patients in the Mid-Columbia River Gorge Region: Wasco, Hood River, Klickitat, and Skamania Counties.
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