Celebrate National Health Center Week Honorees!
CHCANYS will honor outstanding Community Health Center leaders in their communities as part of National Health Center Week August 2-8, 2026. Congratulations to Nancy Deavers, RN, MSN, Sr. VP/Chief Clinical Officer, ConnextCare; Dr. Vaty Poitevien, Chief Medical Officer, Housing Works; and Christopher Sardella, Board Member, Trillium Health.
About the Awards & Honorees:
The Catherine Abate Memorial Award honors a visionary leader who demonstrates a lifelong commitment to protecting the rights and dignity of the under-served, including women’s health. Nancy Deavers is this year’s awardee. Since joining ConnextCare in 2014, she has contributed to her center’s growth from increasing access to over 5,000 new patients in the past five years to Patient Centered Medical Home recognitions, resulting in $1 million in annual enhanced revenue. Her pursuit of clinical excellence benefits patients with such achievements as top-tier performance in hypertension control, diabetes management, and colorectal cancer screening, earning both state and national recognition.
T
he Dr. Jack Geiger Award recognizes a licensed provider who devotes their life’s work to the problems of health, poverty, and human rights. Dr. Vaty Poitevien is this year’s awardee. Since 2005, she had contributed to the growth of Housing Works and the field of public health to transform countless lives and establish a foundation for a more just healthcare system.
The Dorothy Kartashevich Consumer Award acknowledges that the backbone of the community health center movement are consumer run boards and honors an individual who works tirelessly on their center’s behalf with a far- reaching impact. Christopher Sardella is this year’s awardee. His service includes Trillium Health’s Legislative Committee and roles as Governance Chair and Board Secretary. He has written an Op-Ed advocating for 340B and shared his personal story in television and digital media.
CHCANYS takes this time during NHCW to celebrate these honorees and all the community health center leaders, clinicians, board members, and staff who ensure high quality health care every day. Thank you!