News Release: 2/17/2025

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                Contact: Amy Simmons Farber 202-309-0338
                                                                                                                        asimmons@nachc.com
 
Community Health Center Leader Honored for Advocacy at NACHC Policy & Issues Forum
 
BETHESDA, MD – The National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) has honored Tina Burns from Shenandoah Community Health (SCH) with the 2025 Elizabeth K. Cooke Advocacy Award. This award recognizes advocates’ dedication and mobilization efforts to generate public and political support for the nation’s Community Health Centers. Tina was presented the award during NACHC’s 2025 Policy and Issues Forum (P&I) in Washington, D.C. The annual conference draws thousands of health center leaders from around the country to gather and focus on strategies that expand access to affordable primary care services in underserved communities. 
 
Tina Burns is a long-term employee of Shenandoah Community Health, starting as a medical interpreter and progressing through other administrative roles over 40 years! Currently, as SCH’s Director of Resource Development, she is committed to promoting the efforts of Shenandoah Community Health Foundation that raises funds to support Shenandoah Community Health: collaborating with community partners to address needs of the underserved, and advocating on behalf of health and wellness issues, including legislative concerns related to health.

Asked why she is inspired to advocate for community health centers, she said “I am passionate about the obligation of society to ensure access to healthcare for all.”
 
Health centers are the largest primary care network in the U.S., serving 32.5 million people at more than 1,500 sites nationwide. The network of health center grassroots advocates consists of doctors, nurses, CEOs, frontline staff, board members and patients who have dedicated themselves to advancing equal access to outstanding healthcare in rural, urban, and frontier communities.
 
“These honorees consistently go above and beyond to foster a culture of advocacy within their organizations and their health center,” said Kyu Rhee, MD, MPP, President and CEO of NACHC. “Their efforts to inspire and mobilize others are essential to building hope in a future where all communities nationwide have access to quality and affordable healthcare."
 
Advocates are essential to the sustainability of health centers, which have saved countless lives since they were established 60 years ago. Health centers depend on bipartisan support from Congress and are grateful for this decades-long partnership.
 
To join our team in support of health centers, sign up to advocate here.
 
Our Vision
 
NACHC is the leading innovative change agent collaborating with affiliates and partners to advance Community Health Centers as the foundation of an equitable health care system free from disparities and built on accessible, patient-governed, high-quality, integrated primary care.