Access News
UPHAC is proud to announce …
Medical Care Access Coalition (MCAC) of Marquette is Michigan’s 2008 Outstanding Volunteer Program, one of eight Michigan volunteer organizations and citizen-volunteers honored as part of the 2008 Governor’s Service Awards ceremonies June 19.
The Outstanding Volunteer Program Award recognizes the important role that organizations play in harnessing volunteer service for improving community life.
Accepting MCAC’s award in Detroit was Executive Director Melissa White (pictured above with Gov. Jennifer M. Granholm and First Gentleman Daniel G. Mulhern). Melissa was joined for the occasion by Dr. Kevin Piggott, the first volunteer medical director at MCAC’s Volunteer Clinic, and UPHAC Executive Director Stacie Kucera. UPHAC was pleased to nominate MCAC for the award.
"We are absolutely thrilled to have the state recognize the incredible effort, quality care and excellent services that we and our volunteers are providing to uninsured residents in Marquette County," said Pat Micklow, MCAC board president. "Our mission is to save, and our outstanding director, staff and truly working board of directors appreciate what this service award represents."
MCAC was one of 8 awardees recognized by Michigan Gov. Granholm and First Gentleman Mulhern, who chairs the Michigan Community Service Commission. Forty finalists had been selected from nearly 180 individual, business, and nonprofit organization nominees from across the state.
UPHAC Honors 6 ‘Hero for the Uninsured’ Awardees
Six exemplary health care providers from across Upper Michigan were honored May 1 for their contributions in providing services to uninsured Upper Peninsula residents. They received 2008 “Hero for the Uninsured” Awards at an evening recognition dinner in Marquette, sponsored by UPHAC during “Cover the Uninsured” Week.
This year’s “Hero for the Uninsured” Awardees include:
- Care Free Dental Clinic, Inc. of Escanaba, an all-volunteer dental care service for uninsured Delta County residents that works with Medical Access Coalition, honored as an “Innovation Hero.”
- Teresa Kowalski of Dafter, a certified nurse practitioner who has volunteered at the Community Health Access Coalition’s monthly clinics for uninsured Chippewa County residents, recognized as a “Personal Touch Hero.”
- Medical Arts Medical Center of Houghton, a four-physician family practice group, honored as a “Most Valuable Partner (MVP) Hero” for work with the Western UP Healthcare Access Coalition in serving the needs of uninsured area residents.
- Patient Assistance Center of Dickinson County Healthcare System of Iron Mountain, which has partnered with the Dickinson Iron Medical Care Access Coalition to coordinate prescription medication acquisition for residents of Dickinson and Iron counties, recognized as a “Most Valuable Partner (MVP) Hero.”
- Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital of Manistique, a partner organization with Schoolcraft Health Access/Medical Care Access Coalition, recognized as a “Most Valuable Partner (MVP) Hero.”
- Martha Short, MD, and her MCAC Clinic staff, Melissa Broeders, PA-C, and Cathy Paquette, LPN, of Marquette, a medical team and long-time champions of compassionate, volunteered care for uninsured recognized as an “Above & Beyond Hero.”
"UPHAC is pleased to again recognize special people and organizations in 2008 for extending exceptional assistance to uninsured residents of their communities,” said Bill Reid, UPHAC board president. “These ‘Hero for the Uninsured’ awardees represent hundreds of others who partner with the Local Access Coalitions of the U.P. to selflessly respond to needs of their families, friends and neighbors without health care coverage.”
A total of 17 community citizens and organizations were nominated for 2008 Hero Awards.
(View 2007's 'Heroes')
Access Coalitions Take Part in Local Health Fairs.
Staff from Medical Access Coalition's Delta and Menominee county offices participated in a Health Fair April 19 at the Little River Golf Club in Marinette, WI. Darice Hannon, assistant program coordinator in Menominee, left, and Mary Williams, MAC program coordinator, greet visitors at the MAC booth.They highlighted the upcoming Cover the Uninsured Week observance (April 27-May 3) and shared information about MAC services with about 200 area residents who attended the fair.
Other Local Access Coalitions participating in spring health fairs include Community Health Access Coalition's Mackinac and Luce County offices at the West Mackinac Health Fair in Engadine April 26 and Medical Care Access Coalition's own community health fair at Marquette Commons following the MCAC Awareness Walk May 3.
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