Latest Press Releases from the Institute for Family Health

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Bronx, NY (January 30, 2025) The Institute for Family Health’s <a href="https://institute.org/training/family-nurse-practitioner-residency/">Family Nurse Practitioner Residency</a> has received accreditation from the Consortium for Advanced Practice Providers for a full period of three years. The accreditation signifies that the residency program has met national standards for quality and has completed a rigorous ten-month peer review process, including a two-day site visit.
Since 2020, the Family Nurse Practitioner Residency has trained twenty family nurse practitioners, with four slots available to residents every year. Residents complete practical training at two Institute health centers in the Bronx, which leverages the strengths of advanced practice nursing and the community health center model of care to provide a comprehensive training experience in an urban environment. The Institute&#8217;s academic partner for the program is Mercy University, whose expertise was instrumental in the accreditation process. In addition to receiving hands-on clinical experience and didactic training, the nurse practitioner residents complete a number of specialty rotations where they gain additional experience in caring for people experiencing homelessness, integrative medicine, behavioral health and more. The program builds on the Institute’s long history of innovative health workforce development programs, notably its <a href="https://institute.org/training/family-medicine-residencies/">family physician residency</a> programs in Manhattan, the Bronx and Kingston, NY.
“This is an important milestone for the program and a testament to the high-quality training we are providing in the Bronx,” said Dr. Robert Schiller, the Institute’s President for Academic Affairs. “I am proud and honored to count this program amongst our many innovative training initiatives.”
Margaret Walsh, FNP-BC, the director of the Family Nurse Practitioner Residency said, “We are thrilled to receive this recognition. We are training our residents in the most current and evidence-based clinical practices so they are equipped to best meet the care needs of their patients. Our team is grateful to the Institute&#8217;s leadership, staff and administration for helping us make this happen.”
Family nurse practitioners are independently-licensed advanced practice nurses, whose scope of clinical services includes primary care for adults and children of all ages. The Institute has a long history of cultivating nurse practitioner leadership. The organization’s co-founder, Yvonne Eisner, FNP-BC, is a family nurse practitioner who served as a senior clinical advisor in the residency prior to her retirement. Since the Institute’s inception, Institute health centers have been staffed by primary care teams that frequently include family nurse practitioners and family physicians working side-by-side to deliver outstanding care to people of all ages.
If you are interested in applying to the residency, candidates are invited to visit <a href="https://institute.org/training/family-nurse-practitioner-residency/">institute.org/fnpresidency</a> for information on how to apply for the residency position for the 2025-2026 academic year.
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The Institute for Family Health (www.institute.org) is a federally qualified health center network that serves over 100,000 patients annually. Services are available to people of all ages, regardless of ability to pay.
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The Institute for Family Health’s Family Nurse Practitioner Residency Receives Accreditation

Kingston, NY (November 11, 2024) The Institute for Family Health was awarded funding from the New York State Department of Health AIDS Institute to develop comprehensive health services for LGBTQI+ patients in the Mid-Hudson Valley. The award, totaling $975,000 over the course of five years, will enable the Institute to launch a program to enhance health promotion, education and training, and cultural responsiveness activities to engage and retain LGBTQI+ individuals and families in primary and preventive health care services designed to meet their needs.
The program will serve the Institute’s <a href="https://institute.org/health-care/locations/mid-hudson-valley/">five health centers</a> located in Ulster and Dutchess Counties, with special emphasis on outreaching LGBTQI+ individuals and families from these communities to promote primary care, dental care and social support services. The Institute will also provide updated training to 350 staff to ensure that all programming is inclusive, affirming, and meets the standard set by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s Healthcare Equality Index. Some of the enhancements to Institute programs and services will be replicated in the Institute&#8217;s New York City service area as well.
“We are thrilled to use this opportunity to better serve our LGBTQI+ patients,” said Jay Musella, the Institute’s Senior Director of Population Services. “Though we have many talented staff with extensive experience caring for LGBTQI+ patients, we are excited to put this knowledge toward practice transformation and continuous quality improvement efforts that will enhance services across our organization.”
As a federally qualified health center network, the Institute for Family Health is committed to providing top-quality health care to all, regardless of insurance status or ability to pay. Services are available to patients of all ages. Institute health centers accept Medicare, Medicaid and dozens of private insurance plans, and offer a sliding-fee scale for those in need. To schedule an appointment, call 844-434-2778.

The Institute for Family Health Receives Funding to Increase Services for Hudson Valley LGBTQI+ Community

New York, NY (September 30, 2024) – The Institute for Family Health was awarded a grant from the federal Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to expand behavioral health and integrated substance use disorder services. The Institute was one of <a href="https://bphc.hrsa.gov/funding/funding-opportunities/behavioral-health-service-expansion/fy-24-awards/ny">400 HRSA-funded health centers</a> nationwide awarded a total of $240 million in funds designated to increase access to behavioral health and substance use disorder services at community health centers.
Over the next year, the Institute will expand patient access to same-day behavioral health consultations at high-need sites. Additionally, the Institute will expand and enhance access to substance use disorder services, with a focus on medications for opioid and alcohol use disorders. Dedicated care navigators who specialize in integrated substance use disorder treatment will assist patients in overcoming barriers to care that can impede retention in these services. HRSA is providing $1.1M in grant funds over a two-year period to support this service expansion.
“This is a tremendous opportunity to invest in the care of our communities,” said Dr. Neil Calman, CEO of the Institute for Family Health. “Our health centers are trusted within the communities we serve and can offer the high quality, holistic care to meet the need for both mental health and substance use disorder services.”
In a statement, HRSA Administrator Carole Johnson said that these 400 grant awards demonstrate &#8220;our commitment not only to health coverage but to access to care. Mental health and substance use disorder treatment are essential elements of primary care, and there should be no wrong door for families to get the behavioral health care they need.”
As a community health center network, the Institute for Family Health is committed to providing top-quality care to all patients, regardless of their ability to pay. Services are available to patients of all ages. Institute health centers accept Medicare, Medicaid and dozens of private insurance plans, and offer a sliding-fee scale for those in need. To schedule an appointment, call 844-434-2778.

The Institute for Family Health Receives HRSA Funding for Expanded Behavioral Health Services

New York, NY (September 26, 2024) – The Institute for Family Health was awarded a $500,000 grant from the federal Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)’s <a href="https://bphc.hrsa.gov/funding/funding-opportunities/accelerating-cancer-screening/2024-awards">Accelerating Cancer Screening (AxCS)</a> program to expand access to screening and referrals to care for colorectal and other common types of cancer in New York City. With these funds, the Institute will partner with the <a href="https://www.mountsinai.org/care/cancer">Mount Sinai Tisch Cancer Center</a> and the <a href="https://montefioreeinstein.org/cancer">Montefiore Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center</a> to increase access to cancer prevention and treatment services. The Institute was one of 18 health centers to receive funding through AxCS program in 2024, with awards totaling nearly $9 million.
To increase access and address barriers to cancer screenings and follow-up care, the Institute will provide outreach, care navigation and cancer prevention services tailored to higher-risk groups. A dedicated care navigation team will lead outreach efforts and leverage the resources of both Mount Sinai and Montefiore’s cancer care centers. Both the Mount Sinai Tisch Cancer Center and the Montefiore Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center will support the Institute&#8217;s efforts to ensure that low-income individuals can access all of the cancer screening services they need.
Cancer is the second-leading cause of death in the United States, with approximately 600,000 deaths annually. Appropriate screening and timely follow-up care help to detect cancer early and improve outcomes for patients. However, significant disparities in cancer screening and follow-up care persist, particularly among individuals of different income levels, insurance statuses, and racial or ethnic backgrounds.
“No matter where you live or what resources you have, everyone should be able to benefit from the tools we have to detect, diagnose and treat cancer before it’s too late,” said HRSA Administrator Carole Johnson. “HRSA is proud to increase our investment in partnerships between our health centers and cancer centers to improve access to live-saving cancer prevention in communities that have been underserved for too long.”
“Community health centers play a critical role in promoting access to cancer screening services,” said Dr. Eric Gayle, the President of Health Care Services at the Institute for Family Health. “Our health center providers have strong relationships with their patients and can help them navigate the complexities of getting these screenings.”
“The Tisch Cancer Center at Mount Sinai welcomes our collaboration with the Institute for Family Health and the Montefiore Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center to ensure the availability of colorectal cancer screening to their patient population. Through our comprehensive CHOICE: Your Colon, Your Choice direct access screening program, we will collaborate with the Institute’s navigators to ensure rapid response to the needs of the Institute’s patients,” said Professor Lina Jandorf, MA, Director of the Tisch Cancer Center Outreach and Engagement Program.
“The Montefiore Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center is excited to partner with the Institute in facilitating access to care through its state-of-the-art colorectal cancer screening program and its unique BOLD Buddy Peer Navigation Program, both of which focus on addressing barriers to care from screening to diagnosis and treatment, if needed,” said Dr. Alyson Moadel-Robblee, PhD, the director of the BOLD Buddy Peer Navigation Program at the Montefiore Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center.
As a federally qualified health center network, the Institute for Family Health is committed to providing top-quality care to all patients, regardless of their ability to pay. Institute health centers accept Medicare, Medicaid and dozens of private insurance plans, and offer a sliding-fee scale for those in need. To schedule an appointment, call 844-434-2778.
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The Institute for Family Health is a federally qualified health center network in New York State serving 100,000 patients annually. Services are available to people of all ages, regardless of ability to pay.
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The Institute for Family Health Receives HRSA Funding to Expand Access to Cancer Screening and Care

Kingston, NY (September 26, 2024) – The Institute for Family Health will partner with Phillies Bridge Farm Project, a non-profit working farm, to launch a one-year initiative to promote and increase food access in Ulster County. Through a $250,000 award from the New York State Department of Health’s Large Wellness Program, the Phillies Bridge Farm Project will increase production of seasonal produce, which the Institute will distribute to local families. Additionally, the initiative will include community educational activities and efforts to connect community members with health services through the Institute’s local health centers.
The initiative builds on a 12-year partnership between the Institute and Phillies Bridge that provides fresh produce to local families. This year, from September through November, Phillies Bridge will provide weekly, no-cost CSA shares to families at three Institute health centers in Kingston and New Paltz. Beginning in December, Phillies Bridge will host monthly distributions of winter shares at the three Institute sites. Each distribution will be accompanied by educational presentations and materials, including cooking demonstrations, food justice resources, nutritious recipes, and vegetable storage tips. Phillies Bridge will also use program funding to purchase supplies that will boost food production for the winter 2024-2025 and spring 2025 growing seasons, further addressing social determinants of health in the region by increasing access to nutritious, affordable food for the community.
Ultimately, the initiative is designed to increase access to seasonal fresh produce for individuals and families experiencing food insecurity, including those with low-incomes and chronic health conditions. All materials will be available in both English and Spanish. 
“The Institute is committed to helping our patients with everything that impacts their health,” said Michaela Frazier, PhD, MSW, Vice President of Social Support Services at the Institute for Family Health. “Access to high-quality nutritious food is such an important issue that impacts not just physical health, but also mental and emotional health. We are proud to be working with Phillies Bridge to offer this resource to the community.” 
“This grant is providing vital resources to build on our longstanding partnership with the Institute for Family Health and provide fresh produce to many, many more people in need throughout our region,” said Ellen Conti, Phillies Bridge Farm Project’s Farm Director. “We are thrilled about the opportunity to enhance our impact and greatly expand access to healthy, sustainably grown food.&#8221;
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The Institute for Family Health is a federally qualified health center network that serves more than 100,000 patients annually in New York City and the Mid-Hudson Valley. Services are available to people of all ages, regardless of ability to pay.

Institute for Family Health to Partner With Local Farm to Promote Food Access in Ulster County

Dr. Robert Schiller, the Institute’s President of Academic Affairs, and Dr. Diana Perez, a family medicine resident in the Harlem Residency in Family Medicine, were both quoted in an article in <a href="https://kffhealthnews.org/news/article/physician-teaching-health-centers-funding-instability-underserved-areas/">KFF Health News</a> highlighting the Teaching Health Centers Graduate Medical Education program. Although the program has proven successful in preparing physicians to provide primary care in medically-underserved areas, Congress must continually reauthorize the program’s funding — unlike hospital-based residency programs, which receive guaranteed funding each year.
<a href="https://kffhealthnews.org/news/article/physician-teaching-health-centers-funding-instability-underserved-areas/">Read the full article here.</a>

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