Dr. Virna Little, President of the Board for ACU, to Open 2016 Conference

New York, NY (August 1, 2016) — The Institute for Family Health’s Dr. Virna Little, in her new role as president of the Board of Directors, will welcome the membership of the Association of Clinicians for the Underserved (ACU) at their upcoming annual conference. ACU is a nonprofit organization comprising clinicians, advocates, and healthcare organizations that, through a collaborative approach, strives to improve health care, access, and services for underserved populations. Dr. Little is the senior vice president for psychosocial services and community affairs at the Institute for Family Health, where she oversees mental health and social services delivery for a network of 27 FQHC sites.

ACU’s 2016 Annual Conference, which will be held from July 31st to August 3rd in Washington, D.C., will assemble clinical leaders and government officials to promote an interdisciplinary discussion of critical issues in the health care community. The 2016 conference theme, “Transdisciplinary Care Across the Health Care Continuum,” informed scheduled workshop topics ranging from workforce recruitment and retention to addressing the social determinants of health care.

“I am truly honored to serve as ACU’s board president,” said Dr. Little, “and I am proud to work so closely with this distinguished association to improve the health of underserved communities across the United States.” Prior to her election as president, Dr. Little served as ACU Board vice president for three years. She has been a member of the Board since 2010.

Dr. Little will be supported in her role as Board President by ACU Board of Directors Vice President Felix L. Nunez, MD, MPH; Treasurer Mary Kasal; and Secretary Kirsten Thomsen, PA. She succeeds Katherine Brieger, RD, in the role.

“Dr. Little has been a committed advocate for both the underserved and for ACU,” said Craig A. Kennedy, ACU’s Executive Director. “The Board unanimously elected her as the new president, and we are very excited to continue moving ACU forward under her leadership.”

ACU was founded in 1996 and will be celebrating its 20th year during the Annual Conference. Dr. Little is the first mental health provider to become President of ACU.