by Shawn Nowlin
Everything that could go right last Saturday during a much-anticipated awards ceremony honoring local leaders did go right. Themed “New Horizons At 25: Advancing The Community Health Center Movement,” the festive occasion took place inside the Berglund Center’s Bella Vista Room.
The task of emceeing the gathering fell on the shoulders of Ryan Bell.
“When the proper people are in charge, it makes all the difference in the world. There are many local leaders truly making a difference in the community, many of them are here tonight,” he said.
Ten individuals were recognized during the ceremony: Pharmacy Award, Angie Eggers, pharmacy tech; Medical Department Award, Melissa Taylor, MA Clinical Lead; Behavioral Health Department Award, Katye Hale, BH Manager/Lead Case Manager; Patient Support Services Award, Stephanie Pilson, patient access representative; Clinical Excellence Award, Dr. Ayesha Nazli, MD Physician; Sustained Impact Award, Eileen Lipro, MPH Founding CEO; New Horizons Legacy Award, Rev. Dr. William Lee; and Dental Department Co-Award, Elisa Koloamatangi (Dental Clinic Manager) and Lindsey Bucaro (Dental Front Office Manager).
The late Dr. Frank Guilfoyle, a beloved pediatrician, received a special recognition.
Among the featured speakers were Virginia Community Healthcare Association CEO Tracy Douglas, Edward Smith, Executive Director of the Harrison Museum of African American Culture in Roanoke, and Dr. NL Bishop, the former senior vice president and Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer of Carilion Clinic.
“It truly is a privilege to be here. We represent all the community health centers here in the state. There are 31 centers, and we have 209 locations throughout Virginia,” Douglas said. “We are here celebrating 25 years of impact, innovation and community care with New Horizons. As we reflect on this milestone. I invite you to first consider the broader story – the national movement that made health centers like New Horizons possible. A movement that’s been rooted in justice, born from the civil rights era and sustained by communities who refuse to be left behind.
“Today, 25 years later, New Horizons Healthcare proudly serves more than 10,000 patients each year. It stands as a testament to what’s possible when compassion meets action,” Bishop said.
Moments later, Smith shared, “Instead of speaking to you in my role with the museum, I’d like to speak to you as a son. My father died in October 2023 – quietly, slowly and avoidably. Although I see now, it was inevitable. He went into the hospital on Labor Day with a broken leg. Because it wasn’t life-threatening, he was immobilized and made to wait. A man, who even at 83, got up every morning to read the New York Times, was left languishing.”
He continued, “After the surgery, he was transferred to a skilled nursing facility. And that’s where we first noticed the signs. He was becoming harder to understand, harder to reach. Our concerns raised, but the staff dismissed them. When our primary physician finally ran the test, there it was, an infection. Because the recovery from the broken leg wasn’t making enough progress with physical therapy, they decided to discharge him.”
Stories like this are why New Horizons regularly ranks among the top not-for-profit health centers in the state. Their reputation for improving access to affordable, high-quality healthcare for all has been well earned over the years.
For years, the company’s brass has been a solid nucleus: CEO Jonathan Stewart, Chief Operating Officer Corinne Bostic, Chief Financial Officer Cynthia Harris, Pharmacy Director Malone McGinn, Dental Director Keith Wilken and Patricia Spangler, Director of Behavioral Health.
