Boston, May 07, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Centering Healthcare Institute (CHI), a national non-profit organization with a mission to improve health and transform the way care is delivered, announced the appointment of two new members to its Board of Directors. Joining the Board are Dr. Sandra Hassink, MD, MS, FAAP and Dr. Margaret Larkins-Pettigrew, MD, MEd, MPPM, FACOG.
“We are honored and pleased to welcome these outstanding leaders to our Board,” said Angie Truesdale, Chief Executive Officer at CHI. “As our organization continues to go through a critical stage of growth and expansion, we are very fortunate to learn from their collective experience and perspectives in the field.”
Dr. Sandra Hassink, MD is past president of the American Academy of Pediatrics. She has spent her professional career caring and advocating for children with obesity. Dr. Hassink is the Director of the AAP Institute for Healthy Childhood Weight focused on translating research into practice for pediatric health care providers, families and children and advancing the field of pediatric obesity. She also began the weight management clinic at Nemours/AI DuPont Children’s Hospital in 1988 and dedicates a significant portion of her time to advocacy and policy development on obesity prevention and treatment. She has served on the IOM committee on Accelerating Progress on Obesity Prevention and was an author on the Expert Recommendations for Obesity. In addition, she has authored A Parent’s Guide to Childhood Obesity, Pediatric Obesity: Prevention, Intervention, and Treatment Strategies for Primary Care, and Clinical Guide to Pediatric Weight Management. Dr. Hassink also holds a Master of Science in Pastoral Care and Counseling.
“I think that Centering can have an enormous positive influence on the way we deliver healthcare,” said Dr. Hassink. “Helping families feel that they are developing their health skills and social networks is the way we can build capacity for population health and equity. I am excited to help CHI explore new ways to integrate Centering into healthcare.”
Dr. Margaret Larkins-Pettigrew, MD is an Ob/Gyn at University Hospitals in Cleveland and holds an endowed chair position heading the Office of Community Impact, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. She is also an assistant dean of students for Case Western Reserve University. She has dedicated more than twenty years of her professional and personal life to diversity issues and global health challenges of women. She has been one of few female African-American providers to work with under-resourced communities with focus on care for women living with HIV. She currently heads the First Year Cleveland city and countywide initiative focused on reducing infant morbidity and mortality by enhancing the healthcare of women. Development of medical models that address social determinants of health continues to be another focus of her work. She has been instrumental in development of the WONDOOR program and the Obstetrics and Gynecology residency program in Guyana. Dr. Larkins-Pettigrew also holds a Master’s degree in Public Policy and Management (International Affairs) enhancing her expertise in global health program and policy development. Her leadership positions have included the President of Gateway Medical Society and President of the Medical Alumni Association, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. She is a frequent speaker internationally and throughout the region on multiple health issues focusing on the wellness of women. She has written articles for local health organizations, international publications and is the recipient of many honors and awards.
“CHI and the Centering model is an innovative and progressive healthcare model that is a part of the fabric of institutions that value comprehensive healthcare for all women, no matter race, sexual identity and social economic status,” said Dr. Larkins-Pettigrew. “This model gives women the opportunity to be empowered in every aspect of their personal and professional lives.”
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About Centering Healthcare Institute
CHI is a national non-profit organization, based in Boston, MA, with a mission to improve health and transform the way care is delivered. With over two decades of experience as the go-to resource for group healthcare, CHI has pioneered and sustained the Centering model of group care currently offered across 585 healthcare practice sites impacting close to 70,000 patients each year. The evidence-based Centering model combines health assessment, interactive learning and community building to help support positive health behaviors and drive better health outcomes. CenteringPregnancy® and CenteringParenting® provide the highest quality of care to families from pregnancy through age two of the child. The CenteringHealthcare® model of care is being extended to many different health conditions including groups for asthma, diabetes, opioid recovery, cancer survivors, chronic pain and other patient populations. Visit www.centeringhealthcare.org for more information.