The Town of Sandwich and the Upper Cape Cod region has growing health care needs, and Community Health Center is poised to help. Presently, more than 2,600 residents of Sandwich are CHC patients — one in every eight individuals. The number of patients from Sandwich has increased 43% over the past three years, and these numbers continue to rise. To provide more convenient access to care and to meet the health care needs in surrounding towns, Community Health Center is raising funds to open a new Upper Cape office, conveniently located at 87 Route 6A in Sandwich.

In addition to providing increased access to care, Community Health Center’s new Sandwich facility will address instances of high chronic disease and substance use disorders. When fully operational, this location will serve as the “complete medical home” for up to 5,000 patients. In addition to providing integrated care services, CHC will offer outreach, enrollment and enabling services, with a special focus on underserved populations including Veterans, older adults and those under 100% of the poverty level. The Expanded Access in Sandwich Project will prioritize the environment and climate impact through meeting LEED Silver certification standards, while addressing housing challenges with built-in apartments for staff.

The 19,000+ square foot building, centrally located on Route 6A, near the new Town office building and Merchants Square will feature: primary care, dental, optometry, telehealth and preventative services; behavioral health and recovery services; retail pharmacy; same day walk-in care; and studio apartments for workforce housing. Click here to learn more about the Sandwich expansion.

Mashpee – Community Health Center is pleased to welcome Madeline Kavanagh to its Advancement Team.

Madeline Kavanagh is a detail-oriented communications professional with more than four years of experience in marketing communications, project management, and stakeholder engagement. Her expertise includes strategic messaging, cross-functional collaboration, and content development designed to elevate brand visibility and drive meaningful results.

Prior to joining CHC, Madeline built a diverse background in both agency and freelance marketing, partnering with businesses and nonprofit organizations across Cape Cod. She previously served as a Marketing Assistant at Tidal Marketing, where she spent more than two years helping local businesses grow through digital marketing strategies and community-focused communications, an experience that deepened her passion for supporting and uplifting local businesses. Madeline earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications and Media Studies from Stonehill College in North Easton, MA.

In her new role, Madeline will work alongside CHC’s Advancement Team in the organization’s Mashpee office, supporting communications and outreach initiatives that further CHC’s mission of providing accessible, high-quality healthcare services to the community. For more information about CHC’s mission and services available at Community Health Center, and their offices in Mashpee, Falmouth, North Falmouth, Bourne, Sandwich and Centerville, visit CHCofCapeCod.org, or call (508) 477-7090. 

Mashpee – Community Health Center is pleased to announce the addition of Larry Bigelow, Jon Leibowitz and Kim Morrison to its Board of Directors.

Larry Bigelow is a retired senior corporate banking professional with 43 years of banking experience in business development and relationship management. From 2004 to 2015, he was the Senior Vice President, Non-profit and Healthcare Division for Citizens Bank. Prior to that, he worked at Fleet Bank/Bank of Boston for 21 years, most recently as Division Executive and Team Leader of Financial Institutions. Since retiring, Larry has been devoted to serving on non-profit boards and committees, and is currently the chair of the Cape and Islands United Way’s housing grants review committee, a member of Community Health Center’s advancement committee and recently wrapped up nine years on the Falmouth Service Center and the Cape and Islands United Way’s Board of Directors. He has a Bachelor of Arts in Administrative Science from Colby College and a Master of Business Administration, concentration in Finance from University of Connecticut. Larry lives in East Falmouth.  

Jon Leibowitz has spent much of his career working with health care providers, organizations, and companies in the medical information and education sectors. He has been the Managing Director for Westgate Consulting, LLC since 2017, advising health care organizations, medical device companies, education providers and publishers on growth strategy, partnerships and operational development. Prior to that, he was a Founding Partner and Managing Director for Pri-Med/M|C Communications. Jon holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychobiology from Hamilton College and a Master of Business Administration in Healthcare Management from The Wharton School at University of Pennsylvania. He also has served as a board member, advisor or founder for a number of organizations, including Pleio Health, WikiDoc, Beth Israel Deaconess, NEJM, Amplifire, Calloway Labs, Fidelum Health and LC-AI. Jon lives in Mashpee.

Kim Morrison is the CEO of Encompass Community Services, a non-profit agency that provides behavioral health services to individuals in Santa Cruz County, CA. Kim oversees the strategic direction of the agency, including operations, programs, finance, HR, accounting and facilities. Kim joined Encompass in 2017 as Chief Financial Officer and brought extensive experience in corporate finance, accounting, forecasting, analysis and information systems. Prior to that, she was most recently at Monterey Peninsula Horticulture, with previous positions at Monterey Mushrooms and Sprint Nextel. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Boston University and a Master of Business Administration from Babson College in Wellesley, MA. Kim lives in Cotuit. 

Mashpee – Community Health Center is proud to welcome Olivia Lieberman, FNP and Helen M. Price, DNP, MSN, BSN, FNP-C to their team.

Olivia Lieberman, FNP is a board-certified family nurse practitioner with a strong foundation in critical care and acute medicine. She began her nursing career at Tufts Medical Center, where she spent six years as a registered nurse in critical care, developing advanced clinical skills and a deep commitment to compassionate, patient-centered care. Olivia earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Saint Anselm College in Manchester, NH, and went on to complete her Master of Science in Nursing at Simmons University in Boston. During her graduate clinical training, she worked closely with Community Health Center’s gynecology team, an experience that strengthened her passion for comprehensive, accessible care across the lifespan.

Helen M. Price, DNP, MSN, BSN, FNP-C, is a family nurse practitioner with 8 years of experience whose work centers on community-based primary care and graduate nursing education. She practices as a family nurse practitioner with a particular commitment to prevention and health promotion for diverse populations.  She earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice from Salve Regina University, and holds a Master of Science in Nursing and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing with a minor in Spanish, also from Salve Regina (2013, 2017, 2019). Helen also serves on the faculty of the family nurse practitioner program at Salve Regina University, where she leads curriculum design, develops innovative simulation and hybrid learning experiences, and mentors students as they transition into advanced practice and pursue certification.

Both Olivia and Helen are providing care in CHC’s Mashpee office. Nurse practitioners and physician assistants are highly trained, trusted providers who care for their own patients and work collaboratively with physicians. For more information about integrated health care services available at Community Health Center, and their offices in Mashpee, Falmouth, North Falmouth, Bourne, Sandwich and Centerville, visit CHCofCapeCod.org, or call (508) 477-7090. 

Mashpee, MA – Community Health Center of Cape Cod (CHC) is pleased to announce the start of its first-ever Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Residency Program. This 24-month post-graduate residency program is designed to ensure residents are fully prepared for primary care in a community health environment. This program supports the needs of residents who are committed to developing their careers as primary care providers through advanced training and on-the-job experience. 

CHC FNP residents will work at CHC’s main location in Mashpee and rotate to other CHC satellite locations to support ongoing training and provide increased access to primary care teams. FNP residents will receive didactic lectures and experiences incorporated into clinical practice, and receive support and guidance from a preceptor(s) to prepare them to deliver autonomous and high-quality care for individuals with complex clinical needs across all life cycles. FNP residents will also advance their clinical skills, confidence, productivity and job satisfaction, as well as contribute to the health center’s mission and goals for workforce retention and well-being. Participation in the Residency Program includes a full-time paid position with a comprehensive benefits package.

“I am thrilled to begin one of the Cape’s only FNP residency programs within CHC to create a supportive and educational environment that provides practical experience for future clinicians of Cape Cod,” Community Health Center Chief Executive Officer Karen Gardner stated. “Our goal is to continually look for ways to improve our own organization’s retention and stability with the overall goal of serving our community. This program serves as a vehicle for growth in various ways, and we are thrilled to see it in action.”

CHC is committed to being a model of excellence in recruiting, developing and retaining highly-skilled, confident and compassionate providers who are equipped to meet the community’s needs. The entire organization is eager to begin the first cohort in fall of 2026. Applications are currently being accepted through March 31, 2026.  For more information, please visit chcofcapecod.org/fnpresidency or email CHCNPResidency@chcofcapecod.org.

Mashpee – Community Health Center of Cape Cod is proud to announce that they have been selected as one of six health centers across Eastern Massachusetts to receive funding from the Atrius Health Equity Foundation as part of the Massachusetts Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Residency Collaborative. This initiative supports the development of residency training programs designed to prepare and empower the next generation of primary care nurse practitioners.

Through this grant, Community Health Center will launch a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Residency Program that provides new nurse practitioners with advanced, hands-on clinical training, mentoring and professional development. The program will strengthen Community Health Center’s ability to meet the growing demand for primary care across the region.

“We are very grateful to have been selected to be a part of this fantastic program to help improve patient care,” said Karen Gardner, Chief Executive Officer of Community Health Center. “By investing in nurse practitioner training and development, this residency program will enhance access to care for our patients while supporting the long-term sustainability of the primary care workforce.” The Atrius Health Equity Foundation’s Massachusetts Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Residency Collaborative awarded $2.1 million in total funding to six community health organizations, including Community Health Center of Cape Cod, Brockton Neighborhood Health Center, DotHouse Health, HealthFirst Family Care Center, Mattapan Community Health Center and Upham’s Community Care.

Mashpee – Community Health Center is proud to announce a number of important staff promotions.

Dr. Kristy Brown has been promoted to medical director of the Mashpee Family Medicine and General Medicine departments. Dr. Brown has been a valued member of CHC since 2012. She previously served as associate medical director for quality improvement, helping guide CHC’s shift to a high-performing, risk-based health center. In her new role, Dr. Brown will work with CHC’s Mashpee team to streamline operations, enhance provider and staff satisfaction and improve patient experiences and outcomes.

Emily Falanga, PA-C has been promoted to director of clinical operations. Emily joined CHC in 2023 as a staff provider in the Mashpee Walk-in Department, and was named team lead in May 2024. Emily has established and refined protocols within walk-in and the broader organization, with an eye toward quality improvement and patient satisfaction. In her new role, Emily will directly supervise our nursing department and care management functions.

Community Health Center is also proud to announce the promotion of Dr. Emma Mattson to director of dental services. Dr. Mattson is passionate about community health and ensuring access to excellent dental care for everyone in the community. Dr. Mattson joined CHC in 2023 following clinical experiences at the University of New England College of Dental Medicine, Boston Healthcare for the Homeless and Tufts University.

Congratulations to these CHC staff members on their new roles. For more information about services available at Community Health Center, and their offices in Mashpee, Falmouth, North Falmouth, Bourne, Sandwich and Centerville, visit CHCofCapeCod.org, or call (508) 477-7090.

Mashpee – The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has awarded multiple commendations to Community Health Center (CHC) for outstanding quality improvement. Of more than 1,300 Federally Qualified Health Centers nationwide, CHC has consistently ranked among the nation’s highest-performing health centers, earning recognition every year since 2018. This year, CHC received Silver Certification as a Health Center Quality Leader, placing them in the top 20% nationwide based on quality measures implemented for their patients. In addition, CHC received the Advancing HIT for Quality Award, recognizing health centers that optimize Health Information Technology (HIT) services to enhance patient care. Community Health Center has been in the top 20% of health centers nationwide for the past four years, and was in the top 10% in both 2109 and 2020. 

“These recognitions reflect the dedication of our entire team to delivering the highest-quality care that truly makes a difference in people’s lives,” said Dr. Arshiya Seth, Chief Medical Officer and leader of CHC’s Quality Improvement department. “By embracing innovation and continuously striving to improve, we ensure that every patient we serve benefits from care that is not only accessible but also aligned with our mission to improve the health and well-being of our community.”

This year, CHC’s Quality Improvement team has implemented focused interventions that have resulted in measurable impact in areas such as hypertension, diabetes care, Medicare wellness visits and pharmacy capture rate, while advancing the health center’s commitment to health equity and reducing care gaps. These awards honor both the highest-performing health centers nationwide and those that have made significant quality improvement gains over the previous year.

Mashpee – Community Health Center is pleased to welcome Liam Willis as its new digital navigator and information technology help desk specialist. Liam joined CHC this summer and is already making an impact by helping patients navigate the digital tools that make accessing care easier and more convenient.

In his role, Liam assists patients with CHC’s virtual care platforms, including the MyChart patient portal, Zoom for telehealth visits and more. These tools give patients secure access to their health information, allow them to message their care team, request prescription refills, view test results, check the status of referrals, and connect with providers from the comfort of home. By guiding patients through these resources, Liam helps make health care more accessible, especially for patients who may need extra support using online health tools. Liam will be completing his Bachelor of Science Degree in computer science at University of Massachusetts Boston this December. His technical expertise and commitment to patient support reflect CHC’s dedication to reducing barriers to care and expanding the ways patients can connect with their care team. Community Health Center is grateful for a grant from Comcast’s Project UP to support this initiative. 

Bourne – Community Health Center hosted its 25th Annual Golf Tournament at Pocasset Golf Club on Monday, September 8. More than 130 golfers participated in the event, raising funds to support Community Health Center’s mission to improve the health of the community through the provision of patient-centered, high quality, compassionate health care to all, regardless of ability to pay. The Tournament raised over $105,000 for Community Health Center’s programs and services, the highest amount in the event’s history.

“We are so grateful for the incredible generosity from our community that has sustained this tournament for a quarter century,” said Karen Gardner, Chief Executive Officer at Community Health Center. “In this milestone year, the record-breaking funds raised will support expanded access to virtual health services, giving patients tools to monitor their health at home, access online interpreters, connect for acute health concerns and overcome barriers to care.”
 
Community Health Center is grateful for the generous support from the community for this event, including the following gold sponsors: BizChecks Payroll, Bucatino/Quarterdeck/Pilot House, Cape Cod 5, The Chart Room, Commonwealth Purchasing Group, Dr. Bruce and Mrs. Mady Donoff, Foundations Group Recovery Centers, Hilb Group, L. Enos Restorations, Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers, MEDCOM Architectural Group, Northland Residential, Raponi Drywall & Plastering, Slade Mortgage Group and Southern Middlesex Industries, Inc.

Chris Dinn, Ryan McLaughlin, Ann-Marie Siroonian and Gregory Siroonian placed first in the women’s/mixed division. Joey Andrews, Tyler Andrews, Corey Celeste and Ben Hixon placed first in the men’s division. More information about Community Health Center’s Golf Tournament can be found at CHCofCapeCod.org/golf.