An exciting life change
Post date: September 3, 2013 8:30 AM
By Bridget McCandless, President/CEO of the Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City
Hello friends, new acquaintances and readers,
I am so honored to join the Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City’s team. As anyone who has worked with this organization knows, they are the most dedicated and genuine people around.
I’m also excited to work with the nonprofit organizations that HCF funds to serve the uninsured and underserved. Coming from a nonprofit myself, I know how dedicated you are to the mission of eliminating barriers to quality health. I look forward to learning from you and dreaming about what our communities can be in the future.
I come from a background of private practice as an Internist, or adult medicine specialist. In my hometown of Independence, Mo. I was honored to start a free clinic to serve low-income, uninsured adults with chronic medical illnesses. Our clinic focused on relationship building as the baseline for helping patients approach the important tasks of complex disease management and “life change.” My patients taught me everything I know about connection, hard work and resiliency. Over time, I came to think of my specialty as, “Poverty Medicine.”
While joining HCF means that I have an amazing opportunity to work with so many people moving toward a healthier community, it also means that I have to leave my daily work at the clinic. I know that this has been challenging for my patients. However, they have been incredibly proud and supportive of my new position. They have offered to be a sounding board for new ideas and efforts whenever I need them. Rest assured, I will be checking back with my cheerleaders as I now embark on my own “life change.”
As my friend Kurt told me, “You have mountains to climb for all of us who can't climb them ourselves...don't let us down! (like you ever would).”
I look forward to climbing those mountains with all of you.
Bridget
HCF's Local Health Buzz Blog aims to discuss health and health policy issues that impact the uninsured and underserved in our service area. To submit a blog, please contact HCF Communications Officers, Jennifer Sykes, at jsykes@hcfgkc.org.
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About Bridget's Blog
Bridget McCandless, MD, MBA, FACP, HCF President/CEO
Bridget McCandless is the President/CEO of the Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City and is a Board Certified Internal Medicine Specialist with an interest in chronic disease management and poverty medicine. She shares her thoughts and perspectives on health and policy issues that impact the health of the community as a whole.
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Comments
Your friend Kurt summed it up very nicely.
Ken
Bridget
It is wonderful to have your perspective, values and dedication guiding the work of the foundation. I'm looking forward to working with you, to create healthy communities for the people we serve at Samuel U. Rodgers Health Center.
Sue
Bridget
It is wonderful to have your perspective, values and dedication guiding the work of the foundation. I'm looking forward to working with you, to create healthy communities for the people we serve at Samuel U. Rodgers Health Center.
Sue
So glad to have someone with your background and experience and passion ow board with HCF here in KC. Looking forward to working with you on pro-active ways to serve the least among us as opposed to reactive responses. You have great people to work with as well, particularly Andres Dominguez. All the best!
The clean indoor air advocates consider you "one of us" and we offer a hearty congratulations on your move to the Healthcare Foundation of Greater KC. Thank you for your commitment to policies that protect all Kansas City area residents from the dangers of secondhand smoke and provide tobacco free public places.
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