LCHC honors Walsh at annual meeting

LYNNThe Lynn Community Health Center celebrated its 36th Annual Meeting Oct. 10.John Auerbach, state commissioner of the department of public health, was the keynote speaker, and discussed important ways community health centers contribute to the strategic direction of the department.The meeting is an opportunity for the Health Center to highlight its achievements of the past year, to recognize staff who have achieved milestone anniversaries, and to honor members of the Lynn community.”One of the things I love most about our Annual Meeting is the opportunity to recognize and publicly thank our staff for the incredible and wonderful work they do,” said Lori Berry, executive director of the Lynn Community Health Center. “They are extremely dedicated to our patients and to each other.”Bob Dempkowski, LDHC’s deputy director, was recognized for 30 years of service.This year’s John S. Moran Award for community service was presented to state Rep. Steve Walsh by the Rev. Jane Gould. Walsh was honored specifically for his work on Beacon Hill on the Oxycontin Commission, youth violence, school-based health centers, community and economic development, and the arts in Lynn.”Steve is extremely active in helping make Lynn a better place to live and work,” Gould said.The health center also awarded the Public Health Advocacy Award to William Eaves, DMD, the founding director of the health center’s dental clinic. His leadership has helped the dental clinic to grow into a practice that now has over 21,500 visits each year.