The Board of Directors of Southwest Community Health Center (SWCHC) in Bridgeport has elected Fairfield University School of Nursing Associate Professor Philip Greiner, DNSc, RN, to a one-year renewable position as Chairman of the Board.

Community health centers are federally funded to provide health services to all patients, regardless of their ability to pay for care. Sliding fees are charged based on the person's ability to pay. SWCHC serves a catchment area including the south and west portions of Bridgeport, although any person can obtain health services at SWCHC sites. Services include medical, dental, women's health, behavioral health, and pediatric care.

"The quality of care is equal to or better than services from private or group practices," said Dr. Greiner, a Fairfield resident. "Community health centers are the providers of last resort for uninsured and underinsured persons, which fits closely with the Jesuit mission of Fairfield University and the School of Nursing."

Dr. Greiner is also the director of the University's School of Nursing Health Promotion Center, which provides free education and health screenings in Bridgeport. He has been a member of SWCHC's Board of Directors for five years. This year he received the 15th Annual Margaret Gray Award for "outstanding leadership and significant contributions as a member of the Board of Directors."

Prior to joining Fairfield University, Dr. Greiner worked as a postdoctoral scholar at the University of Kentucky Sanders-Brown Center on Aging and its College of Nursing, an associate professor and coordinator for Community Health Nursing at the University of Pittsburgh, and an assistant professor at Villanova University's College of Nursing.

Dr. Greiner holds a bachelor of science degree from Albright College, as well as a bachelor's, master's and doctor of nursing science degrees from the University of Pennsylvania. He has published numerous healthcare articles and has engaged in several research projects, including "Lead-free Families Project," "Step Up to Health," and "The Nun Study: A longitudinal study of Alzheimer's disease and aging."

The mission of the School of Nursing is to establish a caring, diverse academic learning environment that provides one of the world's highest standards of nursing education. The School's curriculum prepares future nurses at the baccalaureate and master's level in an exciting environment that not only includes classroom and clinical laboratory learning experiences on campus, but also opportunities to care for patients at numerous clinical sites. These sites are located in hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, community agencies and the Health Promotion Center. Additionally, students are prepared for leadership roles in all health care settings. Other key aspects of the learning that takes place in the School of Nursing are the close relationship to clinical sites that offer internship programs for students during the summer months, the opportunity to interact with national nursing leaders who are present in the school at key points in time, and the study abroad programs which add to the value of a nursing education. This year, the School is celebrating the 35th anniversary of its founding. For more information, visit www.fairfield.edu, or call (203) 254-4000, ext. 2701.

Posted On: 08-09-2005 10:08 AM

Volume: 38 Number: 12