Michael G. Griffin, PhD, president and CEO of DePaul Community Health Centers (DCHC), will receive the Louisiana Primary Care Association’s (LPCA) 2021 Community Health Care Excellence Award during the LPCA’s 38th Annual Continuing Education Virtual Conference on Nov. 11 at 1:30 p.m. The Eric B. Taylor Leadership Award was established in 2012 in recognition of Taylor’s contributions to the health center movement as executive director of the SWLA Center for Health Services.
The award is presented to an outstanding non-provider staff member of a Louisiana Federally Qualified Health Center who exemplifies passion and commitment to improving the care and quality of life for health center patients. The award recognizes a nominee’s years of service, developing responsibilities, and specific contributions to the health center community.
Griffin’s most recent accomplishment surrounds establishing a clinical experience agreement with A.T. Still University (ATSU) designed to train students from ATSU’s physician assistant programs. The institution of osteopathic medicine has locations in Mesa, Ariz., Santa Maria, Cal., and Kirksville, Mo. The first cohort of students began their year of training at DCHC in September 2021, and additional cohorts will arrive each subsequent fall.
Students, in their second year of instruction, will train on-site with DCHC, where they will participate in five clinical rotations. The clinical rotations include the disciplines of family medicine, internal medicine, women’s health, pediatrics, and behavioral health. DCHC will also assist with securing emergency medicine, general surgery, and an elective rotation for the ATSU students. DCHC operates 11 health centers in the greater New Orleans area.
Licensed PAs and other licensed providers at DCHC, along with designated ATSU faculty, are coordinating and supervising instruction and clinical rotations.
Previous accomplishments for Griffin include the following:
-Receiving from Xavier Becerra, U.S. Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, and U.S. Congressman Troy Carter a grant of $262,000 annually over a three-year period to establish the Insurance Navigator Program at DCHC (August 2021).
-Facilitating a discussion about the success of Medicaid expansion at DCHC’s Carrollton health center with Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards, Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers, New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, Maine Gov. Janet Mills, and Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly (December 2018).
-Commemorating the signing of the Affordable Care Act at DCHC’s Carrollton health center with Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives (April 2017).
He serves on several boards, including as president-elect of the LPCA, board chair of the Louisiana Primary Care Accountable Care Organization, United Healthcare FQHC Advisory Board, and Aetna Better Health of Louisiana Provider Advisory Council.
Additionally, he serves on the local nonprofit board of Legatus New Orleans and the New Orleans African American Museum.
Griffin earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Dillard University in New Orleans, holds a Master of Science-Public Health degree from Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tenn., and received a Doctor of Science in Administration-Health Services from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.