Community Medical Clinic CEO recognized with annual leadership award

CAMDEN, S.C. - Nov. 26, 2019 - PRLog -- The chief executive officer of Community Medical Clinic of Kershaw County (CMC) was recently recognized with leadership award from Live Healthy South Carolina (LHSC).

Susan Witkowski, CMC's longtime CEO and an ardent advocate for community health, was awarded the Rick Foster Leadership Award this October. The award is given to an individual who has served as a champion for health and health equity at a local, regional or state level.

The LHSC Awards program recognizes individuals and organizations that exemplify the highest levels of commitment to improving the health and wellbeing of communities they serve.

The Rick Foster Leadership Award is named for Dr. Rick Foster, senior advisor for population health improvement for the South Carolina Hospital Association and executive director of the Alliance for a Healthier South Carolina, the organization that led the development of the LHSC collaborative.

"I am humbled and honored to receive an award named for Dr. Rick Foster," Witkowski said. "He has been a teacher, supporter and champion for LiveWell Kershaw and the Community Medical Clinic of Kershaw County."

Among her many accomplishments and activities, Witkowski served as the principal investigator of a population health incubator funded through the Department of Health and Human Services, implemented monthly training for her staff to understand concepts related to population health and equity, co-designed equity bus tours through which participants see firsthand the challenges faced by residents, and is leading an effort to develop interactive web maps to understand and close service gaps throughout the county. She also led CMC's efforts to bring mental health counselors and school based-health centers using telehealth connectivity to all high schools in Kershaw County.

Witkowski regularly participates in workshops and other events that address dismantling systemic barriers to achieving optimal community health. She consistently educates community leaders, residents and the medical profession of existing disparities. She is an active board member with the South Carolina Free Clinic Association and a founding member of the LiveWell Kershaw Coalition.

LHSC is a statewide collaborative to improve the health of all South Carolinians by establishing the first ever state health improvement plan for the state. LHSC is designed to guide individuals and organizations across the state to work in concert to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to achieve a healthier life. This blueprint is built around five strategic priority areas, including resilient children, chronic health conditions, behavioral health, healthcare transformation, and factors that affect health.

About CMC
Established in 1998, CMC is a community leader in providing healthcare resources and preventative care to the uninsured in Kershaw County. Learn more at http://www.cmcofkc.org.