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In This Issue:
From left, Gary Gottlieb, Thomas M. Menino, Deval Patrick, Frederica Williams and John Fish, chairman and CEO, Suffolk Construction. Photo courtesy of Chris Aduama.
Hundreds of area residents and local officials gathered at a ceremonial groundbreaking for Whittier Street Health Center’s new, state-of-the-art facility. Located in the heart of Roxbury, the 79,000-square-foot space will be a medical home to thousands of patients in the community.
“Optimism, effort, hope and hard work brought us to this day, and folks in the community deserve world-class health care,” said Governor Deval Patrick.
According to the health center, the federally and privately funded project promises to be an economic boon, creating 450 construction jobs and 50 full-time jobs at the center, providing work opportunities to a community facing high poverty rates.
“This is exactly what the stimulus money was designed to do; get these kinds of projects off the ground and create jobs,” said Congressman Michael Capuano.
BWH has a long-standing clinical affiliation with the health center and is helping to fund the project. Calling the relationship with Whittier Street “a treasure,” Partners President and CEO Gary Gottlieb, MD, MBA, said, “We have the ability to make change and reduce health disparities.”
Each speaker praised Whittier Street President and CEO Frederica Williams for her leadership and vision in the creation of the new center.
Mayor Thomas M. Menino, who called the celebration a highlight of his career, added, “This health center is Boston.”