Baptist Health Announces Expanded Commitment to Community Health

Jacksonville, Florida, July 12, 2006 -- As a locally created and governed organization, Baptist Health has always sought to improve the community's health, both inside and outside our hospital walls. Whether through health screenings, public education or service to underserved populations, the people of Baptist are proud to have helped save lives and improve the quality of life throughout Northeast Florida. Now Baptist Health is expanding that commitment with the appointment of dedicated leadership that will enhance the system's strategic focus on the community's health.

Heading the expanded initiative will be Michael Lanier, MA, who was recently named vice president of Community Health for Baptist Health. Lanier, who holds a master's degree in psychology, has served as system director for Baptist Behavioral Health since 1994, and has twice chaired the health system-wide United Way campaign.

Joining Lanier will be Lynn Turner Sherman, RRT, who was recently appointed director of Community Health Initiatives. Sherman has most recently served Baptist Health as a community health educator for an adolescent intervention and mentoring program called "Tipping the Scale," created in partnership with The Bridge of Northeast Florida in 2000.

Baptist Health President and CEO Hugh Greene says, "As the community grows, so do health care needs. Our commitment to community health has been longstanding and is fundamental to our mission. Also, these efforts strongly reflect our core value of community advocacy. For example, we have been an integral part of programs such as JaxCare, our Pediatric Diabetes Center, the I.M. Sulzbacher Center for the Homeless, and 'Tipping the Scale.'

"For more than 50 years, we have been providing outstanding medical care within our hospitals, as well as caring for those who may never walk through our doors. Now we are giving an even greater level of focus on improving the health of our community. A Community Health Task Force of our board, comprised of Chris Milton, chair, Carol Thompson and Richard Sissisky, has provided important strategic direction to these efforts. I am very excited that Michael Lanier and Lynn Sherman will assume leadership and take our community health initiatives to a new level."

Lanier says aligning community health initiatives under focused leadership will enable Baptist Health to be more proactive in its outreach efforts. He states, "As Jacksonville's most comprehensive health care provider, Baptist Health is unique in its ability to serve our most vulnerable populations in every stage of life. I am honored to be able to take the considerable energy, talent and goodwill within Baptist Health and direct it into programs that will benefit people throughout our region."

Greene states, "The people of Baptist Health have always given of their time and energy to countless efforts in the community outside of their regular work. They are the backbone of our organization, and through these initiatives, we want to continue to recognize, support and applaud all they do. Our intent is to build upon all of those efforts to make an even greater difference in the lives of people in our community."