JTCHS has been a source for better health for the Miami-Dade community for over 50 years; Annie Neasman has been at the helm of the organization for 20 years

(Black PR Wire) MIAMI, FL — The Consortium for a Healthier Miami-Dade joins the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health (OMH) and others in recognizing April as National Minority Health Month. This year's theme is Be the Source for Better Health, a fitting opportunity to put the spotlight on the hundreds of organizations in Miami-Dade County working tirelessly to improve the health outcomes of our communities, like the Jessie Trice Community Health System, Inc. (JTCHS).

For over five decades, JTCHS has been a source of better health for the Miami-Dade community, providing its residents with accessible and affordable healthcare. As one of Miami-Dade County's leading federally qualified community healthcare centers, JTCHS holds the distinction of being the first Federally Qualified Health Center in the state and the fifth in the entire nation. Initially starting from a humble trailer, JTCHS has grown exponentially over the years. Currently, JTCHS owns and operates eleven comprehensive primary care centers, a 40-bed Women's Residential Center for substance use, and has established a presence in two universities and forty school-based health suites.

JTCHS specializes in delivering a wide range of healthcare services to enhance the well-being of the community. These services include dentistry, family medicine, nutrition, HIV/AIDS, behavioral health, transportation, pharmacy, healthy start, obstetric & gynecological care, school-based health, community health promotions, health & wellness center, pediatrics, and ancillary services.

For the past 20 years, the community health system has been under the guidance of an exceptional healthcare leader, Annie Neasman. Neasman has more than 40 years of experience in the healthcare industry and a distinguished career in public service, focusing on serving underserved communities in Florida.

Before joining JTCHS as the CEO and President, she served in numerous healthcare leadership roles, including the former Deputy Secretary of Health/Chief Public Health Nurse for the Florida Department of Health (FDOH) in Tallahassee. Additionally, she served as the Deputy District Administrator for FDOH, covering Miami-Dade and Monroe County, and as the Administrator for the Department of Nursing in Jackson Memorial Hospital System.

In addition to her professional experience, she is well-known for her commitment, passion, and advocacy on state and local levels. As a longtime advocate for improved healthcare outcomes in Florida's underserved population, she serves on various boards, including the Florida Community Loan Fund and the Florida Association of Community Health Centers. She is a former board member of the Miami Children Initiative and served as the former President of the National Black Nurses Association – Miami Chapter.

Neasman's invaluable impact as a healthcare leader and advocate has garnered her numerous awards and recognition on national, statewide, and local levels. She has been inducted into prestigious halls of fame, such as the Grassroots Hall of Fame for the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) and the Huron Hall of Fame.

A graduate of Florida A&M University School of Nursing in Tallahassee, Neasman holds a master's degree in adult education from Florida International University. She is a proud member of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and actively participates in the Mount Hermon African Methodist Episcopal Church. Neasman made her retirement public earlier this year and is passing the baton to Ryan Hawkins, an experienced healthcare executive who will ensure the continued progress and advancement of JTCHS.

About the Consortium for a Healthier Miami-Dade

Established two decades ago, the Consortium for a Healthier Miami-Dade has made a considerable impact on the health of the local community through partnerships, programs, initiatives, and policies that focus on improving health outcomes and promoting wellness across Miami-Dade County.

Since its inception, the Consortium has been a driving force in implementing impactful initiatives, from nutrition programs to fostering healthy behaviors and increasing resources for the community.

The Consortium for a Healthier Miami-Dade is comprised of over 400 organizations, all united by the common belief that through collaboration and prevention-focused initiatives, Miami-Dade County residents can live longer, happier, and healthier lives. The Consortium initiatives are guided by the goals and objectives established in Healthy People 2030, the blueprint for health in the United States.

The mission of the Consortium is to be a major catalyst for healthy living in Miami-Dade through the support and strengthening of sustainable policies, systems, and environments. For more information on the Consortium for a Healthier Miami-Dade, visit www.healthymiamidade.org.

About Jessie Trice Community Health System

The Jessie Trice Community Health System, Inc. (JTCHS) is one of Miami-Dade County's preeminent federally qualified community health care centers, governed by a remarkably dedicated Board of Directors (51% of which are users of the medical and dental services) and a diverse, incredibly talented, committed family of providers and staff. The 1st Federally Qualified Health Center in the state and 5th in the nation, Jessie Trice Community Health System, Inc., is a Florida 501 (c) 3, not-for-profit organization that has been serving Miami-Dade County since 1967.

JTCHS knows and specializes in comprehensive health, offering a myriad of services to improve the health of the community. This includes: dentistry, family medicine, nutrition, HIV/AIDS, behavioral health, transportation, pharmacy, healthy start, obstetric & gynecological care, school-based health, community health promotions, health & wellness center, pediatrics, and ancillary services. For more information on the Jessie Trice Community Health System, call 305-637-6400 or visit jtchs.org. In addition, to stay connected with news and information about their services and facilities, follow Jessie Trice Community Health System on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @JessieTriceCHS.

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