Metropolitan Family Health Network, Inc, Grand Opening Celebration

On Thursday, November 2, 2006, State and local officials joined patients, staff and representatives of local hospitals and businesses for the gala “Grand Opening” of the new Metropolitan Family Health Network, Inc. (MFHN).

MFHN Board Chairperson Gustavo Adrianzen and Jersey City Family Health Center Board Chairperson Myrtle Maundy welcomed New Jersey Health & Senior Service Commissioner Fred M. Jacobs, M.D., J.D. —long-time supporter of Federally Qualified Health Centers in New Jersey —as the guest speaker. Other guests included: MFHN Board Members Rev. Ethel Holmes, Mario Crisito, M.D. and Daniel Weiss; Assemblywoman Joan M. Quigley (Legislative District 32); St. Mary Hospital Consulting Director Harvey Holzberg; St. Mary Hospital Chief Operating Officer Diane Johnston; United Way of Hudson County President Dan Altilio; Jersey City Ward F Councilwoman Viola Richardson; and many others.

In his comments, Commissioner Jacobs acknowledged the work of MFHN physicians.

“Today, appropriately, you have chosen to celebrate your Grand Opening by paying special tribute to the physicians who are the heart of the services that you provide. The dedicated physicians who work here at the Metropolitan Family Health Network serve as the family doctors for this community. If you were to look at the resumes of the doctors who work here, you would see that they have been providing community health care for 15, 16, 18 and 20 years. In fact, collectively, they have provided more than 100 years of health services at the community level. They certainly deserve our thanks. It is a special physician who is willing to dedicate his or practice to serving the medically underserved.

The residents of this community face financial, language, cultural and other barriers to health care. Without the care provided by these doctors, many of the residents of this community would either be going to the Emergency Department for routine health care or they would be going without health care.”

Each MFHN physician was recognized with a “Certificate of Appreciation” presented to them at the event by Commissioner Jacobs and MFHN Medical Director Patrick Beaty, M.D.