Patients, caregivers, and staff members of Dot House Health celebrated the center’s many contributions to Dorchester during an annual party held on May 15 at Dorchester Brewing Company. The ‘Dot Fest’ drew several hundred attendees to toast a history that reaches back to 1887 during the settlement house movement.
“My parents thought it was important for me to get not only my health care at Dot House, but also be a member and participate in the back of house programming there,” said board member Anissa Essaibi George.
Susan Lapaglia and Bill Halpin, both of South Boston Health Center, hold up caricatures done during the gala.
“My husband and I have done that as well with our children, and so have my sisters…Beyond that, nurses at Dot Health literally saved my child’s life 17 years ago. Our staff at Dot House is our greatest asset.”
CEO Michelle Nadow, who has been with the health center for 20 years in different roles, said they are facing challenging times from all fronts – while at the same time seeing 2,000 more patients last year than in the previous year.
“We are going to dig in and be the problem- solvers we always have been,” she said. “We will continue to be the anchor for good health care in our community – which they need and deserve.”
She also noted important changes to operations and efficiency, saying in a time where there is a shortage of primary care doctors, they have added 13 doctors and can get a new patient in within 4 o 6 weeks.
“That is unheard of,” she said. “That has resulted in 200 new patients a month added to the more than 24,000 patients we saw last year. We are part of the solution to the primary care backlog in Boston.”
Board Chair Megan Sonderegger noted that she has always supported health centers like Dot House, whether as a nurse or a mom.
“As a nurse and a Dorchester resident and mom, I’m a total supporter and fan of federally qualified community health centers,” she said. “Whether my neighbors or my family have been in Dorchester 200 years or 2 weeks, they deliver high-quality health care access where they live. That’s how we help people reach their potential.”
Above, Dot House’s Mario Zepeda got things started during the speaking program. Seth Daniel photo
Damian Redden, Dr. Salim Kabawat, Lauren Salvadore, and Khalfani Knibbs, all of Quest
Diagnostics. Seth Daniel photo
