Blue Shield of California Foundation Announces New Group of Clinic Leadership Institute Participants

Women’s Community Clinic’s Anita Zamora Selected to Participate in Innovative Leadership Training Program

San Francisco, February 11, 2009 - Blue Shield of California Foundation today announced 34 community healthcare professionals from around the state will participate in the 2009-2010 class of its Clinic Leadership Institute (CLI), an innovative program designed to identify and cultivate the next generation of community clinic leaders.

Anita Zamora, Clinical Program Coordinator at the Women’s Community Clinic, will be a member of the 2009-2010 CLI class. Clinic Executive Director Carlina Hansen is currently a member of CLI’s inaugural 2008-2009 class.

“The men and women who participate in the Clinic Leadership Institute have demonstrated a long-term commitment to assuring families in California communities have access to health care when they need it,” said Crystal Haying, BSCF president and CEO. “Our goal is to invest in tomorrow’s leaders today to ensure that we have a strong and vibrant network of community clinics now and into the future.”

Over the next 18 months, CLI participants will attend six intensive, multi-day learning seminars that include modules on finance management, strategy development and leadership skills. The knowledge gained in the intensive learning seminars will be reinforced through special project work designed to support each participant’s own clinic.

“California’s community clinics provide comprehensive, quality healthcare services to millions of Californians who might otherwise not have access to care,” Hayling said. “BSCF is proud to offer emerging clinic leaders tools to help them be more effective, as well as the opportunity to build networks that will amplify their individual impacts.”

Since 2003, BSCF has given more than $30 million to fund the work of community clinics across the state. BSCF launched CLI in 2007 with a commitment to invest in five years of the executive learning program, designed and administered by the nationally-recognized Center for the Health Professions at the University of California, San Francisco.

Read more about the Clinic Leadership Institute