PRESS RELEASE

Chief Nurse Midwife Contributes Expertise to Women’s Health Initiative
New Jersey Establishes Office of Women’s Health

For Immediate Release: Monday, May 19, 2003-PLAINFIELD, NEW JERSEY- The Plainfield Health Center, one of seventeen Federally Qualified Health Centers in New Jersey, dedicated to providing cost effective primary health care services for the residents of Plainfield, Elizabeth, and surrounding communities, announced today that Shirley White-Walker, Chief Nurse-Midwife and Director of Patient Services, was selected to serve on an ad hoc organizational advisory committee for the newly established New Jersey Office on Women’s Health. The committee was comprised of leaders in the public and private health sectors, who are committed to collaboration, advocacy, education and the creation of policy to address health care needs of women in the state.

As part of this committee, Ms. White-Walker offered a wealth of expertise on women’s health issues. She also provided experience from her work at the Plainfield Health Center, which has resulted in effective models of care to address health disparities, especially amongst minority women. In addition to identifying health care needs, Ms. White-Walker participated in the formulation of policy recommendations to the new office, being coordinated by Ms. Peri Nearon, in Trenton.

“In my position at the Plainfield Health Center, I see general and female specific health care problems affecting women, especially minority women, on a daily basis,” said Ms. White-Walker. “Much of our patient population is at disproportionately high risk for diseases ranging from lung cancer to heart disease, in addition to female specific diseases, such as breast cancer. I believe that by bringing the baseline data and statistics to the forefront, and creating awareness, we are taking the first steps towards answering many unmet health care needs of women in the State,” said Ms. White-Walker.

To learn more about the Plainfield Health Center’s Women’s Wellness program call 908.753.6401, extension 171. To learn more about the New Jersey Women’s Health Division of Family Services, contact the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services in Trenton.

About The Plainfield Health Center

The Plainfield Health Center, incorporated as the Plainfield Neighborhood Health Services Corporation, was born in 1969 under the auspices of the 1960's Model Cities Neighborhood Program. Led by a dedicated group of community activists, the Center was initially created to provide accessible health care to the residents of the West End of Plainfield.

Since then, the Center has grown, added more services, increased the number of specialties of professional health staff, and expanded its reach to the entire City of Plainfield, the City of Elizabeth, and neighboring communities. Today, the Plainfield Health Center serves more than 20,000 patients annually. Its total care program provides adult medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, adolescent medicine, school based services, dentistry and ancillary support services.

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