Leadership Kitsap’s Healthy Community Day was held at St. Michael Medical Center, Silverdale, on January 14, 2022. We safely met with leaders of health programs active in Kitsap County, explored the impact of social inequity, and discussed the importance of resilience as a leadership capacity and how it relates to community health.
Chad Melton, President, St. Michael Medical Center welcomed the class and shared the new hospital’s increased community impact and expanded access to care. In their first year of operation in Silverdale, amid the pandemic, St. Michael Medical Center campus provided high-quality care to over 138K patients. The day included an outdoor walk and tour of the Healing Garden, a resource open to the public, by Sarah Chamberlin (LK20) with the Virginia Mason Franciscan Health Foundation.
Lunch was hosted by Holly Ridge Center, followed by a discussion of health care and social inequity facilitated by Dedra Miller (LK15), Executive Director Holly Ridge Center.
Kitsap County Public Health District Health Officer, Dr. Gib Morrow, shared Kitsap Community Health Priorities collaborative process to improve health in Kitsap County. Jay Christian, Assistant Chief Central Kitsap Fire & Rescue, gave an overview of Kitsap’s Fire and Emergency Management Services. Kelly Schwab, Program Supervisor for Peninsula 2-1-1, shared the valuable resources available through 2-1-1’s free confidential community service now housed at the United Way of Kitsap County. United Way Executive Director Carl Borg shared this new partnership born out of the COVID crisis, as well as an update on Pendleton Place’s promising housing first program model to address homelessness in our community.
The day ended with a reflection on the Positive Leadership capacity of Resilience with Lowell Sweet (LK04). It was a very impactful day of learning about Kitsap’s collaborative efforts to keep our community healthy and resilient!
Thank you to our Challenge Day sponsors Virginia Mason Franciscan Health St. Michael Medical Center and Holly Ridge Center.