Rich Napolitano of Methuen was recently appointed the new chair of the National Association of Community Health Centers’ Advocacy Task Force.
Napolitano, who serves as Greater Lawrence Family Health Center’s senior vice president of external relations and chief marketing and development officer, said he is looking forward to working with the national Association’s Grassroots Advocacy team and the Health Center Advocacy Network.
“Community health centers face many challenges and need to continue working collaboratively so our needs are heard loud and clear,” Napolitano explains. “Our collective voice needs to be even stronger as we face these challenges together for our staff, our communities and, most importantly, those who need us most, our patients.”
At Greater Lawrence Family Health Center, where he has served since 2014, Napolitano and his team are responsible for marketing and communications, public relations, development and fundraising, grants and contracts administration, legislative affairs and community relations.
Napolitano has represented GLFHC and its patients in local initiatives such as the City of Lawrence Mayor’s Health Task Force Executive Committee and as a founding board member of the Lawrence Partnership, currently serving on the Lawrence Partnership Advisory Council. In addition, Napolitano is on the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers Governmental Affairs Committee and is the co-chair of the National Association of Community Health Centers’ Healthcare for the Homeless Committee and sits on its Health Policy Committee.
“I cannot think of anyone better to shepherd the NACHC Advocacy Task Force than Rich,” said GLFHC President and CEO John M. Silva. “On the local, state and national levels, Rich consistently pursues policies and funding initiatives that allow community health centers to innovate and provide quality, affordable and equitable care.”
Napolitano has more than 25 years of experience in nonprofit management roles, specifically focusing on advancement programs, strategic planning and operations. He has a certificate for the Geiger Gibson Fellowship in Community Health Policy and Leadership from the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health, and a certificate in Leading Product Development from Harvard University. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a master’s degree in Administration from Saint Michael’s College in Vermont.