What's New

Dr. Gates Achieves Board Certification

Gayla D. Gates, MD, has successfully completed the Certification Exam of the American Board of Family Medicine (ABFM). Board certification confers a standard of excellence in knowledge and practice to physicians who not only certify via the examination process, but who also work diligently on the maintenance of these skills during the seven-year cycle between examinations.

Dr. Gates has practiced out of the East Dayton Health Center since 2008. She loves being a family physician, values the doctor-patient relationship, and takes every opportunity to educate patients during office time.

Exercise is Medicine™

Community Health Centers of Greater Dayton (CHCGD), in collaboration with Public Health-Dayton & Montgomery County, successfully implemented an Exercise is Medicine™ program. Exercise is Medicine (EIM) is an initiative focused on encouraging primary care physicians and other health care providers to include exercise when designing treatment plans for patients. EIM is committed to the belief that exercise and physical activity are integral in the prevention and treatment of diseases and should be regularly assessed as part of all medical care.

The EIM program began on June 1, and has focused on developing a referral path between the Community Health Centers and Public Health’s Healthy Lifestyle Center. To facilitate referrals, an exercise prescription pad was developed and distributed to CHCGD physicians and nurse practitioners. Research studies have conclusively shown that a recommendation to engage in physical activity combined with a prescription is more effective than a recommendation alone.

As of August 31, forty-five CHCGD patients had scheduled appointments and completed the comprehensive baseline fitness assessment.

New Physician at Drew Health Center

We are pleased to announce that Anita Lewis-Sewell M.D. joined the staff of the Charles Drew Health Center in March!

Dr. Lewis-Sewell is a family practice physician and has spent the past 15 years working in community health centers in Fremont and Toledo, Ohio. Dr. Lewis-Sewell worked at Community Health Services in Fremont with Dr. Alvin Jackson who was selected by Governor Strickland to be the Director of Ohio Department of Health. Dr. Lewis-Sewell shares our passion for providing high-quality, affordable primary health care to those who need it the most.

Dr. Catanzarite is the New Medical Director

Michelle Catanzarite, MD, is the new medical director of Community Health Centers of Greater Dayton (CHCGD).

In her new role, Dr. Catanzarite will provide clinical leadership for the medical services provided at each of the three CHCGD sites. In addition to serving as medical director, Dr. Catanzarite will maintain her practice at the East Dayton Health Center.

Dr. Catanzarite joined East Dayton Health Center in 2006 following her residency at Miami Valley Hospital. She is a graduate of University of Pittsburgh and is a Board Certified Family Practice physician.

Dr. LeRoy is the new Vice Chair of the Dayton Foundation

Our own Gary LeRoy M.D. is the new vice chair of the Dayton Foundation. He has served as a Governing Board member of the Foundation since 2004 and chaired their Grants and Progams Committee. Dr. LeRoy is a physician at East Dayton Health Center and also the associate dean of Student Affairs at Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine.

Dr. LeRoy also serves on several other Boards including; Miami Valley Academy of Family Physicians, Hospice of Dayton, Reach Out of Montgomery County, and the Wright State University Alumni Association. He is also the Chief Medical Consultant for the City of Dayton Schools. Dr. LeRoy is a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians, the Ohio State Medical Association, the Ohio Academy of Family Physicians (Past President), and Phi Rho Sigma Medical Society.

Boonshoft Child Health Equity Study

The Boonshoft Child Health Equity Project is a Wright State University School of Medicine sponsored research study led by Shalini Forbis, MD, MPH. Dr. Forbis is a Pediatrician at Dayton Children’s Medical Center and a faculty member at Wright State University. This research project is looking at ways to improve communication with local pediatric patients and their families in an effort to improve patient outcomes. This study is specifically aimed at those patients that represent the underserved population of the Montgomery County. Dr. Forbis and colleagues will be working with area health centers to assess and teach the staff and physicians new ways to improve communication with their patients.

Charles R. Drew and East Dayton Health Centers were both chosen to participate in this study. We are excited to learn these new ways to communicate because we want to make sure that we are taking the very best care of our patients as well as meeting their needs, and the needs of their families. The research project started in July 2008 and will last until June 2010.