Representatives of all six CHNAs (Community Health Network Areas) in Southeastern Massachusetts gathered at the Raddison Hotel in Plymouth for the third Inter-CHNA conference on November 30, 2012. The conference focused on collaborative efforts between CHNAs and local healthcare institutions, including many of the 13 hospitals that serve the Region. Following opening remarks by Southeast Area Department of Public Health Regional Director Ron O'Connor and an overview of CHNAs by Dave Weed of the Fall River Partners for a Healthier Community, DPH Director of the Division of Prevention and Wellness Lea Susan Ojamaa set the issue of collaboration within the Department's overall goals. Her presentation was followed by brief descriptions of recent examples of collaboration by Andrea Holleran of Jordan Health Systems, Julie Kembel of South Shore Hospital, Beverly Costa-Ciavola of Cape Cod Neighborhood Support Coalition, Kerry Mello of Southcoast Hospitals and Martha Gonzalez of the New Bedford Community Health Center, Monique Aleman, Deborah Rogers and Brittany Lynch of Steward Hospitals, and Hilary Lovell of Signature Brockton Hospital and Joyce Dwyer of Old Colony YMCA. Maddie Ribble of the Mass. Public Health Association also made some remarks following lunch. Click here for a video of the conference. Click here for photos of the March Inter-CHNA conference. For more information, contact Ron O'Connor at contact Southeast Regional DPH Director Ron O'Connor at 508-984-0615

(Top row, left) Partners School Wellness coordinator Marcia Picard talks with New Bedford Allies coordinator Elizabeth Latham and Martha Gonzalez of the New Bedford Community Health Center. (Top row, center) Pat Anderson, right, of Ship's Cove Apartments engages another participant during a break. (Top row, right) Joan Giancarski, right, of the Partners steering committee talks with a representative of Morton Hospital. (Row two, left) SE DPH Regional Director Ron O'Connor talks with Jordan Health Systems V-P of External Affairs Andrea Holleran before she gives her presentation. (Row three) Lea Susan Ojamaa of DPH, Beverly Costa-Ciavola of Cape Cod, and Julie Kembel of South Shore Hospital give their presentations. (Row four, center) Maddie Ribble of MPHA talks about the Prevention Trust Fund. (Row two, right) Joe Paneiro-Langer of the Brockton Neighborhood Health Center talks with a colleague before the conference begins. (Row four, right) Brittany Lynch and Wendy Merriam of Saint Anne's Hospital respond to questions at their display table before the conference. (Bottom row) Annemarie Sharkey, Brittany Bertone and Angela Braz of Partners lead the group in a stretch break before Wendy Garf-Lipp talks about collaborative efforts that are underway with Walgreens Pharmacy on the the prescription medication take-back program.