Participants in the statewide CHNAs (Community Health Network Areas) gathered for the fifth Inter-CHNA Gathering at the Waltham Public Library on October 30, 2015. David Aronstein of the Boston Alliance for Community Health and Wendy Garf-Lipp of Greater Fall River Partners for a Healthier Community emceed the event. The gathering featured Commissioner Monica Bharel, MD, of the MA Department of Public Health (DPH) who spoke following Lea Susan Ojamaa, Director of the DPH Division of Prevention and Wellness. Ben Wood, Acting Director of the Office of Community Health Planning and Engagement, also responded to questions from the group. Participants were invited to get to know others at the gathering and to share some of their best practices with the others in attendance. At the end of the session, the recent award of the Robert Wood Johnson Culture of Health Prize to both Everett and Lawrence, Massachusetts, was also announced. Click here for a two-hour video of the gathering. Click here for photos and video of the InterCHNA gathering in Milton in April 2015 and links to the three other gatherings. For further information about the statewide Inter-CHNA organization, contact David Aronstein at 617-279-2240 ,or Wendy Garf-Lipp at 508-324-7900, Ext. 103.

(Top row) Participants wrote down the most important thing for their CHNA this year as Shelly Yarnie of the Central Regional Office talks with Paulo Gomes of Steward Health in Brockton before people help themselves to lunch. (Row two, left) Kerry Mello of Southcoast Health, left, and John Riordan of Boston Children's Hospital, center, listen as David Aronstein of the Boston Alliance for Community Health (BACH) opens the meeting. ((Row three) Participants discuss a variety of concerns before breaking up into small groups to share ideas for best practices. (Row four) DPH Director of the Division of Prevention and Wellness Lea Susan Ojamaa speaks before Commissioner Monica Bharel, MD. (Bottom row) Tina Grosowsky of the Central Massachusetts Tobacco Free Community Partnership and Vilma Lora of the Greater Lawrence YWCA make some final remarks before Wendy Garf-Lipp of Greater Fall River Partners for a Healthier Community closes the meeting.