Vincent A. Keane, dynamic leader of Unity Health Care, Washington, D.C.’s largest nonprofit medical and social service organization, has been honored as the 2002 recipient of the prestigious John Gilbert Award presented by the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC), the national trade association serving and representing the interests of America’s community health centers. The award, to be presented at NACHC’s annual meeting this coming September, recognizes a health center Board member or staff who has demonstrated the highest level of excellence in the community health care field. It honors individuals whose contributions inspire a higher standard of service.

Upon learning of the award, John Mengenhausen, Chairman of the Board of NACHC said, “I have known Vincent Keane for a number of years. He has always strived to ensure that quality affordable health care is available to all and he continues to pursue that mission of ensuring all have access to health care and a warm dry place to sleep just as John Gilbert did for so many years.”

This award recognizes Vincent Keane ’s commitment and vision, and his incessant struggle to increase access to quality, culturally competent and compassionate health care for all, but more especially the uninsured and underinsured in the District of Columbia. Some of his more successful achievements include increased services for homeless patients; raising the profile of non-profit clinics through his leadership role in DC Primary Health Care Association (DCPCA) and the Non-Profit Clinic Consortium; turning around the fate of Federally Qualified Health Centers in the city; and more recently taking on the gargantuan task of assuring service amidst the change, once again, of the city’s public health system.

“We are honored by this recognition of Vince’s leadership. We are proud of the respect he commands among his peers, and his untiring dedication to the welfare of those we serve,” said Charles Barber, Chairman of the Board of Unity Health Care.

Talking about Vince’s leadership in the most recent public health reorganization, Sharon Baskerville, DCPCA Executive Director said, “None of us who lived through it thought we’d have a viable and functioning system of care at this point down the road. That the primary care structure of that former system has been preserved and is up and running, and yes...even improving daily... is largely as a result of the guts of Vince Keane to step into the fray…” Baskerville added, “He is a man of passion, compassion, integrity and great wit. I have seen him lead as we move from a city of turf Dom and resistance to change to a city of collaborative partners working together for the greater good in delivery of health care to all in need.”

Vincent Keane is an officer and member of numerous national and local boards of health care organizations. He and his wife Cheryl live in Alexandria, VA.