"If you can dream it, you can do it." ~ Walt Disney...or, for the more cynical among us, "If you refuse to allow yourself to dream it, I know you won't do it." ~ Randy Pausch 

Thank you Matthew Spirn (Class of 2010) and the Northport Tasting Room  

More than a few times we have shared a laugh, heard a great story, or made a new friend at the Northport Tasting Room. It has been the place for socials, the site of meetings, and even served as the unofficial "Clubhouse" of the Class of 2010. We are ever grateful to the establishment's proprietor, Matt Spirn for his insights, his wit, and his warm generosity. His contribution to Leadership has been substantial. We offer our humble thanks. 

FY 2011 was the busiest and most tumultuous in the 16 year history of the Dolan Family Health Center. As increasing numbers of uninsured Huntington area residents sought access to affordable healthcare at the Dolan Family Health Center, the outgoing Suffolk County Executive repeatedly targeted Huntington's health center for elimination of public funds.  

Almost daily, patients inquired about how long their center would remain open, and "when should I transfer my records to another doctor." The staff of the Center who provide quality healthcare to the community, did so while living with the possibility of unemployment for much of the year.

During this time, the community responded to financial threats to the Dolan Center with advocacy: concerned citizens wrote letters; not-for-profit leaders made calls to elected officials; and elected officials repeatedly stated to the leadership of Suffolk County that program-sustaining funding must be found for our community's health center. In the end the Suffolk County Legislature united to re-work the County Executive's proposed budget and fair and reasonable funding for all health centers that serve Suffolk's working poor and uninsured, including the Dolan Family Health Center, was assured.

For 2012, there are enormous financial challenges facing our County, however, things may be looking a little brighter for the Dolan Family Health Center and those who depend on us.

• A new County Executive takes office on Jan 1. He has stated that he knows the value of health centers to Suffolk's healthcare safety network and has pledged that he will maintain it.
• Federal and state governments are increasingly identifying funding opportunities that help to expand the capacity for providers of affordable primary care.
• The Dolan Center has been designated as a desirable future site for expanded programs in academic medicine.
• The widespread community advocacy of 2011 on behalf of the Dolan Center made an impact on Suffolk County healthcare decision-makers who better understand that all communities have a right to fair and equitable public funding for care of their uninsured residents.
• Suffolk County policy makers have become increasingly aware of the "best practices" in place at the Dolan Family Health Center and our successes may be increasingly emulated in other communities.
• As painful as it was to implement, the Dolan Center did what every other business in Huntington has had to do to remain viable, we reduced costs, we increased revenue and efficiency, and we positioned our Center to be more productive with fewer resources.