Curtin speaks at ATSU Hero Healers luncheon

Approximately 75 ATSU-SOMA and ATSU-ASDOH students and faculty members attended the Hero Healers lecture lunch on Sept. 30. Keynote speaker Thomas Curtin, M.D., spoke to the group about compassionate leadership in caring for the underserved and the importance of an integrated team approach to patient care. Dr. Curtin is the former chief medical officer and senior vice president, clinical affairs, of the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC). NACHC works with a network of state health center and primary care organizations to address the widespread lack of access to basic healthcare through Community Health Centers (CHCs) that serve 20 million people at more than 7,000 sites located throughout all 50 states and U.S. territories. According to Gary Cloud, Ph.D., M.B.A., associate dean of ATSU-SOMA, Dr. Curtin has assisted the university for many years to establish effective and enduring commitments to the underserved. “His assurance that the NACHC would stand with ATSU in establishing an innovative needs-based dental school encouraged university staff to confidently explore novel options for helping address the nation’s oral health needs. His leadership resulted in a formal NACHC request for a community-based health-center-partnered medical school,” said Dr. Cloud. “Dr. Curtin, in his commitment to seek access to high-quality care for all Americans, has played a huge role in helping form ATSU Arizona, and the organization is thankful for his passion and his vision, for they have helped shape our commitment to those most in need.” Prior to joining NACHC senior management in 1996, Dr. Curtin was medical director of the East Jordan Family Health Center, a CHC in East Jordan, Mich. He has a B.S. in psychology and an M.D. from Michigan State University.