Lisa Olson Awarded Geiger Gibson Emerging Leader Award

Lisa Olson, Director of Policy and Programs at the Wisconsin Primary Health Care Association (WPHCA), was awarded the prestigious Geiger Gibson Emerging Leader award at the National Association of Community Health Centers Policy and Issues Forum on March 21, 2015 in Washington, DC. The Geiger Gibson Program in Community Health Policy in the Milken Institute School of Public Health (Milken Institute SPH) at the George Washington University honors young professionals currently working in the field of community health. Community health centers and primary care associations nominate bright, dedicated, young professionals nationally, who exemplify the mission and vision of Drs. H. Jack Geiger and Count Gibson, pioneers of the community health movement.

This year is an especially important year because it marks the 50th Anniversary of the health center movement in America.

“We are thrilled that Lisa’s significant contributions have been recognized with this award,” said Stephanie Harrison, CEO of WPHCA. “Lisa has consistently delivered results for WPHCA and our member Health Centers that have far exceeded expectations, advanced the status of Health Centers within Wisconsin’s health care delivery system, and demonstrated her ability to foster engagement and collaboration with community members.”

Olson’s leadership has extended beyond the Health Centers in recent years, as she has played an instrumental role envisioning and facilitating Regional Enrollment Networks in Wisconsin, presenting at two national conferences in the past year about this Wisconsin innovation. In total, eight winners were selected by a committee of senior health center leaders to receive the 2015 Emerging Leader designation.

“The Emerging Leaders Award is one of the Geiger Gibson Program’s most important annual activities and one that recognizes a few talented and dedicated young men and women serving on the front lines,” said Sara Rosenbaum, JD, the Harold and Jane Hirsh Professor of Health Law and Policy and founder of the Geiger Gibson Program at the Milken Institute SPH. “This year’s winners represent the next generation of leaders in the community health center movement.”

Wisconsin Community Health Centers provide comprehensive primary health care, dental services and behavioral health care for adults and children. To learn more and find a Community Health Center near you, please visit us at: www.wphca.org.