Board member profile: Sheila Hale

Sheila Hale’s opportunity to be involved with Project Access NOW as board member came with her new job: she succeeded Linda Nilsen-Solares as Executive Director of the Essential Health Clinic. Each of the system’s participating counties has a place at the table, and the Clinic adopted Project Access Washington County just as the board was forming. Sheila commented, “I was at the right place at the right time.”

Sheila has tremendous appreciation for the Project Access model. “Project Access NOW is an enormous, well-greased vehicle allowing our patients to have greater access to care,” she said. “The success of Project Access Washington County is closely tied with the success of Project Access NOW in recruiting physicians. Plus it’s much more cost-effective for everyone involved to participate.”

Initially, the Essential Health Clinic was the only gateway to Project Access Washington County. Thanks to solid relationships, both Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center and Washington County Health and Human Services can now refer to the system.

Sheila serves as the board’s treasurer. Her background in nonprofit management and experience with accounting systems allows her to use her skill set without conflict with her Executive Director post. She said, “I enjoy the treasurer role because numbers are clean.”

What’s more, Sheila considers it a privilege to be a part of the collaboration with like-minded, passionate people who care about serving the underserved. “I’m grateful for my fellow board members’ patience with me. Everyone at the table is a healthcare expert, helping me, a management type, understand all the acronyms and systems. We all care about the community and that’s what connects us.”

Looking back at the beginnings of her involvement with the board, Sheila said, “It’s gratifying to see what was just an idea two years ago grow into a program that helps hundreds of patients across the region get care. I’m humbled to have been a part of the process because I know that behind each number is a person.”