Vermont Business Magazine The Community Health Centers of Burlington (CHCB) announced today that Chief Executive Officer Alison Lyndes Calderara, MEd, has stepped down from her position after more than two decades of various leadership roles within the organization. Prior to her position as CEO, Calderara’s work with CHCB included policy development, patient relations and operations, community communications and collaborations, recruitment, federal programs management, and grant development.
A statement issued by the CHCB said Calderara has always been a committed spokesperson for the transformative Federally Qualified Health Center model of care and played an integral role in the growth and evolution of CHCB’s programs and services throughout her career.
CHCB photo of Alison Lyndes Calderara
Calderara was named CEO in April 2017 after a tumultuous year at CHCB, which included the hiring and firing of her predecessor within a few months in 2016.
“After more than 25 years building the mission, programs, and patient care of CHCB, I am saddened to leave due to matters of personal concern,” Calderara said in the statement. “I leave confident of the new trajectory of CHCB with the quality transformation activities firmly in place we need to meet the future of health care reform and the diverse health needs of the populations we serve. I’m proud of our strong and vibrant community collaborations, with the City of Burlington, non-profit partners and especially UVM Medical Center and OneCare, as we align together to build healthier communities, and as we should in service to Vermonters. Access and health equity programs are flourishing with our low-barrier shelter, walk-in psychiatry care, medical respite, opiate addiction treatment and supportive housing initiatives. My greatest privilege over the years has been serving our patients. The power of their stories have always fueled my leadership and vision and will continue to do so as I look fondly at my time at CHCB.”
Calderara will be succeeded by Acting CEO Angela Comeau. Comeau has served as Chief Operating Officer of the organization since 2016. The Board of Directors will be initiating a comprehensive search for a permanent CEO in the coming weeks.
For 48 years, the Community Health Centers of Burlington have provided quality health care for Vermonters regardless of financial or insurance status. One of 12 Federally Qualified Health Centers in the state, CHCB has eight locations and is one of the largest nonprofit family health and dental practices in Chittenden and Grand Isle counties.
Source: CHCB 7.31.2019. For more information on their services and programs, visit www.chcb.org.