Berks Community Health Center Board Member Honored with PACHC APEX Award

Berks Community Health Center (BCHC) is proud to announce that Board Member Gary Rightmire was recently honored by the Pennsylvania Association of Community Health Centers (PACHC) with an APEX Award for Board Excellence and Service at its recent annual conference. The PACHC website says the APEX Awards “represent the pinnacle of service, quality, innovation and achievement in primary health care, and are designed to recognize the outstanding efforts of dedicated individuals and teams who work in and/or volunteer for Pennsylvania’s health centers.”

Throughout his career, Gary has been a steadfast champion for increasing access to healthcare. Beginning as a social worker, he rose to become Executive Director of the Department of Public Welfare’s Berks County Board of Assistance, leading that office from 1979 until 2007. During those years, he confronted one of the region’s greatest challenges—ensuring healthcare access for individuals on Medical Assistance—by collaborating with local providers and building pathways to care.

All the while, Gary gave his time and talent to community organizations that were working to increase health care access and the quality of life in the community. Over the course of five decades, he has volunteered with organizations such as United Way, FEMA’s Emergency Food and Shelter Board, Berks Encore, Opportunity House, TASC, and Reading Area Community College.

His leadership was instrumental in the founding of Berks Community Health Center. Gary was involved with the Access to Health Care Committee formed by the Berks County Medical Society which laid the groundwork to found BCHC. He served as Co-Chair during the tumultuous development stage from 2011 through 2012 and continued to serve as Board Chair through 2015. Since that time, he has returned to serve on the Board and chaired the Strategic Planning Committee.

“Gary’s vision and dedication laid the foundation for BCHC’s mission,” said Mary Kargbo, CEO of BCHC. “This recognition reflects his lifelong commitment to improving the health and well-being of our community.”

BCHC extends heartfelt congratulations to Gary on this well-deserved honor.