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Media Advisory 

Family First Health’s Dr. Luis Garcia has been named to this year’s Physician 40 Under 40 list by the Pennsylvania Medical Society. PAMED’s new award is one of the several efforts to recognize the state’s efforts in training physicians and encouraging them to stay and practice here.

Garcia is a York-area native, engaged not only in the area’s medicine, but it’s community. He also advocates for the Latino population, and serves as a teacher for the York Hospital Family Medicine Residency Community Medicine curriculum.

He was nominated for the award by Douglas McCracken, WellSpan Community Health Center’s Interim Medical Director.

“Luis is a modest person, but his footprint is large,” McCracken wrote in the nomination letter. “… He uses teaching and media (TV and radio) to inspire generations of community medicine physicians, and to inspire patients – outside the exam room – toward better health.”

Garcia joined Family First Health in 2014. He received his Bachelor of Science in Biology from the Franciscan University of Steubenville and received his Doctor of Medicine degree from Temple University School of Medicine. Garcia completed his family medicine residency at York Hospital.

“Dr. Garcia sets the standard for young physicians,” said Family First Health CEO Jenny Englerth. “He sees beyond the individual patient and into the community when assessing health status while maintaining an personalized approach to care. This recognition is well deserved!”

When he’s not working, Garcia volunteers his time at the Catholic Harvest Food Pantry and has served as Team Leader Assistant on Mission trips to Ecuador. Garcia is a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians, the Pennsylvania Academy of Family Physicians and the Catholic Medical Association.

“I sometimes have challenging days, and I have to say, when I hear him on the radio or see a patient of his, I am reminded of what an asset he is to our community,” McCracken wrote. “His impact and his humility inspire me to be a better physician.”
About Family First Health

Founded in 1970, Family First Health is a non-profit, federally qualified health center dedicated to increasing access to affordable, quality health care. With sites in York, Hannah Penn Middle School, Lewisberry, Hanover and Gettysburg, Family First Health provides a broad range of primary health, dental care and social services to insured, uninsured and underinsured patients with the goal of improving the health of our communities as a whole. For more information, visit www.familyfirsthealth.org. Se habla español.

 

Media contact: 

Kate Harmon, Marketing and outreach coordinator, Kharmon@familyfirsthealth.org, 717-801-4855

Media Advisory

Media contact:

Kate Harmon

kharmon@familyfirsthealth.org

717-801-4855

This week, Gov. Tom Wolf announced that Family First Health received funding to develop a Center of Excellence for treating opioid-related substance-use disorder.

The goal of treating the whole person with a substance-use disorder falls in line with the collaborative care work already going on at Family First Health sites. The award is an infusion of resources that support our ability to work with others to have a broader community impact, versus a more narrow focus on our existing patients.

The Center of Excellence will be based in York and through existing Family First Health sites and partnerships, additional access points in key locations will be identified throughout the county.

The implementation plan is in development, but Family First Health’s vision “is to create a hub and spoke model that will build on existing resources, fill gaps where necessary and always be guided by those impacted most by dependency and addiction,” said CEO Jenny Englerth.

“Our intention is leverage best and promising practices in the treatment field to enhance the delivery system with direct services and to be a ‘go-to’ source for all of those in the community seeking to address this complex issue.”

As Family First Health grows as a Center of Excellence, it will be adding expertise and dedicated individuals to expand our reach in line with the vision of the state Department of Health.

For more information about the Centers of Excellence, visit www.dhs.pa.gov.

About Family First Health

Founded in 1970, Family First Health is a non-profit, federally qualified health center dedicated to increasing access to affordable, quality health care. With sites in York, Hannah Penn Middle School, Lewisberry, Hanover and Gettysburg, Family First Health provides a broad range of primary health, dental care and social services to insured, uninsured and underinsured patients with the goal of improving the health of our communities as a whole. For more information, visit www.familyfirsthealth.org. Se habla español.