The Primary Care Coalition’s 2023 Annual Report is now available online. The report highlights how PCC shared solutions beyond Montgomery County when its collaborative care model became an option for Maryland Medicaid recipients on October 1st. It also features information on how PCC addressed the behavioral health crisis through community collaboration.

Because 2023 was PCC’s official 30th Anniversary Year, excerpts from the organization’s heartwarming 30th Anniversary Storytelling Show are woven throughout, providing personal perspectives on why the organization and community have much to celebrate.

Some of the topics included in the Annual Report are Getting Stronger, Hard Lessons Learned, and Embracing Diversity in Population Health. Don’t miss the opportunity to learn about PCC's 2023 activities and the organization's impact on the community during the past 30 years.

March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, a time to remind everyone that regular screenings save lives.

Three of the Primary Care Coalition’s safety net clinics are participating in a year-long Maryland Colorectal Cancer Control Program (MCRCCP) grant to increase screening rates. The grant involves implementing evidence-based interventions and quality improvements.

“The participating clinics are significantly increasing their screening rates, some by as much as 50 percent,” said Mary Jane Joseph, PCC project manager. “Because education helps patients understand that screenings improve their health outcomes, clinics are creating new lines of communication. They are also developing new process maps and finding ways to add a sense of camaraderie to attain better screening rates.”

The program began July 1, 2023, and will continue through June 29, 2024. Holy Cross, Proyecto Salud, and the Muslim Community Clinic are the three clinics participating in the grant program. They will be able to share what they’ve learned during the program with the other safety net clinics in Montgomery County, and there may be opportunities for other clinics to participate in future grant programs.

The Primary Care Coalition is seeking additional funding for colonoscopies performed when initial FIT (Fecal Immunochemical Test) screening results are positive. Colonoscopies provide colorectal cancer screenings and prevention, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that adults aged 45-75 be screened regularly.

Senior Program Manager of Provider Experience Aisha Mason (Robinson) was recently celebrated as the Primary Care Coalition’s 2023 Employee of the Year at a March 14 luncheon at the Congressional Country Club in Bethesda. Department heads submit nominations for the honor each year, senior directors offer endorsements, and then PCC’s President and Chief Executive Officer makes the selection.

Aisha Mason said that when her department head, Senior Director of Healthcare Access Dr. Veronica Vela, initially notified her of the honor, she was “shocked.” Mason said, “We do so much good work at PCC; it was a nice surprise that I was selected. I wasn’t expecting it.”

“As an outstanding employee who routinely goes above and beyond to ensure that the needs of our providers and partners are met, Aisha Mason was at the top of our list,” said PCC President and CEO Leslie Graham. “Her strong project management skills, attention to detail, and ability to create a collegial and effective team atmosphere maintain and strengthen the Montgomery Cares program. That allows PCC to provide health care access to more than 20,000 Montgomery County adults.”

Known as Aisha Robinson before her October marriage, Mason has worked for the Primary Care Coalition for the past four years. Her work with a for-profit healthcare company immediately following graduate school ended during the COVID-19 pandemic, and she moved back home. That was when she was drawn to the nonprofit Primary Care Coalition for its work with clinics, hospitals, healthcare providers, and other community partners to coordinate healthcare and related services for the County’s most vulnerable residents.

“PCC aligns with my passions of helping others and making the community a better place,” said Mason. “I am grateful for being able to do the work that I do and to PCC for providing an environment where I can work with people I consider to be friends. At the end of the day, we are making a difference, and that feels good.”

What Mason appreciates most about her work is that she knows patients are getting the care they need. She works directly with clinic managers and directors, as well as internal and external partners. When asked what drives her, Mason responded, “The opportunity for growth, and to learn and make adjustments and be the best I can be.”

When she's not working at PCC, Mason enjoys Pure Barre workouts and crafting, a hobby she put to good use producing name tags and other custom projects for her wedding. She is “cat mom” to Ghost and Malcolm and is considering adding a dog to her family.