Board member profile: Mark Rosenberg, M.D.
For Dr. Mark Rosenberg, Project Access NOW is a culmination of 30 years of working to improve healthcare for the underserved. As Director of the Internal Medicine Residency at Providence Portland Medical Center, he’s been training residents to value caring for all members of the community. As a practicing internist, his practice has focused on the underserved, and his volunteer work at Wallace Medical Concern has reinforced the need. As Project Access NOW board chair, he extends that vision into fostering collaboration among those serving the uninsured.
It was Tracy Gratto’s presentation about safety net clinics and other community initiatives that led Mark to get involved in Project Access NOW. “The synergy and efficiency that Project Access NOW fosters seemed critical to support.”
Since then, he has been actively involved in recruiting physicians to join the program. “I’ve met a lot of wonderful people with values and great spirit,” Mark said. “I’m learning about the challenges and rewards of developing collaborative efforts. It’s been very satisfying to work with everyone.”
As chair, Mark facilitates the board’s efforts to help the uninsured gain access to care. Mark aims to keep the board thinking strategically about what Project Access NOW should do and how. “It’s a new organization”, Mark said. “Our vision and mission are clear. It’s the timing, the exact scope and the methods that are still evolving.”
According to Mark, both patients and healthcare providers benefit from Project Access NOW. “It’s an effective vehicle for making a difference in the lives of many patients, who receive quality healthcare delivered with respect. The healthcare system gains the efficiencies of coordination. Providers, hospitals, and physicians get a way to serve the underserved, be recognized for their work, and be a part of a community-wide project.”
(December, 2009)
