
By Garry Schalla, Development Director
Mountain Family Health Centers celebrated the grand opening of our new Basalt Integrated Health Center on Monday. Joined by partner organizations and supporters, our leadership and staff cut a ceremonial ribbon and officially welcomed the community to our newest location with medical, dental, and behavioral health services offered under one roof. The Basalt Integrated Health Center will allow Mountain Family to significantly increase the number of patients receiving care in the Roaring Fork Valley, from 2,200 to 3,700.
“I am thrilled to see this wonderful addition to our community,” said Mountain Family Board Chair Jon Fox-Rubin during opening remarks. “Our family, friends and neighbors, regardless of their income or insurance status, will now have access to fully integrated medical, behavioral and dental services in one health care home. Thank you to all our partners, my fellow Board members and Mountain Family staff for making this vision a reality.”
To view the gallery below, click on the faint arrow on the right side of the photo.
- Architect Harry Teague and Nan Sundeen.
- Pitkin County Commissioner Patti Clapper.
- Mountain Family Health Centers joins partners, local government, and community members for the grand opening of the new Basalt Integrated Health Center on January 7th, 2019.
- Pitkin County Commissioner Patti Clapper, seated, and CEO Ross Brooks, left, look on as Board Chair Jon Fox-Rubin and Vice Chair Rob Stein prepare for remarks during the grand opening.
- CEO Ross Brooks holds up a photo of Mountain Family’s earliest clinic, Columbine Family Health Centers.
- Representatives of Mountain Family and the Board of Directors address the audience at the grand opening.
- Emily Borkovec, PA, and Tracie McKinley, PA.
- Liz Stark, Community Health Services, Inc., talks with Board Chair Jon Fox-Rubin.
- Karen Koenemann, Pitkin County Public Health Director, and Pitkin County Director of Human Services Nan Sundeen.
- Mountain Family’s Melissa Bak.
- Dr. Gail Mizner, left, and Dr. Sandy Deveny.
- Board of Directors Vice Chair Rob Stein, foreground, prepares for remarks at the grand opening.
- CEO Ross Brooks and Dr. JK Costello.
- CEO Ross Brooks, right, talks with Pitkin County Commissioner Greg Poschman.
- Susana Salamun, Latino Services Officer for Alpine Bank, and CEO Ross Brooks.
- Shiela Kendall, left, Jenny Lang (FNP and Site Medical Director for Glenwood Springs and Edwards health centers) talk with COO Art Fernandez.
- Suzanne Kellay and Jaqi Lamb.
- Dr. Anneliese Heckert, center, with her parents. Dr. Heckert is Site Medical Director for the new Basalt Integrated Health Center.
- Development Director Garry Schalla, right, talks with Susana Salamun, Latino Services Officer with Alpine Bank as CEO Ross Brooks, middle, talks with Dr. JK Costello.
- Nan Sundeen, Director of Pitkin County Human Services.
- Pitkin County Manager Jon Peacock, right, brought puppy “Blue” to the gathering.
- Advocacy Coordinator Danyelle Rigli, right, talks with Pitkin County Commissioner George Newman.
- CEO Ross Brooks shakes hands with Aspen Skiing Company CEO Mike Kaplan.
- CEO Ross Brooks, right, shakes hands with Pitkin County Commissioner George Newman.
- Bonnie Mendiburu, Gracie Melendez, and Alicia Vasquez settle into their new workplace.
Essential partners for the Basalt Integrated Health Center are Aspen Valley Hospital, Pitkin County, The Colorado Health Foundation, the Colorado Health Access Fund with The Denver Foundation, the Gates Family Foundation, the Caring for Community Fund (Aspen Skiing Company), the Alpenglow Foundation, the Caring for Colorado Foundation, and Eagle County. Support from a variety of organizations and governments are critical for funding the new location, including the Betty Jane Schuss Fund at the Aspen Community Foundation, Robert Pew, The Colorado Department of Public Health and the Environment, the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA), the Town of Snowmass Village, the Aspen Thrift Shop, as well as our crucial individual donors.
“One of the ways Aspen Skiing Company has supported the Basalt Integrated Health Center is through our Caring for Community Fund,” said Mike Kaplan, Aspen Skiing Company CEO. Ski Co employees donate to the fund and decide how to distribute funding, with Ski Co matching contributions on a 2:1 basis.
“I am happy to announce Mountain Family has met the challenge,” continued Mike on Monday, “raising more than $100,000 in matching funding for the Building Health for All campaign.” More than $13,000 was raised on Colorado Gives Day last month to help meet that goal. The matching grant made for the Building Health for All campaign for the Basalt Integrated Health Center is the largest grant made to date for the Caring for Community Fund.
Mountain Family is in the final fundraising effort for new Basalt Integrated Health Center and will be raising $2.2 million in the coming months. To join the Basalt capital campaign please contact Development Director Garry Schalla at gschalla@mountainfamily.org or 970-945-2840 x7290 (office) or (970) 318-8018 (cell).