PANAMA CITY, Fla.- The Florida Department of Health in Bay County is recognizing St. Andrew Community Medical Center as Bay County’s 2017 Public Health Champion. St. Andrew was chosen because they have been serving the underserved residents of Bay County for 13 years. St. Andrew is a volunteer and donor supported medical clinic.

The award was presented on Tuesday, October 17 during the Bay County Commission’s regularly scheduled meeting. DOH-Bay Administrator, Douglas Kent, presented the award to Carol Summey, Director, St. Andrew Community Medical Center. With more than 50 volunteers, St. Andrew has provided more than 10 million dollars in medical services and prescriptions to Bay County’s indigent population.

St. Andrew offers primary care and ongoing medical care for chronic illnesses through volunteer physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, pharmacists, assistants and other providers. Patients must have no insurance and meet poverty guidelines to qualify for services. St. Andrews is a not-for-profit 501 (c)3 organization.

This is the third time that the Public Health Champion award has been given. In 2016, DOH-Bay awarded Dr. Michelle Creel for her work with Artful Truth at Oakland Terrace Elementary school. Messages conveyed big tobacco’s marketing power against our youth.

About the Florida Department of Health

The department, nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board, works to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts.

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