An Interview with BJ Leber, LP IX – President & CEO of Adagio Health
“The most critical community issue that Adagio Health addresses are the health disparities and inequities that continue to impact so many people and patients in western Pennsylvania and beyond.”
– BJ Leber, BJ Leber, LP IX – President & CEO of Adagio Health
Q: Tell us about the mission and vision of Adagio health.
A: For more than fifty years, Adagio Health has been providing health, wellness and nutrition services and support in western Pennsylvania. Our mission is focused on meeting the health, wellness and nutrition needs of diverse communities, regardless of income, with a focus on women. Our vision is simple: Adagio Health improves the health of communities. We prioritize providing safe, inclusive, compassionate care to women, men, teens, and diverse populations with unique needs, including members of the LGBTQ+ community, women who have served in the military, immigrants, and individuals with diverse ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds. The services Adagio Health provides are designed to not only support individual patients and clients, but also their families and communities.
Q: Please share a specific community issue that Adagio Health addresses through its work. How is the organization moving that issue forward?
A: The most critical community issue that Adagio Health addresses are the health disparities and inequities that continue to impact so many people and patients in western Pennsylvania and beyond. Our work impacts and improves the lives of more than 100,000 individuals, children, and family members annually. Their two greatest needs are affordable health care services, including behavioral health; and nutrition support. Adagio Health ensures that family planning services and reproductive care including breast and cervical cancer screening and treatment is available to patients in need; and our providers are trained in providing trauma-informed care to patients including women veterans. Our care navigators help patients access health insurance and connect them to outside services to ensure their health and safety outside of our offices. We work to reduce the harmful effects of smoking and vaping by offering cessation and prevention services throughout western PA. And we support infants, toddlers, preschoolers and their parents and caregivers with nutritional support, in-office food cupboards, grocery benefits, support for breastfeeding moms, and referrals to additional service and support.
Q: What are your greatest opportunities as an organization to increase your impact?
A: In 2023, Adagio Health’s Tobacco Prevention and Control footprint expanded to include 13 counties in Northwest Pennsylvania, including Erie ‒ bringing the total number of counties now served by our program from 11 to 24 – encompassing all of western Pennsylvania. Also in 2023, Adagio Health was awarded two contracts from the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services for projects in the southern and northern regions of western Pennsylvania. The new Women’s Service Program is a grant intended to advance accessible and inclusive women’s health care, especially for pregnant and parenting women. Adagio Health and project partners will work together to provide services including: prenatal and postpartum education and support; STI testing and treatment; menstrual health education and no-cost menstrual hygiene product distribution; health screening for chronic conditions such as heart disease, hypertension, and diabetes; care navigation and community support around housing, food insecurity, transportation, baby supplies, clinical care, substance use disorders, and behavioral health; and professional training for partners and care providers throughout the region.
Q: How can community members support the mission and vision of Adagio Health?
A: Adagio Health is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization. The services we provide to vulnerable patients and populations are funded by state and federal government, local foundation partners, corporate support, and individual donors. Community members who include Adagio Health in their philanthropic giving make a measurable and meaningful difference in our patients’ lives, and in the communities we serve. Donations can be made by visiting: https://adagiohealth.org/Donate
If a donation is not possible, following us on social media, sharing our messages and funding opportunities with your networks, and advocating for our work with elected officials and other stakeholders will help to ensure our organization’s sustainability and longevity.
To learn more about Adagio health, visit https://adagiohealth.org or contact Alicia Schisler, Chief of External Affairs, at aschisler@adagiohealth.org
—-
