Association of Clinicians for the Underserved (ACU)

04/03/2026

Learn strategies to expand children's access to school-based eye care with community partnerships in our new webinar with the School-Based Health Alliance and Prevent Blindness. Join us on Apr. 23 at 2 p.m. ET to hear real-world approaches to building and sustaining effective school-based eye care programs and leveraging creative partnerships from experts from ACU's Vision Services Committee including:

🎤 Meagan Baker, OD, FAAO, Director of Vision Services at Cherry Health
🎤 Rebecca Chown, OD, FAAFO, Founder and Executive Director of Envision EyeCare for All

✅ Register now: https://ow.ly/sxSY50YCvgU

04/02/2026

Despite a partial shutdown, federal FY2027 budget discussions are already underway, and Congress is moving swiftly. So are ACU's advocates. Read our latest policy and advocacy update for a recap of:

📊 Emerging healthcare legislation and Committee discussions
📣 ACU's advocacy on the Hill and with our partners to enhance funding for the National Health Service Corps
📃 New publications to support your advocacy, our comments on recent federal proposals, and more

Read more. 👇

Read ACU's update on FY2027 funding advocacy, NHSC priorities, and federal workforce policy developments supporting underserved communities.

04/02/2026

We’re proud to feature Hari Krishna Nallapaneni, MD, MBA, CPE, FACHE, Chief Medical Officer at Care STL Health, in our latest Five Questions With… ACU Member spotlight. 🌟

Dr. Nallapaneni shares how his personal experiences shape his commitment to serving communities with the greatest need, what motivates his leadership, and why expanding access to quality care remains central to his work.

Read more about his journey and perspective on caring for underserved communities: https://ow.ly/J3Iv50YClIp

04/01/2026

Studying to become a physician, dentist, NP, or PA? Don't miss this chance to lighten your student debt load while preparing to care for patients who need it most. Learn more and apply by Apr. 16! 👇

We know medical school keeps you busy, so let us help lighten the load.

✍️ With tuition support from our National Health Service Corps Scholarship Program, you can focus on your studies and your future career without financial stress. Learn more and apply: https://ow.ly/i7yn50Ym8sY

03/30/2026

Today, on , we’re proud to celebrate physicians who lead with compassion, purpose, and a deep commitment to serving their patients. Through our Five Questions With… series, we’re honored to highlight leaders such as Dr. Blanca Toso and Dr. Hari Krishna Nallapaneni.

Dr. Blanca Toso, Associate Chief Medical Officer at Unity Healthcare brings nearly two decades of experience, grounding her work in empathy, access, and meaningful progress for both patients and providers. Dr. Hari Krishna Nallapaneni, Chief Medical Officer at Care STL Health, is driven by a belief that serving underserved communities is both a professional responsibility and a moral calling, inspired by his mother’s legacy of compassion and service.

Today, we celebrate their and others' leadership and the impact of physicians everywhere in advancing healthcare access and strengthening communities. Read Dr. Toso's story, stay tuned for Dr. Nallapaneni's, and find more stories of ACU Member excellence: bit.ly/4texnQB

03/27/2026

“Someone gave me a chance, and now it is my time to give back.”

That’s how Shelley Spires answered when asked why she chose to focus on caring for underserved communities, and it speaks to the heart of her leadership.

As CEO of Albany Area Primary Health Care, Inc. and Vice President of ACU's Board of Directors, Shelley has spent nearly two decades working to expand access to care in rural communities. Her story reflects a deep commitment to service, advocacy, and ensuring communities with the greatest need are never left behind.

💬 Read more in Shelley’s recent Five Questions With… ACU Member spotlight: bit.ly/4tbTBTi

03/26/2026

That's a wrap on our 2026 Workforce Symposium! Thank you to everyone who joined us for two days of workforce transformation in the heart of Music City. The highlights were many, from:

👩‍⚕️ Deep dives into strategies to recruit, retain, and onboard mission-driven staff with April Lewis, MBA and Suzanne Speer of ACU's National Center for Workforce Development & Training
📈 An exploration of strategic workforce planning with California Primary Care Association's Isaías Iñiguez
🏥 A case study in excellence in career pathway development from Desiree Sweeney MBA and Clint Hagen of NEW Health Programs Association
🏫 Spotlights in HPET innovation with Joni Adamson, CPRP of Missouri Primary Care Association (MPCA)
🚐 A showcase in mobile health's workforce impact and integration with Maria V. Ferraris of Mission Mobile Medical

The greatest highlight, however, was two days of dedicated peer learning and shared reflection in pathways to workforce excellence that will make a lasting impact in strengthening workforces and enhancing care for our institutions and communities across the U.S. Thank you to everyone who enlivened the discussion at , as well as our sponsors and partners at Mission Mobile Medical, Aledade, Inc., The Inline Group, and CHCollective—and we'll see you at our next Workforce Symposium!

03/25/2026

Join ACU’s STAR² Center and the National Association of Community Health Centers for a two-part webinar series featuring health centers that have effectively implemented well-being strategies to address staff needs with data-driven investments in their workforce! Innovation is key as health centers grapple with unprecedented levels of healthcare burnout and intense competition for a limited workforce.

✅ Register for the first presentation on Apr. 14 and stay tuned for Part II: https://ow.ly/UG4E50YyP7S

03/25/2026

"People think when you take a mobile unit that you're taking care to the people. You're actually taking a system—your healthcare system." - Maria Victoria Ferraris, MSPM, M.Ed of Mission Mobile Medical rounds out our education sessions at our 2026 Workforce Symposium with a deep dive into "Mobile Health as a Workforce Strategy." Thanks to Maria and Mission Mobile Medical for sharing your insights at !

03/25/2026

Joni Adamson, CPRP, VP of Workforce Development at the Missouri Primary Care Association (MPCA), leads attendees in a post-lunch chant at .

As our 2026 Workforce Symposium continues, Adamson, a member of our National Center's Advisory Council, is leading attendees in exploring innovative approaches to leverage Health Professions Education & Training (HPET) programs to multiply their workforce capacity.

As workforce shortages grow more and more acute, partnering with teaching and training programs at academic institutions and beyond offers health centers a vital opportunity to enhance their workforce pathways.

03/25/2026

People are the essence of the healthcare workforce, and retaining the mission-driven professionals who make our shared work possible is crucial.

As the second day of continues, April Lewis, MBA, Director of ACU's National Center for Workforce Development & Training, is highlighting practical strategies to retain the mission-driven staff that make our shared work possible.

03/25/2026

Career pathways are an essential element of staff retention. These pathways came alive in a presentation from Desiree Sweeney MBA, CEO and Clint Hagen, Chief Administrative Services Officer at NEW Health Programs Association, in the first session of our Workforce Symposium's second day. Thank you for sharing your insights and a case study in success at !