Jan 8, 2026
Joanne Joy
Melinda Corey
Karen Sennett
WATERVILLE – Connie Coggins, President & CEO of HealthReach Community Health Centers, is pleased to announce that three new members have joined the organization’s Governing Board of Directors. Melinda Corey, Karen Sennett, and Joanne Joy will join returning Board members for the 2026 year.
Melinda Corey is the Outreach Specialist for Help Me Grow Maine, a free resource focused on providing information, systems navigation, and connections to parents and providers around child development and community supports. She has spent over 16 years in the early childhood field, and holds various certifications that support child assessment, advocacy, and safety. She also holds a Masters of Special Education degree with a specialization in Early Intervention.
Karen Sennett is a seasoned Registered Nurse, Certified Nurse of the Operating Room (CNOR), and Registered Nurse First Assistant with over 25 years of perioperative, leadership, and community health experience. She is a member of the Association of Perioperative Registered Nurses and the American Society of Plastic Surgical Nurses. Karen has been recognized for improving patient experience, supporting surgical excellence, and building a strong presence in the community.
Joanne Joy led a public health nonprofit focused on primary prevention for over 20 years. Education and advocacy were key strategies she employed in changing policy and environments to support prevention of tobacco and other substance use, and to improve access and use of daily health foods and activities. She holds a Master’s degree in Examination of Discrimination in Health Care and Social Services through the Lens of Generational Poverty.
HealthReach looks forward to the expertise and unique experience that all three of these new Board Members will bring to the existing Board. In 2026, returning to serve on the Board are: Jenny Boyden, Paula Callan, Paul Forman, Buffy Higgins, Jim Higgins, Michelle Kelley, John Opperman, and Susan Tedrick.
HealthReach Community Health Centers — founded in 1975 and headquartered in Waterville, Maine — is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating twelve family medical practices with the mission of serving the otherwise medically underserved communities of Central and Western Maine. HealthReach delivers high-quality, accessible healthcare services, including general primary and preventative healthcare, behavioral healthcare, substance use disorder treatment, dental, and podiatric care services. To ensure access for everyone, HealthReach accepts Medicare, MaineCare, and major insurance providers, and there are no eligibility requirements to access care through HealthReach; all are welcome. An Affordable Care Program is available to both uninsured and underinsured people. Assistance is available for applications to programs that help with your healthcare and medication costs, including enrollment support for Maine’s Health Insurance Marketplace.
The above is issued in furtherance of HealthReach Community Health Centers’ federally funded health center project. In 2025, HealthReach received approximately $4,436,654 in federal assistance, which is estimated as constituting 12% of project costs. Of total project costs for 2025, HealthReach financed 88% with non-governmental sources.
The contents above are those of the author, and do not necessarily represent the official views of or an endorsement by, HRSA, DHHS, or the U.S. Government.
Oct 17, 2025
Dr. Paul Forman
WATERVILLE – Connie Coggins, President & CEO of HealthReach Community Health Centers, is pleased to announce that Dr. Paul Forman has joined the organization’s Governing Board of Directors.
Dr. Paul Forman, of Albion, Maine, is a retired medical clinician. After graduating with his Doctor of Medicine degree and completing his residency as Chief Resident at Central Maine Family Practice Residency (now Maine-Dartmouth Family Medicine Residency), Dr. Forman worked as one of the founders and as a staff member of the Lovejoy Health Center. He continued serving at Lovejoy from its opening in 1978 until 2007. Additionally, Dr. Forman served as Chairman of the Department of Family Medicine, Chief of Medical Staff, and At-Large Director on the Board of Directors all at the Mid-Maine Medical Center (now MaineGeneral). Currently, he is a member of the MaineGeneral Medical Center Honorary Medical Staff. The HealthReach team is grateful to have Dr. Forman back as a member of the HealthReach Board of Directors, and looks forward to all that we can accomplish with his support.
Dr. Forman will join Board officers: Jim Higgins, Chair; Jack Ducharme, Vice Chair; and John Opperman, Secretary & Treasurer; as well as Board members: Jenny Boyden, Paula Callan, Buffy Higgins, Michelle Kelley, Juliana Richard, Susan Tedrick, and Allen Wicken. HealthReach appreciates the volunteer efforts of its Board members, who contribute to the leadership, direction, and success of the nonprofit. Without them, HealthReach would not be able to serve the people of rural Maine as effectively as it does with local, high-quality, and affordable healthcare.
HealthReach Community Health Centers — headquartered in Waterville, Maine — is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating twelve family medical practices with the mission of serving the otherwise medically underserved. In 2025, HealthReach proudly marks 50 years of delivering high-quality healthcare to the rural communities of Central and Western Maine since its founding in 1975! HealthReach services include general primary and preventative healthcare, including behavioral, substance use disorder, dental, and podiatric care services. To ensure access for everyone, HealthReach accepts Medicare, MaineCare, and major insurance providers, and there are no eligibility requirements to access care through HealthReach; all are welcome. An Affordable Care Program is available to both uninsured and underinsured people. Assistance is available for applications to programs that help with your healthcare and medication costs, including enrollment support for Maine’s Health Insurance Marketplace.
The above is issued in furtherance of HealthReach Community Health Centers’ federally funded health center project. In 2025, HealthReach is projected to receive $4,436,654 in federal assistance, which is estimated as constituting 12% of project costs. Of total project costs for 2025, HealthReach estimates 88% to be financed with non-governmental sources.
The contents above are those of the author, and do not necessarily represent the official views of or an endorsement by, HRSA, DHHS, or the U.S.
Mar 18, 2025
WATERVILLE — Connie Coggins, HealthReach President & CEO, is happy to commemorate an important milestone: in 2025, HealthReach Community Health Centers marks its 50th year of providing high-quality, affordable care to rural Maine. Founded in 1975, HealthReach’s mission continues to be serving the otherwise medically underserved areas of Central and Western Maine. HealthReach offers rural communities convenient healthcare close to home, including general primary and preventative, behavioral, substance use disorder, dental, and podiatric care services.
In 1975, when the local doctor in Bingham retired, the tightknit community pulled together and imagined a family medical practice where everyone felt welcome. Working together, neighbors helped raise funds to renovate an old house, which they converted into a community health center. This is how the very first HealthReach clinic — Bingham Area Health Center — was formed!
Since its founding, HealthReach has gradually grown to now operate 12 community health centers across Maine, including one school-based health center, as well as integrated dental centers in two towns: Bingham and Strong. HealthReach is a 501c3 nonprofit that offers patients high-quality care without high costs by putting patients before profits. Nearly 300 HealthReach staff serve 26,000 patients each year. The majority of the volunteer HealthReach Governing Board are patients of HealthReach. This model has led to steady success by building the voice of the patient into the organization’s strategy and priorities.
HealthReach proudly celebrates a half-century of patient-centered care while looking forward to the future!
HealthReach Community Health Centers — headquartered in Waterville, Maine — is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating twelve family medical practices
with the mission of serving the otherwise medically underserved. In 2025, HealthReach proudly marks 50 years of delivering high-quality healthcare to
the rural communities of Central and Western Maine since its founding in 1975! HealthReach services include general primary and preventative healthcare, including behavioral, substance use disorder, dental, and podiatric care services. To ensure access for everyone, HealthReach accepts Medicare, MaineCare, and major insurance providers, and there are no eligibility requirements to access care through HealthReach; all are welcome. An Affordable Care Program is available to both uninsured and underinsured people. Assistance is available for applications to programs that help with your healthcare and medication costs, including enrollment support for Maine’s Health Insurance Marketplace.
The above is issued in furtherance of HealthReach Community Health Centers’ federally funded health center project. In 2025, HealthReach is projected to
receive $4,436,654 in federal assistance, which is estimated as constituting 12% of project costs. Of total project costs for 2025, HealthReach estimates 88% to be financed with non-governmental sources.
The contents above are those of the author, and do not necessarily represent the official views of or an endorsement by, HRSA, DHHS, or the U.S.
Government.
May 28, 2024
STRONG – Strong’s annual Pierpole Day celebration will take place on Saturday, July 13, 2024. As a part of the celebration, the Strong Area Health & Dental Center – In partnership with the Healthy Community Coalition of Greater Franklin County – will host a fun 5K run/walk event. You won’t want to miss this family-friendly outdoor activity!
The event course will start and end at the Strong Area Health & Dental Center, 177 North Maine Street, in Strong. The event will begin at 9:00 AM. Those who plan to register on the day of the event should arrive at 8:30 AM. In lieu of a registration fee, please bring a donation – either a non-perishable food item for the community pantry, or diapers for the MaineHealth Diaper Drive. Adult participants will be given one entry for a chance to win raffle prizes; one additional raffle entry will be provided for every three extra donations that the participant contributes! In addition to the run/walk event, we will be distributing fun giveaway items, and a mobile health unit will be onsite to provide health education, kid’s games, and prizes!
Please visit the following RunReg page to pre-register and help our planning committee prepare –
https://www.runreg.com/12074
As a thank you for pre-registering, the first 50 registrants who sign up by June 7th will also be able to order a FREE participation t-shirt!
The Pierpole Day 5K planning committee is also seeking volunteers to help ensure this event is a success for the community. Volunteers are requested to assist from 7:00 AM to 1:00 PM on July 13. Volunteers can help with setup, teardown, and other assorted tasks. If you are interested in volunteering, contact Ayla Haines at ( 207 ) 860 – 8609 or Ayla.Haines@HealthReach.org by no later than Friday, June 30.
Finally, for those that are curious – Pierpole Day is an annual event celebrating local Strong heritage and history. The day is named after the Wabanaki (Abenaki/Amaseconti) settler Pierre “Pierpole” Paul. Paul and his wife, Hannah Susup, came to the Strong area in the late 1700s to settle in what was known at the time as Middletown.
Strong Area Health and Dental Center is a part of HealthReach Community Health Centers, a Federally Qualified Health Center consisting of twelve community health centers located across rural Central and Western Maine. Dedicated clinicians deliver high-quality, evidence-based healthcare – inclusive of behavioral health, substance use disorder treatment, dental, and podiatric services – to residents from 9 of Maine’s 16 counties. To ensure access for everyone, HealthReach accepts Medicare, MaineCare, and major insurance providers. An Affordable Care Program is available to both uninsured and underinsured people. Assistance is available for applications to programs that help with your healthcare and medication costs – including enrollment support for Maine’s Health Insurance Marketplace.
A private non-profit with a 49-year history, HealthReach is funded by patient fees, grants, and by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) as part of an award totaling $4,815,606 with 82.2% financed by non-governmental sources.
The contents above are those of the author, and do not necessarily represent the official views of or an endorsement by, HRSA, DHHS, or the U.S. Government.
Oct 3, 2023
Western Maine – This year, HealthReach Community Health Centers is happy to announce that it has received Let’s Go! 5-2-1-0 program recognition across eight of its local healthcare practices.
Let’s Go! 5-2-1-0 is a program focused on education around obesity and healthy living for primary care practice teams. The program provides materials to support “simple changes for better health, such as moving more, eating real food, drinking water, and getting adequate rest.”
HealthReach’s longstanding partnership with Let’s Go! 5-2-1-0 has had positive impacts on both HealthReach patients and their care teams. This year, HealthReach was recognized for excellence in obesity prevention. The sites recognized include Belgrade Regional Health Center, Bethel Family Health Center, Lovejoy Health Center (of Albion), Rangeley Family Medicine, Richmond Area Health Center, Sheepscot Valley Health Center (of Coopers Mills / Whitefield), Strong Area Health Center, and Western Maine Family Health Center (of Livermore Falls).
Connie Coggins, HealthReach President & CEO, shares, “HealthReach is proud to once again be recognized for our staff’s efforts to help our patients achieve their best health. Local, affordable, quality care is only possible through effective partnership between clinician and patient – so we also must thank our community members for engaging so well in our programs. Thank you!”
HealthReach Community Health Centers is a Federally Qualified Health Center consisting of twelve community health centers located across Central and Western Maine. Dedicated clinicians deliver high-quality healthcare – inclusive of behavioral health and dental services – to residents from 9 of Maine’s 16 counties. To ensure access for everyone, HealthReach accepts Medicare, MaineCare, and major insurance providers. In addition, an Affordable Care Program is available to both uninsured and underinsured residents. Assistance is available for applications to programs that help with the cost of your healthcare and medications, including Maine’s Health Insurance Marketplace.
A private non-profit with a 48-year history, HealthReach is funded by patient fees, grants, and by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award totaling $4,815,606 with 82.2% financed by non-governmental sources. The contents above are those of the author, and do not necessarily representthe official views of or an endorsement by, HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. Government.
Jun 20, 2023
Franklin County – This July, HealthReach Community Health Centers staff from across Franklin County – at practices in Kingfield, Rangeley, and Strong – welcome Amy Peters, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, to the team.
Amy earned her Master’s degree in Nursing from Walden University in Maryland. Previously, she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Nursing from Marian University in Tennessee. Amy brings a wealth of nursing experience, and a philosophy that focuses on compassion for each patient’s lifestyle and individual needs.
Amy shares, “Everyone wants a chance to be heard… to be respected… to be well. This is the cornerstone of my professional ethos. I look forward to joining and serving your community. Meet you soon!”
Amy joins the existing mission-driven, values-focused care teams at the Strong Area Health & Dental Center, Rangeley Family Medicine, and the Mt. Abram Regional Health Center. Welcome aboard, Amy!
Strong Area Health & Dental Center, Rangeley Family Medicine, and Mt. Abram Regional Health Center are all part of HealthReach Community Health Centers, a Federally Qualified Health Center consisting of twelve community health centers located across Central and Western Maine. Dedicated clinicians deliver high-quality healthcare – inclusive of behavioral health and dental services – to residents from 9 of Maine’s 16 counties. To ensure access for everyone, HealthReach accepts Medicare, MaineCare, and major insurance providers. In addition, an Affordable Care Program is available to both uninsured and underinsured residents. Assistance is available for applications to programs that help with the cost of your healthcare and medications, including Maine’s Health Insurance Marketplace.
A private non-profit with a 48-year history, HealthReach is funded by patient fees, grants, and by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award totaling $4,815,606 with 82.2% financed by non-governmental sources. The contents above are those of the author, and do not necessarily represent the official views of or an endorsement by, HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. Government.
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