[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 94 (Tuesday, June 17, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1005]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  IN HONOR OF BARBRA MINCH, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE WILLIAM F. RYAN 
                        COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JERROLD NADLER

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 17, 2014

  Mr. NADLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to join the people of New York's 
tenth congressional district in saying a fond farewell to President and 
CEO of the William F. Ryan Community Health Center, Barbra Minch, as 
she enters her retirement.
   After 35 years of service to the community, Barbra leaves behind an 
incomparable legacy and has been an immeasurable asset to the community 
as a whole. The Ryan Center's wonderful contributions would not have 
been possible without her dedicated service.
   Barbra E. Minch has lived and worked in the Upper West Side 
community for over 42 years. As a single parent raising two children, 
Ms. Minch has been an advocate for affordable housing and quality 
public schools, a teacher, and an educational administrator. In 1979, 
Ms. Minch joined the William F. Ryan Community Health Center as an 
Administrator, and was soon promoted to Deputy Director. In 1995, she 
was appointed Executive Director by the Board of Directors, and was 
then appointed President & CEO in 2001. In this role, Ms. Minch 
provided leadership to 17 sites throughout Manhattan and has 
represented the Ryan Center in the Community Health Center movement on 
a federal and statewide scale, contributing unmatchable leadership and 
philanthropy.
   Over the years, I have worked with Barbra on many issues regarding 
health care on the Upper West Side, in Chelsea and Clinton, and in 
Lower Manhattan. I have always found her to be irrepressible, creative, 
energetic, and singularly focused on improving access to quality health 
care at minimal cost to the low-income people among us. Our community 
has been blessed by Barbra's energy and dedication for many years, and 
despite her having trained and put in place a dedicated team to 
continue her work, we shall sorely miss her continuing contributions.
   Ms. Minch has served on the Board of Directors of the Community 
Health Care Association of New York State (CHCANYS) as First Vice Chair 
and chaired its Legislative Committee for several years. She is a 
member of several committees of the National Association of Community 
Health Centers (NACHC), including the Legislative Committee, 
Credentials Committee, Ethics and Grievance Committee, and Membership 
and Rules Committees. She is also a member of the Health Care Executive 
Forum, which advances health care leadership and management. Ms. Minch 
was the first and only Community Health Center representative on the 
Board of Trustees of the Job Security Fund of the 1199/SEIU Employment 
Training and Job Security Program. In 1998, Ms. Minch played an 
integral role in helping to establish the Coalition to Preserve Access 
to Community-Based Health Care Providers, which set the stage for 
direct funding to Community Health Centers from New York State.
   Ms. Minch has won many awards in recognition of her excellent work 
and dedication including: The Jeffrey T. Latman Award from CHCANYS; the 
Palma Award as Health Administrator of the Year from the Latino 
Coalition for Fair Media; and the distinguished John Gilbert Community 
Healthcare Award of Excellence from NACHC. Most recently, Ms. Minch was 
inducted into the NACHC Hall of Fame, one of a small group of community 
health advocates throughout the nation, and the first New Yorker to 
receive this prestigious award.
   Barbra is undoubtedly deserving of all of her commendations, and I 
hope to offer her another one by wishing her the most sincere 
congratulations on behalf of myself and my constituents as she finishes 
a singular career of public service. I wish her the best of luck in 
everything the future holds for her. I know she will find many more 
ways to contribute to the lives of residents throughout New York City 
and beyond. I ask my colleagues to please join me in recognizing 
Barbra's efforts.

                          ____________________