[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 134 (Wednesday, September 7, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Page S5367]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               RECOGNIZING FRANKLIN PRIMARY HEALTH CENTER

 Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. President, today I wish to recognize 
Franklin Primary Health Center, Inc. Franklin Primary Health Center is 
a nonprofit, federally qualified health center founded in 1975 by Dr. 
Marilyn Aiello and a group of Alabamians who recognized the need for 
quality health care in the underserved counties of southwest Alabama.
  Franklin Primary Health Center is named after Dr. James Alexander 
Franklin, a physician, scholar, and humanitarian who faithfully served 
his community for over 60 years. The small nonprofit community health 
center was founded in 1975 to care for the underserved Davis Avenue 
community, and in the early days, a small staff struggled to see as 
many patients as possible.
  Since 1982, the health center has been led by CEO Charles White. Mr. 
White is a well-known and respected member of the southwest Alabama 
community, and the health center has thrived and grown under his years 
of leadership. The health center now consists of 21 locations in six 
counties in Alabama, including Mobile, Baldwin, Choctaw, Escambia, 
Monroe, and Conecuh. It is the first community health center in Alabama 
to become accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of 
Healthcare Organizations, JCAHO.
  I recently had the opportunity to attend the grand opening and 
ribbon-cutting ceremony for Franklin's newest branch, the Hadley Family 
Medical Center in Mobile. I remain impressed with and proud of 
Franklin's impact and outreach in southwest Alabama. Because of 
Franklin Primary Health Center, underserved residents of this area of 
the State can access quality care in their own communities.
  Franklin Health Center provides a wide array of services such as 
pediatrics, OB/GYN, family medicine, internal medicine, geriatrics, 
rheumatology, dentistry, optometry, physical therapy, nutrition 
services, wellness and fitness, social services, substance abuse 
prevention and treatment, HIV/AIDS services, health education, 
pharmacy, laboratory, x-ray, and transportation services for the 
homeless.
  The health center's total staff of over 200 employees serves nearly 
40,000 patients annually. These employees focus on the center's values 
of dedication, integrity, respect, excellence, creativity, and teamwork 
in fulfilling its mission.
  I would like to extend my sincerest appreciation to Franklin Primary 
Health Center for its 41 years of excellence in care and service to the 
community and to celebrated their continued expansion.

                          ____________________