About Us
Putting Compassion into Practice.
In 1992, Don Turner — the former Executive Director of Escambia Community Clinics — joined the organization when it was a small outpatient primary care clinic. Over the next two decades, Mr. Turner began his journey to transform our community. His goal: to expand and ensure access to primary care for the uninsured, underinsured, and medically needy residents of our area. Mr. Turner was a key voice and advocate for community health, and guided the organization from a single care site to a network of nine locations. He was instrumental in guiding the organization to achieve designation as a Federally Qualified Health Center by the Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration in 2007. Under his leadership, Mr. Turner remained unwavering in his dedication to fulfill our mission of providing compassionate care to the most vulnerable in our community.
Today, his vision of community health remains as the foundation for our mission.
As a 501(c)(3) non-profit community health center, we are committed to providing quality, comprehensive healthcare services to the medically underserved people of the Pensacola Bay Area and surrounding regions of Escambia and Santa Rosa counties, Florida.
In 2017, energized and refocused on our mission to make high-quality healthcare accessible to all, we unveiled a new name and position to better capture our mission and emerged as Community Health Northwest Florida. Together, we’re envisioning a healthier way forward.
We’re Putting Healthcare Within Reach
Honoring One Man’s Vision
Mr. Turner left a legacy that we proudly honor every day.
Through our values of respect, quality, compassion and dignity, our team of healthcare professionals are putting compassion into practice.
Our Mission
Founded on the belief that all human beings have a basic right to healthcare, our mission is to provide a full range of health and wellness services to all who walk through our doors.
Committed to assuring access to affordable, quality healthcare for the underserved, underinsured and uninsured population, we treat each person with respect, dignity, and compassion regardless of age, gender, race, religion, circumstances or ability to pay.
Our Vision
We envision a community where all people have equal access to quality healthcare, fostering an environment for healthier, happier and more productive citizens.
Our Values
Our values hold us together.
As a community of healthcare providers, we serve the community at large. These are the values that guide our commitment to patients.
Dignity & Respect
No matter the circumstance, we treat everyone with the utmost respect they deserve in a professional manner.
Quality
Our promise is to deliver uncompromising quality care and service to all our patients.
Compassion
We are caregivers first, serving the needs of our patients in a welcoming and positive environment.
Empowerment
We empower people to be proactive in their care and envision their own picture of health.
Community
Our responsibility to our community is what drives us forward.
Commitment
We are committed each and every day to bring our vision of a healthy community to life.
Why Community Health Northwest Florida?
Community Health Northwest Florida is not like other community clinics.
- Federally Qualified Health Center by the US Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration.
- Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) Deemed Facility. For more information on our FTCA status, please contact our Administrative Offices at (850) 436-4630.
- Recognized as a multi-site Level II Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH) by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA).
- Community Health Northwest Florida is a Community Centered Health Home (CCHH).
- Community Centered Health Home Demonstration Project (LPHI).
- American Cancer Society Grant Recipient for Clinical Quality Measures.
- DentaQuest Foundation Technical Assistance Grant Recipient.
Community Health Northwest Florida Leadership
Chandra Smiley
Chandra Smiley, MSW, is CEO of Community Health Northwest Florida. She joined Escambia Community Clinics in 2007 as a Social Worker.
Athena Durant
Athena Durant, MAcc, is Chief Financial Officer for Community Health Northwest Florida. She is responsible for all of the organization’s financial functions.
Tom Anderson
Tom Anderson is Chief Compliance Officer at Community Health Northwest Florida. He previously served as COO and treasurer on the Foundation board.
Natasha Howard
Natasha Howard, MPA, RHIT (Registered Health Information Technician) is Chief Operating Officer for Community Health Northwest Florida.
Dr. Joseph Klawitter
Chief Medical Officer Dr. Joseph Klawitter joined the Community Health Northwest Florida provider team as Director of Pediatrics in August 2022. He specializes in treating asthma and treating and preventing diseases in gastrointestinal or digestive tracts of children.
Dr. Gabriel Hernandez
Gabriel Hernandez joined Community Health Northwest Florida as a dentist in 2018. A graduate of the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Dr. Hernandez earned his post-graduate degree from NYU College of Dentistry. He completed his residency at LSU General Practice Residency.
Dr. George Smith
Dr. George Smith is Physicians Liaison Officer of Community Health Northwest Florida and has been with the organization since 1994. He is board certified in Family Medicine and is also a Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians.
Dr. Steven Bollen
Steven Bollen is Director of Pharmacy at Community Health Northwest Florida, with a vast amount of experience in community pharmacy, compounding and specialty pharmacy.
Shannan Johnson
Shannan Johnson joined Community Health Northwest Florida as a clinical nurse in 2014 and has served in a variety of roles.
Diana Galvan
Diana Galvan is Director of Ancillary Services for Community Health Northwest Florida. She has more than 10 years of experience in healthcare leadership.
Catherine O’Sullivan
Catherine O’Sullivan joined Community Health Northwest Florida in 2011 as a Health Navigator and now severs as Director of Human Resources.
Kesha Tran
Kesha is the Director of Advanced Practice Providers-Adults and is passionate about bridging the healthcare gap for the underserved and uninsured population.
Paula Lindsey
Paula Lindsey, APRN, CPNP-PC joined the Community Health Northwest Florida team in 2018 as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner.
Michele Nelson
Michele Nelson, BS, CRCS joined Community Health Northwest Florida in March 2020 as Director of Billing. She attended the University of West Florida.
Luis Real
Luis came on board with Community Health Northwest Florida in 2012 as Director of Facilities and in 2019 transitioned to CHNWF Senior Leadership.
Read our annual reports
Community Health Northwest Florida has a great story to tell — and we love being able to tell it to the community. Select one of our annual reports below to see what we’ve been up to over the years.
Community Health Board of Directors
We are governed by a passionate group of community members.
- John Porter, President
- Jules Kariher, Vice Chair
- Justin Labrato, Treasurer
- Brett Aldridge, Secretary
- Freddie Cattouse, Member
- Dorothy Foster, Member
- Shirley Henderson, Member
- Clara Long, Member
- Grace McCaffery, Member
- Ann Osiname, Member
- Thomas Owens, Member
- Sean Seely, Member
- Daisy White, Member
- Bob Wilson, Member
