Outer Cape Health Services (OCHS) today announced the appointment of two new directors and one returning member to its Board of Trustees, as well as the full slate of officers for 2018.
Larry Ballantine of Harwich and David L. Wilson of Provincetown join the board as first-time members, while Fred Gaechter of North Truro returns to the board. “All three of these board members embody the spirit of community and bring talent, expertise and passion to the table,” according to Patricia Nadle, OCHS CEO. “We are very fortunate to have them with us as we continue to strengthen our community healthcare services from the Lower to the Outer Cape.”
The OCHS Executive Committee voted in for 2018 are:
President: Pamela French, MD, MPH, DTMH (Provincetown)
First Vice President: Ed McManus (Harwich)
Second Vice President: Robin B. Reid, Esq. (Provincetown)
Treasurer: Nancy Howard, MEd, MBA (Provincetown)
Clerk: Mary Grace Smith, MA, ABD (Wellfleet)
More about Larry Ballantine, MBA, PhD
Dr. Ballantine resides in Harwich where he currently serves as a Town Selectman and liaison to the town’s finance committee. Before “retiring,” he served as Vice President of Global Agrochemical and Environmental Services for Covance, an international contract research corporation. He holds a doctorate in Soil Chemistry/Analytical Chemistry from University of Massachusetts Amherst and an Executive MBA degree from the University of Wisconsin Madison. Dr. Ballantine currently serves on OCHS’ Capital Campaign Committee and chairs the organization’s Lower Cape Community Advisory Committee. He has had a long volunteer history on town boards and community organizations including service on the Harwich Conservation Commission, the Pleasant Bay Alliance Steering Committee, Cape Cod Water Protection Committee and the Harwich Chamber of Commerce board of directors.
More about Fred Gaechter
Fred Gaechter is the Immediate Past President of the OCHS Board of Directors. A veteran of the United States Air Force, Mr. Gaechter worked for over 40 years in telecommunications. In 2001, he retired as Executive Director of Telecordia, a renowned telecommunications firm with over 7,000 employees worldwide. Mr. Gaechter served as a Truro Selectman for six years (2004-2010), the first four of which were as the Board’s Chairman. He currently chairs OCHS’ Capital Campaign Committee, and is also the current president of the Truro Conservation Trust. He lives with his wife Judy in Truro.
More about David L. Wilson, MBA
David Wilson is a year-round resident of Provincetown where he also serves as President of the Provincetown Theater board of directors and as a member of the GLAD board of directors. After earning a B.S. and MBA from Northeastern University, David embarked on a 30-year career with Verizon Communications, last serving as Assistant Vice President, followed by a stint as Vice President of a Boston-based property and facility management company. Mr. Wilson also previously served on the boards of directors of the National Human Rights Campaign, MA LGBTQ Youth Commission, MassEquality and the Greater Boston Business Council. Now retired, Mr. Wilson is considered an expert on Diversity and Inclusion in the workplace, and regularly guest lectures on the topic at Bentley University. He and his husband, Dr. Robert Compton, continue to be active community members. In 2003 they earned the right to marry in Massachusetts as one of seven same-sex plaintiff couples in the Goodridge vs. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts law suit. Mr. Wilson and his husband are the proud parents of five adult children, nine grandchildren and one great-grandson.
More about Outer Cape Health Services, Inc.
Founded in 1987, OCHS operates community health centers in Harwich, Wellfleet and Provincetown offering primary care, specialty and urgent care, behavioral health and dental services, in addition to two pharmacies in Provincetown and Wellfleet, and many other specialty programs. In 2016, OCHS served nearly 17,000 residents and visitors to the Lower and Outer Cape annually with more than 70,000 total patient visits.
As a mission-driven organization, OCHS provides access to capable, compassionate community-based healthcare for patients and visitors of the Outer and Lower Cape, regardless of their ability to pay. OCHS is a licensed Medical Clinic of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) designated by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). Recently, OCHS was recognized separately by both HRSA and the Joint Commission for being an outstanding community healthcare organization. The Joint Commission accreditation and certification is recognized nationwide as a symbol of quality that reflects an organization’s commitment to meeting performance standards. Learn more at www.outercape.org.
