TheBurg

22 | theburgnews.com | 02.19 I t's not easy, asking staff to wait a few days before cashing their paychecks. Jeannine Peterson was working hard to right the financially struggling Hamilton Health Center, collecting old debts and downsizing operations. e year was 2000, and veteran health care policymaker Peterson had been asked by fellow Hamilton board members to step in temporarily. She was clearing up a $2 million deficit while also trying to convince staff to stay. To which they responded: "Why should we stay if you won't?" "I had to do some soul searching, and they were right," Peterson says now. "How could I sit here and say I was just there on a temporary basis, seeing if I can keep the doors open? If I'm able to or not, I'm still riding off into the sunset." Today, Peterson is CEO of an ever-expanding federally qualified health center with a $22 million budget, providing physical, mental, dental and vision health services to 38,500 people through 95,600 visits in 2017. Hamilton Health employs 280 people, recently opened a new satellite clinic in Perry County and, this year, will celebrate its 50th anniversary. bLAnK cAnVAs A group of Harrisburg-area doctors and dentists founded Hamilton Health in 1969. ey saw the need for a medical center serving the underserved, especially those without insurance. Hamilton Health Center started in a trailer and then developed a habit of moving to larger quarters as it outgrew each space. About five years into her job, Peterson had another idea. She envisioned a large, modern facility that Hamilton could grow into. At the same time, the Community Action Commission identified health care as a primary need in Harrisburg's Allison Hill. ere, a sturdy but rundown former state print shop and warehouse went up for sale—67,000 square feet of blank canvas. "Everybody thought I lost my mind," Peterson said. e community declined to contribute, forcing Peterson to be less ambitious in her goals. So, Hamilton took on the project itself, building out 30,000 square feet in Phase I with $16.5 million in financing cobbled from federal, state and county governments, a Fulton Bank loan and $1 million of its own equity. healthy liFe, happy liFe CEO Jeannine Peterson has guided Hamilton Health through many moves, tremendous growth. bY m. dIAne mccormIcK

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