News

The American Heart Association presents multiple awards for implementation of quality care for patients.

THE WOODLANDS, TX— Interfaith Community Clinic has received two American Heart Association outpatient program awards in recognition for their commitment to reducing the risk of heart disease and stroke through improving high cholesterol and blood pressure management. 

Nearly half of all adults in the U.S. have experienced some form of cardiovascular disease – including heart attack, stroke and heart failure. Leading risk factors for cardiovascular disease include high cholesterol and uncontrolled high blood pressure, but through proper risk factor diagnosis and treatment, heart disease and stroke can be prevented or managed. 

“Left untreated, high blood pressure is a silent killer and both high blood pressure and high cholesterol are risks for heart disease and strokes”, said Dr. William Surber, Medical Director at Interfaith Community Clinic. “Both of these illnesses can be treated with life style modifications and, if needed, medication to prevent heart attacks and strokes. Follow up with your healthcare provider to have both checked.”

To improve quality of care and help people learn to manage their risk factors around high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes and/or blood pressure management, Interfaith Community Clinic participates in the following programs:

• Check. Change. Control. Cholesterol™
• Target: Type 2 Diabetes℠ 
• Target: BP™

“Interfaith Community Clinic is honored to be recognized by the American Heart Association for our dedication to helping our patients have the resources to manage risk factors and hopefully reduce or avoid heart attacks, stroke and other preventable heart concerns,” said Missy Herndon, President & CEO of Interfaith Community Clinic and Interfaith of The Woodlands. “Programs like the ones that address the real-world problems of high blood pressure and high cholesterol are necessary to improve health today and avoid larger problems for many patients tomorrow.”

This year, Interfaith Community Clinic received the following achievement awards: 

• Check. Change. Control. Cholesterol™ (Gold Level)
• Target: BP™(Gold Level) recognition from both the American Heart Association and the American Medical Association (AMA) 

“Addressing blood pressure management is key for better cardiovascular health – and critical today since heart disease and strokes continue to be a leading cause of death for Americans,” James Langabeer, Ph.D., FAHA, volunteer expert for the American Heart Association and Professor and Vice Chair of Emergency Medicine with McGovern Medical School at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth). “We are pleased to recognize Interfaith Community Clinic for their commitment to managing the risk factors for patients around critical risk factors like high blood pressure and high cholesterol.”

About Interfaith Community Clinic

For 25 years, Interfaith Community Clinic has been meeting the medical needs of the uninsured and underinsured in Montgomery County. As the needs of the community have grown, so have the services offered at the clinic. Today, the clinic continues to provide quality basic medical and dental care, counseling and patient services to individuals in need. A volunteer staff of licensed physicians, nurses, medical providers, dentists, dental assistants, dental hygienists, as well as translators and support personnel work together to provide patient care. Programs are provided free of charge and are funded by the generous financial support of grants, faith-based organizations, businesses, civic groups, and individuals. To learn more about Interfaith Community Clinic, visit interfaithcommunityclinic.org. 

About Target: BP^TM

Target: BP is a national collaboration between the AHA and the AMA aimed at reducing the number of Americans who suffer from heart attacks and strokes each year by urging physician practices, health systems and patients to prioritize BP control. The initiative aims to help health care organizations improve blood pressure control rates through use of AMA MAP BP™ evidence-based protocol, and recognizes organizations committed to improving blood pressure control.

About Check. Change. Control. Cholesterol™

The American Heart Association, the world’s leading voluntary organization dedicated to building longer, healthier lives, created the Check. Change. Control. Cholesterol™ initiative with national support from Amgen to improve awareness, detection and management of high cholesterol for consumers, patients and health care professionals.  

THE WOODLANDS, TX (Tuesday, July 17, 2019) – Interfaith Community Clinic is pleased to announce new leadership, welcoming long-time clinic volunteer, Dr. William Surber as its new Medical Director. Dr. Surber replaces former Medical Director, Dr. Jack Lesch, who retired in May after serving the clinic for more than 19 years.

Dr. Surber brings more than 20 years of experience to the director level position. After retiring from his private practice in Paris, Texas, he moved to The Woodlands in order to be closer to his children and grandchildren and he joined the clinic as a volunteer in 2013. As Medical Director, Dr. Surber will be seeing patients two mornings per week and overseeing the entire clinical program. “Dr. Surber’s experience, compassion, and love for community makes him a perfect fit to help lead the Clinic into the next generation of patient care,” says Missy Herndon, President and CEO of Interfaith Community Clinic. “He is forward thinking and has a heart to serve all in need. We are grateful to have his leadership.”

Additionally, the Clinic announced a new position, Nurse Practitioner, to be added to the clinicians serving patients. Sharon Denney recently accepted the position as the Clinic’s new Nurse Practitioner. Ms. Denney, who is a graduate of the University of Texas where she received her Master of Science in Nursing, has accepted the position. Sharon has worked at the Clinic for over a year and will be providing medical services two and a half days per week in her new role. Patients have already begun to ask for her by name! She will be seeing patients for general wellness needs as well as women’s health care.

The Interfaith Community Clinic opened its doors in 1996 to meet the medical needs of the uninsured population. As the needs of the community have grown, so have the services offered at the clinic. Today, the clinic continues to provide quality basic medical and dental care, counseling, and patient services to individuals in need. A volunteer staff of licensed physicians, nurses, medical providers, dentists, dental assistants, dental hygienists, as well as translators and support personnel work together to provide patient care. Programs are provided free of charge and are funded by the generous financial support of grants, faith-based organizations, businesses, civic groups, and individuals. For more information on the Interfaith Community Clinic, or to volunteer, please call 281-364-7889 or visit www.interfaithcommunityclinic.org.

Interfaith Community Clinic is excited to announce that Rachel Hollis, New York Times best-selling author of “Girl Wash Your Face” and founder of thechicsite.com and the “Let’s Rise” conference, will be the featured speaker at the sixth annual Women Empowering Women (WEW) luncheon.