7QUESTIONS+PLUS

Jack Waters, the new director of the Kenosha County Health Center. He's a former marketing manager for Aurora Health Care who says he is inspired by the likes of Mary Lou Mahone, a proponent of rights for vulnerable citizens in Kenosha. His definition of happiness: A healthy community.

Jack Waters will now take your questions ...

The Community Health Center has seen quite a turnaround in the last few years, going from being in debt to preparing for a major expansion. What do you credit this toward the most? Over the past 12 years, the Kenosha Community Health Center (KCHC) has been blessed with outstanding medical and dental providers, our staff as well as a very committed board of directors. We continue to provide the level of care our patients (commercial and government-aided) have recognized and continue to seek for themselves and their families.

Do you have any goals in mind that you know you want to accomplish in your first few months at the reigns of the Community Health Center? Our high priority goals for 2008 include completing the building construction on 14th Avenue and 63rd Street, where we will be providing dental services. The completion of this project will allow us to expand our dental capacity three-fold. We look forward to the expansion of comprehensive primary medical services at this location as well, hopefully in the not-too distant future. Another pressing goal is for our community to understand the mission of KCHC to provide quality care to all members of our community, including commercial insurance patients. KCHC is not a free clinic but rather part of a national network of community health centers to support entire communities.

It must be extremely stressful handling such a heavy caseload of those without health insurance. What do you think is the best way to attack the problem of so many individuals going without health insurance in this country? All communities face challenges regarding the uninsured population. We have an opportunity and responsibility to address these issues within our own community. We all need to get behind these problems to address them. It is not the sole responsibility of any one individual or organization, but of all of us. We have a gift in this community, the Kenosha Community Health Center, which is designed and funded to provide access to primary medical and dental care. As the community in which we live, let's all support it.

What is the most pressing health concern in our community today? Kenosha County residents continue to be challenged by the ever-increasing demands of a growing population of the under-served. We are committed to providing primary medical and dental care to our patients, in their community.

What are the most notable changes in the health of our community over the past few years? Specifically, the most notable changes in our community, like most communities, are the increased risk of heart disease, diabetes and cancer, as well as health problems associated with obesity. With KCHC’s focus on participation in state-wide quality collaboratives, such as diabetes, asthma and cancer, we are attacking these problems head-on, at a primary care level.

A lot of people are reluctant to go see a doctor. Why is that, and how do you get them to come and see one? The struggle many people face is not distinguishing between medical care and health care. As a society, or community, we need to focus on accessing care, in a preventative fashion, being health care, as opposed to accessing care only in acute situations, being medical care. People engage in preventative health care will ultimately produce a healthier society.

Would you consider yourself to be in good health? What healthy habits do you have that you try and encourage others to do? Good health requires a commitment to proper eating and regular exercise, and consistent medical and dental check-ups. Like most people, there is always room for improvement.

What are you looking forward to most in 2008? Building upon the strong foundation that KCHC has provided since 1995. We are committed to expanding access for dental and medical care so that we can meet the needs of our Kenosha community.

What is the best piece of advice you have received? Having had the opportunity to work with Dr. A. John Capelli, I have learned that health care is not about caring for a disease, it is about caring for the person.

Who is your favorite historical figure? Were you inspired by anybody growing up? I have had the pleasure of knowing one of Kenosha's most influential and finest citizens, Mary Lou Mahone. To her legacy she engaged in fighting for the rights of our most vulnerable citizens and worked to ensure that they were provided with all the same opportunities as the majority population.

Finish this sentence: Happiness is a thing called ... a healthy community.