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The REACH Healthcare Foundation is pleased to announce the promotion of Carla Gibson to Vice President of Programs. Gibson has been with REACH for 14 years as Senior Program Officer, responsible for program development and grants administration. Gibson also has guided the foundation’s health equity investments.
“Carla has been a thought leader internally and in the community, helping REACH pursue its vision that all people in our communities achieve equitable health outcomes,” said Brenda Sharpe, President & CEO. “Carla has played a particularly important role in cultivating community collaborations to address racial disparities and health inequity.”
As Vice President of Programs, Gibson will assume responsibility for all program functions of the foundation, developing strategic community investments designed to implement REACH’s mission of advancing health equity in its six-county service area.
“My goal is to remain focused on fulfilling the foundation’s commitment to addressing the inequities and challenges in our safety net healthcare system and ensuring access to quality care and coverage for those most in need,” said Gibson. “I am excited to bring my experience and passion to this new role and look forward to the next chapter in my professional journey with REACH.”
Gibson helped to design a metro Cultural Competency Initiative that ultimately drew multiple funders and partners, and continues to operate as the Cultural Competency Collective. She worked with community leaders to launch a new learning community, Communities Concerned for Immigrants and Refugees, and managed the grant and serves on the Steering Committee for the Welcoming KC Region planning process.
Prior to joining REACH, Gibson directed community health programming at Kansas City CARE Health Center and served as a Ryan White HIV/AIDS case manager at Swope Health Services. Gibson also worked for the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services as a health program manager for the northwest region.
Gibson currently chairs the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce’s Behavioral Health Action Team and serves on its Diverse Business Committee. Additionally, Gibson is treasurer of both the Board of Directors of the Greater Lee’s Summit Health Care Foundation and the Missouri Rural Health Association.
Previously, Gibson was an appointee to the Office of Minority Health’s National Partnership for Action – Heartland Regional Health Equity Council (RHEC VII). She also co-chaired the host team for the national 2017 White Privilege Conference and chaired the KC Chamber’s Resilient KC Trauma Initiative.
Gibson was honored with an Ace Award from the KC Chamber for outstanding achievement in the nonprofit industry. She was also awarded the Bold Health Champion award for being a credible voice of faith in the Kansas City metropolitan health community, as well as the Regional Health Champion Award for leadership in healthcare. Additional honors include the Spirit Award in social justice leadership from Communities Creating Opportunities; the Health Hero award from the Black Health Care Coalition of Greater Kansas City for her work in addressing access to care, advocacy and health promotion in the African American community; and, the Cross-Cultural Leadership Award from the Institute for International Medicine.
She and her husband Robert Gibson live in Lee’s Summit, Missouri.
Click here to read Gibson’s full bio.
