 | | With Gratitude for Leslie Graham For more than a decade, Leslie Graham has been the public face of the Primary Care Coalition (PCC). As we pass the proverbial torch to our third-ever President and CEO, Annice Cody, we thank Leslie for her dedication and leadership. Leslie accepted the role of President and CEO just as the Affordable Care Act was taking effect, and many expected the numbers of uninsured residents to sharply decline. Unsure if she was the right leader for a moment of such uncertainty, Leslie said yes anyway. And the universe laughed, because the Affordable Care Act turned out to be the least of anyone’s operating fears. |
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| | In Memoriam Horace “Bud” Bernton We mourn the death and celebrate the life of Horace “Bud” Bernton—husband, father, physician, and co-founder of the Primary Care Coalition. Bud died on June 12, 2025, just after his 99th birthday. Bud was a physician and a builder. His son Ned remembers a father capable of both hospital rounds and cobbling together a wood shop from spare parts. “I do sometimes wonder where this drive to build and fix things came from,” Ned says, and he attributes at least some of it to his father’s time living with a family of Pennsylvania tenant farmers in the 1930s. That year was starkly different from his well-heeled Washingtonian normal, and it stayed with Bud for a lifetime. Not just in how he went about his hobbies, but in how he practiced medical care. |
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| | | Introducing Nelly Velazquez Nelly Velazquez is Data Quality Operations Manager for the Primary Care Coalition's (PCC's) Breast and Cervical Cancer Program (BCCP) under the Maryland Department of Health. She ensures that clinical health center patients receive breast and cervical cancer screenings in a timely manner. The program screens all eligible patients for cervical cancer from age 21 and for breast cancer from age 40. More than 1,300 women in Montgomery County annually receive potentially life-saving mammograms and Pap tests. Velazquez has been with the Primary Care Coalition for nearly three years, joining in mid-November 2022. "I love what I do at PCC. I feel I am the voice for women who often don't have a voice. Even though I don't work directly with patients, I feel connected to patients. I am behind the scenes, removing barriers for people who are facing language difficulties, lack of information and education, and all kinds of other challenges in getting the healthcare they need. Knowing that I'm helping keeps me motivated," said Velazquez. |
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| |  | Save the Date for the Greatest Show in Montgomery County! Mark your calendars for the Primary Care Coalition's 2025 Storytelling Show on November 6, which will take place at the Silver Spring Civic Building from 6:30 to 9 p.m. This annual event is more than just entertaining; it is a wonderful presentation in which our partners and staff take the stage to tell stories that will make you laugh, tug at your heartstrings, and leave you with a smile as brilliant as the sun! So, save the date and look for an invitation with a link to purchase your tickets! |
|  |  | Pride Month – Celebrate Everyone's Right to Respect and Equal Treatment As we close out Pride Month, we're reminded that liberty, equality, and acceptance are not just ideals: they’re the vibrant threads that weave together the fabric of our society. We proudly stand with the LGBTQ community in championing the belief that every individual deserves respect and equal treatment, no matter their sexual orientation or gender identity. This month serves as a powerful reminder of our collective responsibility to foster inclusive environments that reflect our shared values. Montgomery County offers vital resources like healthcare, youth services, and community programs to uplift and empower the LGBTQ community, many which can be found here. Let’s embrace this opportunity of Pride Month to celebrate our diversity, strengthen our commitment to equality, and build a more inclusive society that honors all its residents. |
|  | Meet June's Pets of the Month: Honey Bee, Sasha Fierce, and Alpha Oshun! This fabulous trio of Italian Cane Corsos rule the home (and heart) of Ryane Sloane, PCCs Finance Controller. These 3 are incredibly well-mannered and affectionate, standing out for their extraordinary temperament. Sasha Fierce is as a BIG TIME DIVA who thinks she's a cat—witty and even able to open doors. Alpha Oshun is the baby of the family, and a little fun fact about Honeybee: She works as a Therapy Dog for autistic children! Pre-pandemic she would visit classrooms and rehab facilities to spread her love and joy, bringing calm, comfort, and a whole lot of tail wags to children—and anyone in need of a little extra sunshine. |
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 | Friday, July 4, 7 pm- 10 pm, Germantown Glory Independence Day Celebration, featuring Central City Orchestra and food vendors. Germantown Recreational Park, 18041 Central Park Circle, Boyds, MD 20841. Saturday, July 5, 7 pm- 10 pm, Mid-County Sparkles Independence Day Celebration, featuring Downtown Sound and food vendors. Albert Einstein High School, 11135 Newport Mill Rd., Kensington, MD 20895. Free parking and shuttle service will be available from Westfield Wheaton starting at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 15-Thursday, July 17, 9 am - 2 pm, Senior Citizen Adventure Camp. A three-day camp for seniors includes lunches, trips, and a chance to engage with others and make friends. Silver Spring Senior Center, 1319 Apple Ave., Silver Spring, MD 20910. The fee is $25 per person. Registration is required. Call 240-777-6840 with questions. Two Montgomery County Parks offer weekend boat rentals for a fee and allow private boat launches by permit at Lake Needwood in Rockville and Little Seneca Lake within Black Hill Regional Park in Boyds. Or spend a lazy day fishing this summer at one of the county's lakes, ponds, or streams. Montgomery County Public Libraries offer summer reading programs for kids, teens, and adults. Fill your summer with great books and fun activities. Don't miss the chance to win prizes. |
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| | A copy of our current financial statement is available upon request by contacting: 8757 Georgia Ave 10th Floor| Silver Spring, MD 20910
Question? Email us at stephanie_narayanan@primarycarecoalition.org or call 301-628-3456 Documents and information submitted to the State of Maryland under the Maryland Charitable Solicitations Act are available from the Office of the Secretary. |
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