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BIOGRAPHY:  Barbara A. Franklin

Barbara is a lifelong resident of Buffalo, New York. She was recently awarded a Community Health Foundation of WCNY Health Leadership Fellowship and has attended Medaille College where she studied Business Administration and is pursuing a joint Bachelors/Masters in Health Care Administration program at D’Youville College. 

Barbara was recently appointed Ambulatory Care and Community Network Director for the Sheehan Memorial Health System (SMH). In Barbara’s new capacity she is responsible for overseeing all primary & specialty care services in addition to community networking to foster collaboration, outreach and linkages to SMH services.  As Director she is currently project director for the Diabetes Apprenticeship Program (DAP) in collaboration with Dr. Paresh Dandona, Endocrinologist at Kaleida Health – Millard Gates. In addition, Barbara is also project director for the “Take a Loved One for a Mammogram” funded by the Susan Komen Foundation program that promotes FREE mammograms for African American women in WNY. Lastly, she is project director for the two newer initiatives; the “Family Care Buprenorphine Clinic” as well as the Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) Guidelines in Underserved Populations.  This study is designed to establish the effect size on patient outcomes resulting from implementing CKD guidelines & assessing the usefulness of Primary Care Physician directed telephonic case management for CKD guideline utilization. (The CKD is implemented and funded through UB Family Medicine & Research departments - Dr. Chet Fox). 

Barbara served as the Executive Director of the Black Leadership Forum’s Near East Side Community Health Task Force, a consortium of various agencies consisting of health systems, health maintenance organizations, independent health centers, civic agencies, universities/colleges, community and faith based organizations that collaboratively address health disparity in the City of Buffalo, New York. During her tenure she spearheaded the National Health & Human Services (HHS) initiative “Take a Loved One to the Doctor” (Later renamed “Take a Loved One for A Check-up) where over 500 Free medical exams utilizing and collaborating with over 13 different health facilities opened their doors to uninsured residents in Buffalo. 

Barbara has served as the Chief Operating Officer for Geneva B. Scruggs Community Health Center, an Inner-City Healthcare Center and is the President/CEO of alpha & omega enterprises a public relations and marketing firm whose clients consist of health care organizations and small businesses. She possesses over twenty years experience in the healthcare industry and community networking/outreach. 

Barbara recently started “The NAVIGATORS … a community health advocacy group” to address healthcare education, linkages and awareness in the minority and underserved communities in WNY.  Her clients consist of Health maintenance, faith and community based organizations in addition to healthcare agencies and minority businesses in WNY that wish to join forces to address health disparity in disadvantaged communities and populations here in region. 

Drums along the Waterfront (DATW) community initiative, created in 2005 started when the DATW president and The Wellness Institute president approached Barbara to help bring the initiative to inner-city youth.  The three-fold purpose is to promote physical activity and teamwork in hope of creating a Drum & Bugle Corp for inner-city disadvantaged youth in the City of Buffalo. The initial event in 2005 packed the Johnnie B. Wiley Sports Pavilion and the national Drum Corp International (DCI) is pleased to lend its support to continue this worthy program every year.  

Certifications:

• CMS – Medicare Part D –Trainer
• Buffalo State College – Grant Writer 101
• HIV Tester – OraQuick Advanced HIV Testing
• Federal Mediation & Conciliation
• Elijah House - Theophostics – Christian Counseling
• Ministry Development Institute (MDI) – Christian Leadership 
  

Publications/Articles/Lectures:

• Take a Loved One to the Doctor 2005 Final Report - (HHS national web-site)
• Uninsured-Under covered – Bethesda World Harvest International Church
• Kaleida Health Community Service Plan – 2005 pages 23-26 & 29
• Advance for Managers of Respiratory Care – February 2005 * Vol. 14* NO 2 – page 34
• Clinicians debate spirituality role in healthcare 
  

Barbara is a member and/or served on the following boards/committees in WNY:

• BLCA – Black Leadership Coalition On Aids – Medical Chair;
• Mary Talbert – National Association of Colored Women (New inductee);
• WNY Health Literacy – Committee Member;
• P2 Collaborative – Committee Member;
• Drums Along The Waterfront (Community Initiative) – Committee Member;
• NAACP – Buffalo Chapter –Health Committee Member;
• National Association of Female Executives (NAFE);
• Near East Side & West Side (Hispanic) Health Task Force – Member;
• AIDS Network of WNY – Minority Concerns Sub-Committee;
• WNY Alliance for Non-Profit Excellence – Committee Member;
• Women’s Land Trust – Advisory Board Member;
• Promises School Of Beauty Culture – Board Officer;
• Sheehan/Grace Collaborative Public Relations/Marketing – Co-Chair;
• Kaleida Health/EN-AHEC – Mentorship Program;*
• Kaleida Health/Black Leadership Forum’s – Diversity Advisory Group;*
• First Night 2005-06 Planning Committee;*
• Moving In Faith – Community Sub-Committee Member.*
  

           * Indicates past affiliations 

Barbara is the proud mother of Tanisha Franklin – Dacosta (Ras Netfa DaCosta), Dezi Arnaz Franklin Jr. and the Nana to Alexis Monet, Ras Supreme, Ras Justice and Dezi Arnaz III (Tre’)