Lincoln County Health and Human Services is pleased to announce the selection of Jerald
Block, M.D., as the new medical director of the Lincoln Community Health Center (LCHC).
In that capacity, Block will supervise the medical providers serving patients in primary care, school-based health centers, behavioral health, maternal child health, and immunizations. The board certified psychiatrist assumed his official role on July 1, 2019, but had been working in a temporary capacity with the County since last fall.
“My plan is to continue operations of the medical center and the health system in general while finding ways to improve services,” he responded when asked about his goals. “I’m committed to making sure the quality of services is excellent and that we have availability to see patients and meet the needs of the community.”
Block brings extensive experience to the position. He has worked as a medical director at the
Department of Veterans Affairs in Portland, a clinical faculty member at Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU) and as a clinical psychiatrist in private practice. He is a lieutenant colonel in the U. S. Army Reserve and has been deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq.
The physician grew up in California before moving to New York, where he earned his Bachelor of Science Degree from Columbia University, his medical degree from Albert Einstein College of Medicine and completed his psychiatry residency at the New York State Psychiatric Institute.
LCHC Director Rebecca McBee-Wilson said the organization is excited to welcome Block to the management team. “Dr. Block brings a great deal of knowledge and expertise to his new role as the Lincoln Community Health Center Medical Director. He is a great addition to our staff and will help us continue on our path of integrating physical and behavioral health services," she said. "Addressing both issues together is essential to improving the health and well-being of Lincoln County residents," McBee-Wilson explained.
Although his career has been focused on psychiatry, Block is more than ready to oversee primary care and other services focused on physical care. “My perspective is that I am a physician, trained to look at the body and the mind. I’m comfortable with discussing and overseeing both aspects of medical care.
At a time when we are trying to have less of a division between mental health and physical treatment, I see this as a positive change that will be reflected in the health system,” he noted. Block will oversee clinical operations at eight different sites across Lincoln County. He arrives just in time to join HHS staff in celebrating National Health Center Week, Aug. 4 – 10.
Information and photo provided by LCHHS