Brodes Hartley Jr Bolsters Health In South County And Keys As He Directs Work Of Community Health Of South Florida

Inspired by his preacher father’s dedication to serving the community and shaped by his 26 years in the US Army Medical Corps, Col. Brodes H. Hartley Jr. was prepared for his role as president and CEO of Community Health of South Florida, a position he’s held for 25 years.

The nonprofit health care organization serves South Miami-Dade County and the Florida Keys, boasting a network of seven community health centers and 35 school-based programs that offer primary and behavioral health care services.

Celebrating its 40th anniversary, Community Health of South Florida employs over 600 workers who served 71,188 patients in 2009, of whom 62% were uninsured and 64% had incomes below the federal poverty line.

"We’ve seen an increase in the number of uninsured people who require service in our community," Col. Hartley said. "We’re very proud of the ability to be able to address their needs."

A man of activism, as student government president of Florida A&M University Col. Hartley led students to initiate the 1956 bus boycott in Tallahassee.

Today, he continues his activism, working to abolish health care barriers and stressing the importance of preventative medical services.

In an interview with Miami Today reporter Ashley D. Torres, Col. Hartley discussed the rise in patients as a result of the recession, the positive impact of federal health care reform and the organization’s future plans for a West Kendall access point and a Homestead-based children’s crisis unit. To read this profile article in its entirety, subscribe to Miami Today’s E-paper. With the E-paper you will be able to read the entire contents of Miami Today online exactly as it appears in print. Or order this issue, to receive a regular printed copy of this week’s Miami Today. You may also subscribe to the printed edition of Miami Today to receive the newspaper every week by mail. If you are reading this in Miami Today’s “Online Archive” as an archived web page and would like to see the entire article that was published, call Miami Today, 305-358-2663 and ask for the Circulation Department.   Top Front Page About Miami Today Put Your Message in Miami Today Contact Miami Today © Copyright 2011 Miami Today designed and produced by Green Dot Advertising and Marketingvar gaJsHost = ((“https:” == document.location.protocol) ? “https://ssl.” : “http://www.”);document.write(unescape(“%3Cscript src='” + gaJsHost + “google-analytics.com/ga.js’ type=’text/javascript’%3E%3C/script%3E”));var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker(“UA-4990655-1”);pageTracker._initData();pageTracker._trackPageview();