March 31, 2026 • 9 mins
How is Temple Health showing up in your neighborhood? I’m Loraine Ballard Morrill with Care that Connects. Join me for stories that uplift, inform, and inspire you to take control of your health—and connect to care right where you live.
This episode features Dr. Nina O’Connor, Chair of Family and Community Medicine, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, and Reverend Mike Major, Sr. of Called to Serve CDC. Together, they explore how the Sullivan Community Impact Center is creating new pathways for health, empowerment, and connection in North Philadelphia. Dr. O’Connor highlights Temple’s commitment to embedding community-responsive care directly in the neighborhood, while Rev. Major shares how decades of community vision are being realized in this new space. Their conversation shows how true collaboration between health systems and community-based organizations builds trust, expands opportunity, and redefines what it means to deliver care where it’s needed most.
Connect with Temple Health:
Visit templehealth.org/events for free screenings and health fairs, and follow @TempleHealth on social media for updates on mobile health services. Many programs welcome walk-ups—no insurance or pre-registration required.
This episode features Dr. Nina O’Connor, Chair of Family and Community Medicine, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, and Reverend Mike Major, Sr. of Called to Serve CDC. Together, they explore how the Sullivan Community Impact Center is creating new pathways for health, empowerment, and connection in North Philadelphia. Dr. O’Connor highlights Temple’s commitment to embedding community-responsive care directly in the neighborhood, while Rev. Major shares how decades of community vision are being realized in this new space. Their conversation shows how true collaboration between health systems and community-based organizations builds trust, expands opportunity, and redefines what it means to deliver care where it’s needed most.
Connect with Temple Health:
Visit templehealth.org/events for free screenings and health fairs, and follow @TempleHealth on social media for updates on mobile health services. Many programs welcome walk-ups—no insurance or pre-registration required.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
In communities across Philadelphia. Improving health outcomes means more than
just providing medical care. It means building trust, removing barriers,
and creating spaces where people feel supported and connected. A
new collaboration between Temple Health and the Sullivan Community Impact
Center in North Philadelphia is doing just that. The center
(00:20):
brings healthcare services together with community leadership and support programs
designed to empower residents and improve access to care. Joining
us to talk about this innovative partnership are doctor Nina O'Connor,
Chair and Professor of Family and Community Medicine at the
Lewis Kat School of Medicine at Temple University, and Reverend
Michael A. Major, Senior Executive Director of Call to Serve CDC.
(00:45):
Together they're helping create new pathways for health, opportunity and
connection in North Philadelphia through the Sullivan Community Impact Center.
So I'll begin with you, Reverend Major. For listeners just
learning about the Sullivan Community Impact Center, What is it
and what does it make possible for residents in North Philadelphia.
Speaker 2 (01:03):
The Solton Community Impact Center is an extension of Zion
Pactist Church and our ministry in the community, and it
really tries to bring together a conglomeration, if you will
have services that centered around health and justice and providing
a space where people can access quality healthcare and a
safe environment that the community is welcoming and open to be.
Speaker 1 (01:25):
Doctor O'Connor, Temple Health often talks about meeting people where
they are. What does that look like in practice? Through
this partnership with the Sullivan Community Impact.
Speaker 3 (01:33):
Center, Thank you at Temple, we really do think a
lot about meeting people where they are. In this instance,
this means taking the care out into the community, into
the Impact Center, where community members are already participating in
all kinds of other activities and services. Instead of patients
having to come to Temple, We're going to have clinicians,
(01:56):
community health workers, and other resources in the Impact Center.
We've specifically chosen family medicine because it's a great first
interaction with the healthcare system. We can see patients of
all ages, we can see all genders, we can address
almost any problem, and then we can help people navigate
into the healthcare system, which we know is really confusing
(02:17):
and sometimes hard to figure out. Additionally, we envision this
as longitudinal relationships with our community neighbors. Family medicine is
very relational and holistic. So we hope that we can
be trusted partners with our neighbors in this new space.
Speaker 1 (02:31):
Reverend major, trust is essential in community work. What difference
does it make for neighbors to have healthcare services embedded
in a space that's already familiar and welcoming.
Speaker 2 (02:42):
The difference by having health care embedded in the space
that community is already welcoming is you remove the barriers.
It provides a safe place for people to engage in
healthcare where they could hopefully own their own healthcare as
an evolved because they're in the place that already is
trusted about folks in the community, and so by having
healthcare provider in that same space, the perspective will hopefully
(03:04):
be there, Okay, these people.
Speaker 1 (03:05):
I can trust, Doctor O'Connor. How does bringing clinicians, community
health workers, and support services together in one place help
address both medical needs and the social factors that affect
health well.
Speaker 3 (03:17):
This is really a different way of delivering healthcare. Instead
of starting with a clinical perspective, we're starting with the
community perspective. We're doing a lot of listening. We're hearing
what the community needs and wants in this space. We're
also asking them what would make them feel more comfortable
getting healthcare in this space, and then we really hope
(03:37):
to redesign the entire practice around ongoing feedback from the community.
You know, in addition, some of health is physical, but
a lot of health is social. A lot of health
has to do with your environment. And so by having
other services in the building that address some of those
other factors, I think we're going to be able to
take up a much more comprehensive.
Speaker 1 (03:57):
Approach, Reverend Major, This collaboration brings healthcare systems and community
leadership together in a powerful way. What makes this partnership
work so well?
Speaker 2 (04:06):
I think bringing healthcare and communitadship together in this new
innovative way, it works because the people leading and are
trusting each other. We both have the same objective, same goals,
and so we've already begun talking about ways. So we've
been working together up to this point, but this brings
it to a whole different level. But the level of
trust that's there on both sides allows us to experiment
(04:26):
and explore various ways that doing work in a different way.
Speaker 1 (04:29):
Doctor O'Connor, what kind of programs or services will people
be able to access at the center from preventative care
to community resources.
Speaker 3 (04:37):
So certainly we'll have comprehensive healthcare. You know, we can
manage almost any initial condition. We'll have a focus on
chronic disease management because we know that illnesses like hypertension
and diabetes are disproportionately represented in this part of the city.
But over time, we really hope to move the needle
more towards prevention. You know, how do we work with
(04:58):
people actively, part with them and try and prevent these
different types of illnesses. We'll have traditional healthcare, but we
also imagine classes and group visits and other resources. And
then on the first floor there'll be a hub that
helps connect people with different social programs or community resources
to address other needs they might have.
Speaker 2 (05:18):
And i'm a dad also we will have a therapy
suite on the third floor as well.
Speaker 3 (05:22):
Yes, and the Temple Community Health Worker program will be
housed in this new space, as well as some social
work and also just gathering spaces for other groups, community
groups to use for their purposes.
Speaker 1 (05:35):
Right, So really it's engaged in community. It's, as you
said earlier, meeting people where they are. So, Reverend Major,
you've spent decades working in the community. What does this
mean to see this long standing vision for a community
centered hub become a reality.
Speaker 2 (05:51):
I think what it means for me personally in terms
of it becoming a reality as a hub is a
place so people can come and get help and be empowered.
I think for looking at this fias from now, get
ahead of the question. But literally, people own their own healthcare.
I think about my own health care and a lot
of times I'm engaging with the practitioner, and in some
cases it's a partnership. And so the idea of folks
(06:13):
being able to own their own healthcare and be partner
and building empowered to do that, I think is really
kind of cool to see happen.
Speaker 1 (06:21):
I love that, And I'm going to ask doctor O'Connor
to also speculate five years from now, for having this conversation,
what will success look like for this partnership and for
the families in North Philadelphia.
Speaker 3 (06:33):
So I come back to the word trust, I think
Mike esad earlier. You know, if we build a place
where our patients and our community members have trust and
feel respected, they're going to be more likely to take
care of their health, to engage in the different programs
in the center and to make positive changes in their
own life. And we'd really love to be partners with
(06:54):
them in those changes as we advance the health and
the wellness in North Philadelphia.
Speaker 1 (06:59):
And I'd like to give you both an opportunity to
share a final message about this collaboration between Temple Health
and Sullivan Community Impact Center in North Philadelphia. Reverend Major,
start with you.
Speaker 2 (07:12):
I suppose the word the final world will be hope
to create a sense of hope for people, for community
that in some cases does not have that kind of hope,
and so that we might be a place that people
can experience and see hope for the future.
Speaker 1 (07:27):
I love that, Doctor O'Connor.
Speaker 3 (07:29):
I also love hope, and I'll add respect. You know,
we want this to be a place where everyone feels seen,
everyone feels valued, everyone feels respected. You know that involves
a lot of listening, and we're ready and willing to
redesign the care to make that happen.
Speaker 2 (07:43):
Well.
Speaker 1 (07:44):
Those are all wonderful and empowering words that you share
with us. If people would like to know more about
the Sullivan Community Impact Center in North Philadelphia, Reverend Major,
how do they find out more about that?
Speaker 2 (07:57):
Our website is www. Call C L L ed T
O s E r Ve CDC dot org. That's a
Call to Serve CDC dot org. And there's a link
on my website that'll point you to the fellow in
the Communion Tech.
Speaker 1 (08:14):
Center and Doctor O'Connor. If people want to know more
about Temple Health and all the many services that are provided,
how do they find out more?
Speaker 3 (08:21):
So they can also find us on the web and
we have online scheduling if patients are interested in finding
a new primary care provider. But I would also encourage
them to go to the called the Serve web page
because it really captures the vision of this partnership so well.
Speaker 1 (08:35):
Beautiful doctor Nina O'Connor, Chair and Professor of Family and
Community Medicine at the Lewis Kat School of Medicine at
Temple University, and the Reverend Michael a Major, Senior executive
director of Call to Serve CDC. They are talking about
this wonderful new pathway for health opportunity and connection in
North Philadelphia through the Sullivan Community Impact Center. Thank you
(08:59):
both for joining us today. Thank you want to connect
with Temple Health in your community, Visit Templehealth dot org
slash events to find free screenings, healthfares and more. And
remember many of our programs welcome walk ups with no insurance.
Our pre registration needed. Together, we're building healthier communities, one
neighbor at a time,
In communities across Philadelphia. Improving health outcomes means more than
just providing medical care. It means building trust, removing barriers,
and creating spaces where people feel supported and connected. A
new collaboration between Temple Health and the Sullivan Community Impact
Center in North Philadelphia is doing just that. The center
(00:20):
brings healthcare services together with community leadership and support programs
designed to empower residents and improve access to care. Joining
us to talk about this innovative partnership are doctor Nina O'Connor,
Chair and Professor of Family and Community Medicine at the
Lewis Kat School of Medicine at Temple University, and Reverend
Michael A. Major, Senior Executive Director of Call to Serve CDC.
(00:45):
Together they're helping create new pathways for health, opportunity and
connection in North Philadelphia through the Sullivan Community Impact Center.
So I'll begin with you, Reverend Major. For listeners just
learning about the Sullivan Community Impact Center, What is it
and what does it make possible for residents in North Philadelphia.
Speaker 2 (01:03):
The Solton Community Impact Center is an extension of Zion
Pactist Church and our ministry in the community, and it
really tries to bring together a conglomeration, if you will
have services that centered around health and justice and providing
a space where people can access quality healthcare and a
safe environment that the community is welcoming and open to be.
Speaker 1 (01:25):
Doctor O'Connor, Temple Health often talks about meeting people where
they are. What does that look like in practice? Through
this partnership with the Sullivan Community Impact.
Speaker 3 (01:33):
Center, Thank you at Temple, we really do think a
lot about meeting people where they are. In this instance,
this means taking the care out into the community, into
the Impact Center, where community members are already participating in
all kinds of other activities and services. Instead of patients
having to come to Temple, We're going to have clinicians,
(01:56):
community health workers, and other resources in the Impact Center.
We've specifically chosen family medicine because it's a great first
interaction with the healthcare system. We can see patients of
all ages, we can see all genders, we can address
almost any problem, and then we can help people navigate
into the healthcare system, which we know is really confusing
(02:17):
and sometimes hard to figure out. Additionally, we envision this
as longitudinal relationships with our community neighbors. Family medicine is
very relational and holistic. So we hope that we can
be trusted partners with our neighbors in this new space.
Speaker 1 (02:31):
Reverend major, trust is essential in community work. What difference
does it make for neighbors to have healthcare services embedded
in a space that's already familiar and welcoming.
Speaker 2 (02:42):
The difference by having health care embedded in the space
that community is already welcoming is you remove the barriers.
It provides a safe place for people to engage in
healthcare where they could hopefully own their own healthcare as
an evolved because they're in the place that already is
trusted about folks in the community, and so by having
healthcare provider in that same space, the perspective will hopefully
(03:04):
be there, Okay, these people.
Speaker 1 (03:05):
I can trust, Doctor O'Connor. How does bringing clinicians, community
health workers, and support services together in one place help
address both medical needs and the social factors that affect
health well.
Speaker 3 (03:17):
This is really a different way of delivering healthcare. Instead
of starting with a clinical perspective, we're starting with the
community perspective. We're doing a lot of listening. We're hearing
what the community needs and wants in this space. We're
also asking them what would make them feel more comfortable
getting healthcare in this space, and then we really hope
(03:37):
to redesign the entire practice around ongoing feedback from the community.
You know, in addition, some of health is physical, but
a lot of health is social. A lot of health
has to do with your environment. And so by having
other services in the building that address some of those
other factors, I think we're going to be able to
take up a much more comprehensive.
Speaker 1 (03:57):
Approach, Reverend Major, This collaboration brings healthcare systems and community
leadership together in a powerful way. What makes this partnership
work so well?
Speaker 2 (04:06):
I think bringing healthcare and communitadship together in this new
innovative way, it works because the people leading and are
trusting each other. We both have the same objective, same goals,
and so we've already begun talking about ways. So we've
been working together up to this point, but this brings
it to a whole different level. But the level of
trust that's there on both sides allows us to experiment
(04:26):
and explore various ways that doing work in a different way.
Speaker 1 (04:29):
Doctor O'Connor, what kind of programs or services will people
be able to access at the center from preventative care
to community resources.
Speaker 3 (04:37):
So certainly we'll have comprehensive healthcare. You know, we can
manage almost any initial condition. We'll have a focus on
chronic disease management because we know that illnesses like hypertension
and diabetes are disproportionately represented in this part of the city.
But over time, we really hope to move the needle
more towards prevention. You know, how do we work with
(04:58):
people actively, part with them and try and prevent these
different types of illnesses. We'll have traditional healthcare, but we
also imagine classes and group visits and other resources. And
then on the first floor there'll be a hub that
helps connect people with different social programs or community resources
to address other needs they might have.
Speaker 2 (05:18):
And i'm a dad also we will have a therapy
suite on the third floor as well.
Speaker 3 (05:22):
Yes, and the Temple Community Health Worker program will be
housed in this new space, as well as some social
work and also just gathering spaces for other groups, community
groups to use for their purposes.
Speaker 1 (05:35):
Right, So really it's engaged in community. It's, as you
said earlier, meeting people where they are. So, Reverend Major,
you've spent decades working in the community. What does this
mean to see this long standing vision for a community
centered hub become a reality.
Speaker 2 (05:51):
I think what it means for me personally in terms
of it becoming a reality as a hub is a
place so people can come and get help and be empowered.
I think for looking at this fias from now, get
ahead of the question. But literally, people own their own healthcare.
I think about my own health care and a lot
of times I'm engaging with the practitioner, and in some
cases it's a partnership. And so the idea of folks
(06:13):
being able to own their own healthcare and be partner
and building empowered to do that, I think is really
kind of cool to see happen.
Speaker 1 (06:21):
I love that, And I'm going to ask doctor O'Connor
to also speculate five years from now, for having this conversation,
what will success look like for this partnership and for
the families in North Philadelphia.
Speaker 3 (06:33):
So I come back to the word trust, I think
Mike esad earlier. You know, if we build a place
where our patients and our community members have trust and
feel respected, they're going to be more likely to take
care of their health, to engage in the different programs
in the center and to make positive changes in their
own life. And we'd really love to be partners with
(06:54):
them in those changes as we advance the health and
the wellness in North Philadelphia.
Speaker 1 (06:59):
And I'd like to give you both an opportunity to
share a final message about this collaboration between Temple Health
and Sullivan Community Impact Center in North Philadelphia. Reverend Major,
start with you.
Speaker 2 (07:12):
I suppose the word the final world will be hope
to create a sense of hope for people, for community
that in some cases does not have that kind of hope,
and so that we might be a place that people
can experience and see hope for the future.
Speaker 1 (07:27):
I love that, Doctor O'Connor.
Speaker 3 (07:29):
I also love hope, and I'll add respect. You know,
we want this to be a place where everyone feels seen,
everyone feels valued, everyone feels respected. You know that involves
a lot of listening, and we're ready and willing to
redesign the care to make that happen.
Speaker 2 (07:43):
Well.
Speaker 1 (07:44):
Those are all wonderful and empowering words that you share
with us. If people would like to know more about
the Sullivan Community Impact Center in North Philadelphia, Reverend Major,
how do they find out more about that?
Speaker 2 (07:57):
Our website is www. Call C L L ed T
O s E r Ve CDC dot org. That's a
Call to Serve CDC dot org. And there's a link
on my website that'll point you to the fellow in
the Communion Tech.
Speaker 1 (08:14):
Center and Doctor O'Connor. If people want to know more
about Temple Health and all the many services that are provided,
how do they find out more?
Speaker 3 (08:21):
So they can also find us on the web and
we have online scheduling if patients are interested in finding
a new primary care provider. But I would also encourage
them to go to the called the Serve web page
because it really captures the vision of this partnership so well.
Speaker 1 (08:35):
Beautiful doctor Nina O'Connor, Chair and Professor of Family and
Community Medicine at the Lewis Kat School of Medicine at
Temple University, and the Reverend Michael a Major, Senior executive
director of Call to Serve CDC. They are talking about
this wonderful new pathway for health opportunity and connection in
North Philadelphia through the Sullivan Community Impact Center. Thank you
(08:59):
both for joining us today. Thank you want to connect
with Temple Health in your community, Visit Templehealth dot org
slash events to find free screenings, healthfares and more. And
remember many of our programs welcome walk ups with no insurance.
Our pre registration needed. Together, we're building healthier communities, one
neighbor at a time,
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