PRESS RELEASE
December 20, 2022
Dr. Joel Tanaka, Senior Vice President, Health Equity and Community Education
Colorado Springs, Colo. – Peak Vista Community Health Centers (Peak Vista) announces a new leadership role within its organization, the Senior Vice President, Health Equity and Community Education.
The Senior Vice President, Health Equity and Community Education oversees all health equity initiatives, programs, and services. Paralleling Peak Vista’s mission, the Senior Vice President, Health Equity and Community Education prioritizes improving health outcomes for the community’s most vulnerable and underrepresented members, removing barriers to care, and health optimization. This position also works closely with community partners to build a local network of support, advocacy, and education.
Peak Vista is proud to announce that Joel Tanaka, MD will serve in this pivotal new role. Dr. Tanaka joined the Peak Vista team in 2019 as the Senior Vice President of Medical Services. Prior to Peak Vista, he served as Medial Director of Primary Care at the Veterans Health Administration in Colorado Springs and held multiple leadership roles at Fort Carson, including Medical Director of the Warrior Transition Battalion, and 7th Infantry Division Senior Medical Advisor to the Post Commander.
In the wake of the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” in 2011, Dr. Tanaka (then serving as the Chief of Primary Care at Evans Army Community Hospital), along with behavioral health and other hospital leadership, led a multidisciplinary, gender affirming team to meet soldiers’ psychological, behavioral, and medical needs in a safe environment. For the last several months, he has also been providing acute and primary care to patients at one of Peak Vista’s rural locations, the Health Center at Limon.
“While health equity has been a foundational tenet of the national Community Health Center movement for over 50 years, I am thrilled the Peak Vista executive team is prioritizing it locally by creating this role,” said Dr. Tanaka. “Coupling health equity with community education is critical to advocate for those in our community who need it for optimal health and wellness. I am humbled and honored to be trusted with this mission.”
About Peak Vista Community Health Centers
Peak Vista Community Health Centers is a nonprofit organization providing exceptional health care to people facing access barriers through clinical programs and education. Celebrating over 50 years of community health service, Peak Vista offers primary medical, integrated behavioral health and dental care services. We proudly serve over 89,000 patients annually through 23 outpatient centers in Colorado’s Pikes Peak and East Central regions.
