Medical Director 
Dr. Julie vanPutten is a physician who has distinguished herself as an advocate for community health care. Her belief is that individuals and communities have the ability to alter their environments by changing their beliefs about what is possible, and making conscious choices which promote healing, wholeness, as well as personal and community growth. Dr. vanPutten believes in the importance of integrative methods of health, and the powerful interaction of the mind, body, and spirit in creating environments for problem-solving and change. She believes that the solution to our health care crisis resides in a greater emphasis on preventive models of care. In addition, all individuals and families need to have assured access to a regular source of primary health care, based on care models which emphasize what works, rather than what has always been done.
Dr. vanPutten is the Medical Director of Columbus Neighborhood Health Centers, Inc. (CNHC) a community health center with five clinical sites, two dental sites and one vision site, with care delivered by over 30 health care providers. CNHC serves as a medical home to approximately 20,000 patients. It is a proud community partner with the City of Columbus, and provides high quality affordable preventive and primary care in over 75,000 patient visits annually within the following areas: pediatrics, internal and family medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, podiatry, dentistry, and vision services. CNHC also offers enabling services such as translation, social work, health education, and pharmacy services. Approximately 70% of CNHC’s patients come from diverse cultural and ethnic minority populations. CNHC provides services to all individuals who seek care regardless of insurance status
Dr. vanPutten is a graduate of The Ohio State University College of Medicine – Medical Scientist Program (M.D./Ph.D.). She completed her residency in family medicine at Mt. Carmel Hospital. Her Ph.D. is in Public Health/Preventive Medicine with an emphasis on health behavior and behavioral epidemiology. Dr. vanPutten’s research interests are in chronic disease management and the use of methods of motivational interviewing and change in community development. She holds graduate degrees in public health (M.P.H.) and family counseling (M.S.) from Loma Linda University School of Public Health and Graduate School in Loma Linda, California. She has an extensive background working in multiple areas such as academic public health, health care administration, patient education, as well as a consultant in public health program management, and as a training consultant in personal development and professional speaking. Dr. vanPutten is a board certified physician in family medicine, and serves on the advisory boards of several national and community-based organizations. |
