Debbian Fletcher-Blake
Chief Executive Officer
VIP Community Services
Debbian Fletcher-Blake, APRN, FNP, is the CEO of Vocational Instruction Project (VIP) Community Services, Inc., a 501(c)(3) organization in the Bronx that offers comprehensive medical, behavioral health, housing, vocational and supportive services to the community. She served as the Executive Vice President/Chief Operations Officer at Morris Heights Health Center in the Bronx, and as an Assistant Executive Director of Care for the Homeless, a FQHC specializing in Homeless Healthcare in New York City (NYC). Prior to joining Care for the Homeless, Debbian was with the Institute for Family Health, NYC as a Family Nurse Practitioner and Clinical Director of the Homeless program for a combined ten years. Debbian also worked in academia serving as the Clinical Director of the Mobile Health Program and an adjunct instructor at New York University College of Nursing. Debbian’s passion for public and community health has intensified over twenty-five years. She has been active in building culturally competent workforces, tackling healthcare inequities and focusing on strategies to eliminate disparities, and working to ensure community members are active participants in deciding systems of care. Due to her vast experience in quality assurance, physical and behavioral health care, Debbian has served as subject matter expert on numerous clinical and administrative projects both locally and nationally.
Ms. Fletcher-Blakes’s achievements as a leader in community health centers include: achieving the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) patient centered medical home status at the highest level for five clinics; multiple awards from the Bureau of Primary Health Care, Health Resources and Services Administration for desired clinical outcomes; increasing federal funding from 1.4 million to over 5 million dollars in eight years; establishing successful 340B prescription programs with considerable revenues in short durations; working closely with New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) to establish guidelines for licensing small clinics in the state; rebuilding a Health Home program; establishing multiple National Health Services Corps (NHSC) programs in several institutions including for behavioral health, collaborating with multiple community stakeholders to improve access to mental health and addiction services and involvement with several boards, collaboratives and associations. Her involvement with various organizations has allowed her to collaborate with colleagues, legislators and other stakeholders locally and nationally to impact health care for patients from the dual perspectives of clinician and administrator.
Most recently in 2019, for her leadership, visionary and dedication to reducing health disparities in the communities and transforming lives of the underserved populations, Debbian was selected as CRAIN’s Notable Women in Health Care from amongst very eminent New York’s health care’s leading women. She is also the recipient of the prestigious Dr. Philip W. Brickner Award Honoree from CHCANYS for advocating and championing for the medical needs of those who are homeless and vulnerable.
Ms. Fletcher-Blake is a Board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner licensed in New York State. She holds a Master of Science in Nursing from Pace University School of Nursing. With an Executive Leadership Certificate in Health Information Technology from the University of Colorado School of Nursing, Debbian brings expertise and efficiency in the coordination of health and social services programs through health information technology. Debbian holds an Executive Leadership certificate from UCLA School of Business and Bachelor of Science degrees in Nursing and Chemistry.