Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Emily Goodman
Director of Marketing & Communications
emily.goodman@cciweb.org
(202) 329-2685

Dr. Sonya J. Bruton Becomes CCI Health & Wellness Services’ New Chief Executive Officer & President

Silver Spring, MD – April 27, 2020—With the retirement of Kathleen Knolhoff, MPH, effective April 27, CCI Health & Wellness Services announces that Sonya J. Bruton, Psy.D., MPA, has become the Chief Executive Officer & President and member of the Board of Directors. Through careful succession planning, Dr. Bruton provides a seamless transition of institutional knowledge, having served as Associate Chief Executive Officer for two years and Chief Operating Officer for nearly four.

“In these roles, Dr. Bruton has already demonstrated her strong leadership qualities, vision, business acumen, and passion about the role Federally Qualified Health Centers play within our community and nation,” says Beth Durham, Chair of the Board of Directors.

This change in leadership occurs amidst a unique moment in history, marked by the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic.

According to Kathleen Knolhoff, “Dr. Bruton has effectively spearheaded CCI Health & Wellness Services’ response to COVID-19, eliciting great confidence in her ability to guide the organization as it plays a critical role in this ongoing public health crisis.”

Commenting on her new role, Dr. Bruton says, “Resilience and rise in the face of extreme adversity are hallmarks of the Federally Qualified Health Center movement and my career path. It is my honor to step into this role and work closely with the Board to emerge from this global crisis more connected to the communities we serve and poised to deepen our impact at all levels.”

About Dr. Bruton

Dr. Bruton has worked with community health centers at the state, national, and site levels since 1999. She served as Executive Director of the North Carolina Community Health Center Association for eight years and as a programmatic and operations consultant for the Health Resources & Services Administration, as well as specific health center sites.

She brings a strong background in fundraising, having worked in major gifts at her alma mater, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-CH), and crafted successful federal grant proposals for CCI Health & Wellness Services and other health centers throughout the East Coast.

Dr. Bruton earned a doctor of psychology degree and master’s degree in clinical psychology from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology’s Washington, DC campus. She received her undergraduate degree from UNC-CH in Journalism and her master’s in public administration with a concentration in nonprofit and association management from North Carolina State University.

Gratitude for Kathleen Knolhoff’s legacy

As Kathleen Knolhoff departs, CCI Health & Wellness Services extends its deepest gratitude for her extraordinary leadership, growing the organization from $12 million to $28 million between 2009 and 2019.

Prior to joining the organization in 2009, Ms. Knolhoff worked for nearly a decade at the State of Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, first as the Health Officer for Talbot County, MD, then as the Director of the Maryland WIC Program.

About CCI Health & Wellness Services

CCI Health & Wellness Services is a group practice that empowers patients to partner with staff for an unparalleled healthcare experience. Through integrated teams in a learning environment, the organization delivers high-quality, affordable care to every patient during all stages of life.

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