WHO WE ARE
At Ascendant Healthcare Partners, we are dedicated to helping public health departments, healthcare organizations, and communities achieve measurable and sustainable improvements in health outcomes. With our expertise in Community Health Needs Assessments (CHNA), Community Health Improvement Plans (CHIP), health equity consulting, and strategic planning, we provide tailored solutions to address your unique health challenges. Our mission is simple: empowering communities to achieve better health through data-driven strategies and collaboration. As trusted partners, we work closely with public health agencies to design, implement, and evaluate programs that enhance healthcare access, reduce disparities, and improve overall well-being.
Our Mission
and Vision
Ascendant Healthcare Partners is dedicated to making a meaningful difference in community health by identifying innovative solutions to create a healthier future. We strive to be a leader in building thriving, healthier communities by fostering collaboration, driving sustainable change, and empowering individuals to reach their full potential.
Our vision at Ascendant Healthcare Partners is to create a healthier, more equitable future where every individual has the opportunity to thrive. Through championing equity, harnessing the power of data-driven insights, and fostering collaboration and hope, we aim to address disparities, inspire action, and build a foundation for lasting well-being. Together, we envision thriving communities empowered to achieve a brighter tomorrow.
Our Core
Values
1. Improvement
We are committed to finding better ways to enhance efficiency, joy, and progress, constantly striving to improve and elevate ourselves, our processes, and the outcomes we deliver.
2. Teamwork
We believe in the power of collaboration, connecting improvement to evolution through cross-training and empowering every team member to step into leadership roles, ensuring shared growth and success.
3. Healthy Future
We are dedicated to working for a healthier future for everyone, promoting wellness and equity across all communities we serve.
4. Sustainability
We prioritize creating structures and plans that are realistic, consistent, and sustainable—ensuring long-term success without unnecessary strain, as consistency forms the foundation for lasting achievement.
5. Making a Difference
Together, we use our collective experience, resources, and passion to create a meaningful impact, ensuring a better quality of life for all individuals and communities.
6. Simplification
We value clear, straightforward solutions that address complex challenges, making health initiatives accessible and effective for all.
Our Expertise
At Ascendant Healthcare Partners, we offer a wide range of public health consulting services to help your organization meet its health improvement goals. Our team of experts brings decades of experience in the following areas:
1. Community Health Needs Assessments (CHNA)
We are leaders in conducting CHNAs, helping public health departments identify health priorities, assess social determinants of health (SDoH), and develop strategies to address the most pressing issues in their communities.
2. Community Health Improvement Plans (CHIP)
Following a CHNA, we develop actionable CHIPs that translate findings into long-term, measurable health improvement strategies. Our CHIP services ensure that health departments have a clear roadmap for achieving sustainable health goals.
3. Health Equity Consulting
We specialize in addressing health disparities through targeted health equity consulting. Our team helps organizations design and implement policies that ensure equitable access to healthcare for all populations, particularly underserved communities.
4. Strategic Planning for Public Health
Our strategic planning services provide public health departments with the tools they need to plan for the future. We help you develop adaptable, data-driven strategies that align with PHAB standards and meet your community’s specific health needs.
5. Health Literacy Consulting
Clear communication is critical for improving health outcomes. We offer health literacy consulting to ensure that your organization’s health information is accessible, understandable, and actionable for all patients.
Our Team
Our team of public health experts brings decades of experience in community health, strategic planning, and healthcare consulting. We are passionate about working with communities to create positive, sustainable health outcomes. Each member of our team is committed to helping public health departments, healthcare providers, and organizations address their most pressing challenges.
At Ascendant Healthcare Partners, we are dedicated to helping public health departments, healthcare organizations, and communities achieve measurable and sustainable improvements in health outcomes. With our expertise in Community Health Needs Assessments (CHNA), Community Health Improvement Plans (CHIP), health equity consulting, and strategic planning, we provide tailored solutions to address your unique health challenges.Our mission is simple: empowering communities to achieve better health through data-driven strategies and collaboration. As trusted partners, we work closely with public health agencies to design, implement, and evaluate programs that enhance healthcare access, reduce disparities, and improve overall well-being.
JoAnn Andrews
Founder, CEO
JoAnn Andrews is the Founder and CEO of Ascendant Healthcare Partners, a woman-owned business dedicated to transforming public health systems across the nation. With a deep expertise in public health consulting, JoAnn leads a team of professionals in delivering Community Health Needs Assessments (CHNA), Community Health Improvement Plans (CHIP), and strategic public health solutions that address complex community health challenges.
JoAnn has been appointed to the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) Performance Improvement Oversight Committee, where she oversees initiatives related to strategic planning, Community Health Assessments (CHA), CHIP, and performance improvement. She is one of only ten national experts in using the Mobilizing for Action through Planning & Partnerships (MAPP) framework, demonstrating her leadership in public health strategy and planning.
JoAnn is also a site reviewer for the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB), ensuring that public health departments meet the highest standards of performance and quality. In addition, she collaborates with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of the Healthy People 2030 initiative, helping to shape national health objectives and advance public health equity.
JoAnn’s dedication to public health has earned her several prestigious accolades, including the American Marketing Association (AMA) Marketer of the Year Award, the Marketing Strategy Award in Cardiovascular Healthcare from Frost & Sullivan, and the African Methodist Episcopal Church Sesquicentennial Hail the Heroes Distinguished Health Professional Award.
With a commitment to advancing health equity, reducing health disparities, and improving health outcomes, JoAnn’s leadership has positioned Ascendant Healthcare Partners as a trusted national leader in public health consulting. Her vision is rooted in empowering communities through data-driven strategies, evidence-based interventions, and collaborative planning. JoAnn’s innovative approach aligns with Healthy People 2030 goals and addresses the social determinants of health (SDoH) to create sustainable and measurable health improvements.
Sandra Whitehead
Senior Consultant
Sandra is a nationally recognized leader and has authored numerous papers and book chapters on workforce development, health in all policies (HiAP) and the built environment impacting community health. She was appointed in 2017 by the EPA Administrator to the National Environmental Justice Advisory Council and has a passion for working to improve communities and the lives of people living in them. Sandra has worked at all levels of government and has a wide network she can leverage to help you achieve your goals.
Sandra has worked with multiple jurisdictions to create a HiAP framework including: the City of Richmond, Virginia; the City of Cincinnati; Franklin County (MA) Regional Council of Governments and Kitsap County (OR). She is actively working with a consortium of partners in Pinellas County, Florida to implement a $1.3 million HiAP initiative funded by the Foundation for a Healthy St Petersburg which includes partnerships with: the Florida Department of Health in Pinellas County; the Cities of St. Petersburg and Pinellas Park and Pinellas County. She recently published an article in the Journal of Environmental Health on intersectoral collaboration. In 2018, she taught a HiAP class with the World Health Organization.
Sandra's expertise in Health Impact Assessment (HIA) has been well honed over the past ten years. She has worked on over 25 HIAs across the US on a variety of topics ranging from state education policies to comprehensive plans. Sandra has trained over 500 professionals to conduct HIAs and serves on the Steering Committee of the Society of Practitioners of HIA (hiasociety.org).
Sandra's background includes almost 20 years of local government experience, over 11 years of public health work and teaching appointments at the University of Florida and Florida State University. She is currently the Program Director and Chair of the Department of Sustainable Urban Planning at George Washington University.
