FHCN President/CEO Hydash Receives 'Changemaker Award'

Family HealthCare Network President and CEO Kerry Hydash has been selected as a recipient of the prestigious 2026 David B. Vliet Changemaker Award by Advocates for Community Health (ACH), recognizing her exceptional leadership, vision and pioneering commitment to expanding access to high quality healthcare for underserved communities.

"Kerry's leadership has always been driven by one simple belief: every person deserves access to quality healthcare, regardless of their circumstances," said Amanda Pears Kelly, CEO of Advocates for Community Health. "Kerry has challenged conventional thinking, expanded what healthcare can look like in communities, and helped shape policies that strengthen health centers nationwide."

Under Hydash's leadership, FHCN has grown into one of California's leading community health organizations, serving more than 255,000 patients each year through nearly 1.3 million patient visits across more than 50 locations throughout Fresno, Kern, Kings and Tulare counties, becoming the second largest Federally Qualified Health Center in the nation.

Beyond delivering comprehensive medical, dental, behavioral health, optometry, chiropractic, pharmacy and specialty services, FHCN has become recognized for addressing the social factors that influence health through innovative community programs that improve access to nutritious food, promote childhood literacy, expand preventive care and remove barriers that prevent families from receiving the care they need.

As the founding board president of Advocates for Community Health, Hydash played a pivotal role in establishing the organization's vision and strategic direction, advancing policies that expand healthcare access, strengthen the nation's healthcare workforce and shape the future of healthcare.

"It is a tremendous honor to receive this recognition," said Hydash. "This award reflects the dedication of the nearly 2,000 employees of Family HealthCare Network who choose every day to serve our communities with compassion and excellence. It also belongs to the patients and families who trust us with their care and inspire us to continually innovate and expand access to healthcare throughout California's Central Valley."

FHCN began in 1976 as a small health center in Porterville and has grown into an integrated healthcare network dedicated to building healthier communities by expanding access to compassionate, high quality care throughout the Central Valley.