Patrick McGovern is CEO of Callen-Lorde Community Health Center, which serves 23,000 patients annually with comprehensive, judgment-free health care, regardless of ability to pay. He is a seasoned and accomplished healthcare executive, having served as chief operations and strategy officer at Amida Care and CEO at Harlem United. Before Callen-Lorde, he was VP of government affairs at Gilead, where his vision was to promote broad access to HIV and HCV testing and HCV cures nationwide.
What words of advice would you offer to a young LGBTQ+ individual growing up today?
Nurture your sense of wonder and curiosity. It will serve you well in all aspects of your life. Wonder draws us out of ourselves (and our phones…). Curiosity makes us look at things a little more deeply, spotting connections that reveal solutions. Wonder and curiosity work together for the good in both our personal and professional lives.
Is there an LGBTQ+ owned business or organization that you would like to spotlight?
Enoteca Harlem: Inspired by the Basque-country tradition of friends sharing tapas over a good glass of wine, Enoteca Harlem is a gay-owned gem in Central Harlem that instantly turns customers into friends. My husband, Calix, and I return time and again for laughter, artful food, and delicious wine. The owners and staff fully represent our LGBTQ community’s love of life, humor, creativity, and inclusivity.
What is the proudest moment of your career so far?
When I was CEO of Harlem United, Linda was everyone’s favorite program member. She had come through addiction and advanced HIV but always had the kindest smile. Her dream, at nearly 60, was to drive a school bus. My proudest day was when Linda invited me to witness her taking her first busload of kids on a school trip. Linda personified the beauty, resilience, determination, and hope that characterized Harlem United — and the patients of Callen-Lorde.
