Dr. Alexander Salerno MD, MHA (UHIP Founder)

In 2010, Dr. Alexander Salerno launched the Urban Healthcare Initiative Program (UHIP) to address the growing disparity in healthcare outcomes in the urban community through education outreach programs. Today, UHIP  operates under its independent Board of Directors. Through this initiative the UHIP team reaches out to the community through local community based organizations, churches, community centers, even barbershops and hair salons. Their mission is to strive for better healthcare outcomes through health literacy training within urban communities of northern New Jersey, promoting proactive healthcare and disease management.

Dr. Salerno, a former military captain, holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Skidmore College, a medical degree from St. George’s University School of Medicine in the Caribbean and a Master of Healthcare Administration from Seton Hall University.

Currently, Dr. Salerno runs his family-owned and operated practice, Salerno Medical Associates (SMA), which has been serving the East Orange and Newark communities for over 30 years. UHIP, from that initial creation progressed to become an independent entity, still operating with continued support from Dr. Salerno.  In addition to SMA, Dr. Salerno also oversees the Community Healthcare Outreach Program (CHOP), a local organization that provides house calls to those in need and to mentally ill and substance use disorders populations throughout Northern New Jersey.

Dr. Salerno received the 2016 Top Doctor Award for his work in SMA’s Newark offices and another 2016 Top Doctor Award for his work in SMA’s East Orange offices. Salerno Medical Associates has also been recognized as one of the top Newark Family Medical practices in 2016 by Opencare.com, based on patient reviews from Yelp, Google, RateMD. In addition, Dr. Salerno has been honored with the Physician’s Choice Award in 2008, 2009, and 2010.

Our Mission & Goals

UHIP is a non-profit 501(c)3 community health education advocacy program active among community- and faith-based organizations within the greater City of Newark and Essex County, New Jersey communities. The mission of UHIP is to improve health disparities and healthcare access among African Americans, Hispanics and other communities that suffer disproportionately from chronic disease, disability, and premature death, and who have no or limited access to quality care. Our goal is to directly address barriers to quality healthcare in local urban communities by increasing health literacy and where possible promote access to comprehensive health care. To achieve its mission and goals, UHIP partners with local community organizations, transitional living centers, houses of worship and civic groups, community centers, senior citizen housing facilities, mental health/substance abuse treatment programs, barbershops, hair salons, etc., to bring health literacy services to vulnerable populations in the spaces where they congregate.

Board of Directors

The Urban Healthcare Initiative Program now operates independently under its Board of Directors providing services within the community.

Rev. Dana Owens
Board Chairperson
Pastor, Messiah Baptist Church, East Orange NJ

Bernita F. Faust
Board Secretary (Consumer)
Community Advocate

Boris (Bo) Barlatier
Board Treasurer
Development Manager, SMA Specialty Medical Lab, Feasterville, PA

Dale Groninger
Board Member
Human Resource Administrator, Salerno Medical Associates, East Orange, NJ

Marilyn Harris, DMin, MDiv, MBA
Board Member
Vice President, Community Relations
Beth Israel Medical Center and Children’s Hospital of New Jersey

Denise Peroune, PhD
Board Member
Executive Director, Urban Healthcare Initiative Program, East Orange, NJ

Present and Past Funders

Past Funders:

• Novo Nordisk
• The Montclair Foundation
• Daiichi-Sankyo