Jefferson Health Plans announced on Apr. 16 the continued expansion of its partnership with Philadelphia Youth Basketball to advance community wellness, address health disparities, and build long-term trust with families in Philadelphia. The collaboration is centered around the Jefferson Health Plans’ Community Wellness Center located inside PYB’s Alan Horwitz “Sixth Man” Center, aiming to transform youth-centered spaces into accessible gateways for healthcare.
The initiative seeks to reach families where they gather by leveraging sports-anchored engagement. This approach allows for prevention, education, and health navigation opportunities for those who may not typically access traditional healthcare settings.
“At Jefferson Health Plans, we believe that health access begins where families already live, learn and play. Our partnership with Philadelphia Youth Basketball allows us to break down traditional barriers to care and create trusted, community-centered touchpoints that support the whole family,” says Krista Hoglund, President of Jefferson Health Plans. “Together, we’re meeting young people where they are and building long-term pathways to better health.”
The Community Wellness Center provides free programs such as maternal and family health education, preventive screenings including blood pressure and cholesterol checks, monthly fresh food pop-ups in partnership with Sharing Excess, workforce development support, youth-focused health education and physicals, benefits navigation assistance, and help accessing other community resources. Kat Ketter said: “Our goal is to create meaningful, consistent access to care for every family we serve… By expanding programs like preventive screenings…we are creating ongoing opportunities for families to connect with resources that support their long-term well-being.”
In January 2026, over 300 young athletes and family members attended a community event at PYB aligned with Unrivaled—a professional women’s basketball league focused on equity—featuring discussions on menstrual health led by a Jefferson physician as well as CPR instruction from Simon’s Heart.
Ameen Akbar of PYB said: “Through our partnership with Jefferson Health Plans…our center has become more than a place to engage in meaningful programming with basketball as the anchor. It is now a gateway for youth families…to access the care [and] resources they need…”
Looking ahead, Jefferson Health Plans will sponsor the upcoming PYB Sneaker Ball celebrating female empowerment. Next month will see another sports screening event at PYB featuring mandatory PIAA pre-participation physicals alongside Medicaid/CHIP information sessions.
Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals-Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center was founded in 1991 in Philadelphia; its current president is Andrew E. Chapman according to the hospital.
