2017 Annual Conference

The 2017 IAFCC conference was held at the DoubleTree Chicago-Oakbrook, October 15th-16th. Thanks to IAFCC keynote speaker Dr. Julie Morita, presenting on: “Healthy Chicago 2.0 – Partnering to Address Health Equity”

Dr. Julie Morita

Dr. Julie Morita, Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) was appointed in early 2015. Under Dr. Morita’s leadership, CDPH developed and launched Healthy Chicago 2.0, a four-year plan to assure healthy equity by addressing the social determinants of health.

Dr. Morita has served as a member of the Institute of Medicines Committee on Community Based Solutions to Promote Health Equity, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, the National Vaccine Advisory Committee, and the Illinois Chapter of American Academy of Pediatrics.

Prior to her time with CDPH, Dr. Morita served as an Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer with the CDC and worked in private practice. She is a graduate of the University of Illinois at Chicago Medical School.

2017 annual conference sponsors

2017 Conference Workshops

If you were unable to attend this year’s conference or simply need a refresher, please click on the workshop title and a copy of the slides will be made available to you.

How to Turn Your Tired Board Meeting into a Super-Charged Governing Activity

Presenter: Mark Cruise, President of Governance4Good
Peter Drucker, a towering figure in the field of management, said, “There is one thing all boards have in common…they do not function.” For many, board meetings are plagued with endless reports about past activities, lengthy attempts to solve operational issues, protracted discussions that fail to lead to a decision, and doing work that should be done in committee. Using real-time audience polling and storytelling and drawing upon his years of experience as a governance consultant, Mark provides strategies, techniques, and tools that can help turn your tired, unexciting board meeting into a dynamic governing experience.

Mark Cruise is President of Governance4Good, a firm that equips nonprofit organizations across the U.S. to excel in governance, leadership and accountability at all stages of their life cycle. Mark has 26 years of experience leading, managing, and consulting with nonprofit organizations, including 22 years in the free/charitable healthcare sector. Following passage of the Affordable Care Act in 2010, he was commissioned by the Georgia Charitable Care Network to write “A Guide to National Health Reform for America’s Free and Charitable Clinics.” Mark has a Master of Divinity degree from Boston University and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Hampden-Sydney College.

Right Knowledge. Right Place. Right Time. ECHO: A Revolutionary Model for Expanding Access to Specialized Care in Underserved Settings

Presenter: Sal Migliaccio, Senior Associate of U.S. Programs at Americares
Co-Presenters: Julie Darnell, Ph.D., MHSA, Tamara Hamlish, Ph.D., Emily Hendel, MS, FNP, Mike Romagnoli, Suzanne Hoban, MPH

Americares, Loyola University and University of Chicago are undertaking a two-year research/demonstration program in Illinois’ free/charitable clinics (FCCs) to evaluate the feasibility of implementing the ECHO model for hypertension. ECHO is an evidence-based model that revolutionizes medical education through technology and increases capacity of primary care providers to provide best-practice specialty care and reduce health disparities among patients with complex needs. Five Illinois clinics participated in the ECHO-Chicago Hypertension Clinic from February-May, 2016. During this session, we will describe ECHO implementation, discuss preliminary findings, and share the experiences of three clinics that participated in the ECHO initiative (CommunityHealth, Community Health Care Clinic and Family Health Partnership).

Julie Darnell, PhD, MHSA, Associate Professor in the Department of Public Health Sciences, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago. Dr. Darnell’s research focuses on access to and the delivery and financing of health care for poor and vulnerable populations. She has earned a national reputation for her research on free clinics.

Tamara Hamlish, Ph.D. is the Executive Director of ECHO-Chicago. She joined the Section of Academic Pediatric Health Services at the University of Chicago in 2007, where she is responsible for program development, program evaluation and grant writing. In 2009, Dr. Hamlish joined Dr. Daniel Johnson in the effort to bring to Chicago the Extension for Community Health Outcomes (ECHO).

Suzanne Hoban as an MPH from the University of Illinois and is the founder and ED of FHPC in Crystal Lake, IL. She brings expensive program planning experience as well as practical implementation experience. She has presented at state and national conferences on topics ranging from fund raising to quality improvement. She is past president of the Ill. Ass. of Free and Charitable Clinics.

Emily Hendel, MS, FNP is the Director of Clinical Services at CommunityHealth in Chicago, IL. She received her Master of Science in Nursing from DePaul University in 2004 and the same year started as a staff RN at CommunityHealth. Emily is bilingual English/Spanish and has a Bachelor of Arts in Biology from the College of Wooster.

Mike Romagnoli began his career as a volunteer at the Community Health Care Clinic in 2004 as a Spanish interpreter. Now as Operations Manager, he is responsible for the overall day-to-day functions of the clinic, including patient care, volunteer utilization and data collection/reporting.

Sal Migliaccio is a Senior Associate with the U.S. Program at Americares. He is responsible for the management of medicines and medical supplies available for donation to the U.S. partner network. In addition, Sal oversees Americares implementation of the CDC’s Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) in 3 free clinics. Sal also managed a collaborative program with CareMessage which uses text messages to encourage medication adherence for patients using cholesterol-lowering medications. He is excited to moderate a discussion on Americares ECHO initiative with IAFCC clinics. Before joining Americares full time, Sal interned on both the U.S. and Emergency Response Programs. He facilitated and led an Alternative Spring Break Program in New Orleans, LA for his four years in college which sparked his interest in disasters and their effects on people and communities. Influenced by those experiences, his senior thesis focused on the changing conceptions of natural and man-made disasters through U.S. history. He earned his BA in Political Science and History from Hampshire College.

Uncontrolled Diabetes and Oral Health: A Collaborative Approach

Presenters: Melissa Mende and Emily Hendel

The impact of diabetes on oral health is well established. Poor oral health also impacts diabetes glycemic control. Health centers with both medical and dental services on site are well positioned to address this interaction between oral health and diabetes. At CommunityHealth, patients with uncontrolled diabetes (A1c >9) are encouraged to participate in the Diabetes Care Group, an intensive interdisciplinary approach to diabetes management involving collaboration between physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, social work, pharmacists, health education, and dental. Patients who participate in the Diabetes Care Group are given priority appointments with the in-house dental clinic in an effort to improve oral health and diabetic glycemic control. In this workshop we will discuss an overview of the program, patient education through nurse led oral hygiene visits, as well as data collection and program outcomes. Unique challenges and lessons learned will also be shared.

Melissa Mende is a Registered Dental Hygienist and the Oral Health Manager at CommunityHealth. She currently oversees all aspects of the dental program, including data collection, quality improvements, strategic planning, training and supervising dental volunteers, and providing preventative and therapeutic hygiene appointments and screening appointments. Melissa graduated with honors from the Kennedy King College, Dental Hygiene Program in 2014 with an Associates of Applied Science in Dental Hygiene.

Emily Hendel, MS, NP-C, Director of Clinical Services at CommunityHealth, received her Master of Science in Nursing from DePaul University in 2004 and the same year started as a staff RN at CommunityHealth. In 2007, she transitioned to Nursing Manager, after receiving her Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate from DePaul University. In 2013, Emily was promoted to Director of Nursing Services and then transitioned to the Director of Clinical Services in 2015. Emily also serves as a member of the DePaul University Nursing Advisory Board. Emily is bilingual English/Spanish and has a Bachelor of Arts in Biology from the College of Wooster.

2-4-6-8; We All Need to Ad-Vo-Cate!

Presenters: Angie McLaughlin, Executive Director of Community Health Care Clinic, and Nicole Lamoureux-Busby, CEO of the National Association of Free & Charitable Clinics

With healthcare reform on the front burner at the national level, now more than ever, it is time for free and charitable clinics to engage in the political and advocacy arenas. It is our responsibility to be the voice of our patients. One clinic leader will give her experience of divine into the advocacy/political system and share how other clinics can join the effort. NAFC CEO, Nicole Lamoureux, will provide her expertise and guidance on how to quickly and easily engage in the process at any level. Attendees will work together to create at least one actionable step for the group to advocate at the local, state, or national level on behalf of our patients.

Angie McLaughlin is the Executive Director of the Community Health Care Clinic in Normal, Illinois. She has a Master’s Degree in Social Work from Illinois State University. Angie has been in her leadership role at the Clinic for over five years and has been active in both the state and national associations for free and charitable clinics. As part of her work on the NAFC board, she recently spent one day on “The Hill” in Washington talking with lawmakers. Angie currently serves on the board of the United Way of McLean County and the National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics.

Luvia Quiñones serves as the Health Policy Director at the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR). In this role, Luvia oversees the Immigrant Health Care Access Initiative and in collaboration with ICIRR’s members develops ICIRR’s health policy agenda with a special focus in access to health care and on health care reform. Prior to transitioning to this position, Luvia oversaw ICIRR’s health and human services programs: the Immigrant Family Resource Program, WIC, SNAP and In Person Counselor Program. Preceding ICIRR, Luvia worked at City Colleges of Chicago (CCC) under the Community Relations Department. There she played an integral role in creating and launching the new department. Prior to working at CCC, she oversaw the first state-funded citizenship program at ICIRR, the New Americans Initiative. Luvia has a Master in Public Policy (MPP) from the University of Chicago and a BA in International Studies from DePaul University. She is the daughter of Mexican Immigrants from Durango, Mexico and is an active community member in her parish, St. Sylvester. Currently, she serves as a board member of West Suburban Action Project (P.A.S.O.) and the Illinois Association of Free and Charitable Clinics (IAFCC).

Nicole Lamoureux-Busby is the Chief Executive Officer for the National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics. Spending years in Washington DC at the national level, Nicole understands the workings of politics and how we as a sector can increase our visibility with lawmakers and tell our story so it has an impact. Nicole and her staff have created easy to use, powerful tools for all member clinics to use for advocacy at the local, state, and national levels.

Taking the Fear out of Fundraising

Presenter: Suzanne Hoban, Executive Director at Family Health Partnership

Individuals represent the largest percentage of funding for non profits, yet many organizations do not know how to develop an individual giving program. This workshop will break down individual fundraising into manageable tasks, and will I’ve you the courage and confidence to ramp up your campaigns!

Suzanne Hoban as an MPH from the University of Illinois and is the founder and ED of FHPC in Crystal Lake, IL. She brings expensive program planning experience as well as practical implementation experience. She has presented at state and national conferences on topics ranging from fund raising to quality improvement. She is past president of the Ill. Ass. of Free and Charitable Clinics.

The Nuts and Bolts of a Clinic Without Walls

Presenters: Linnea M. Axman, DrPH, MSN, FNP-BC and David Wywialowski, MA, M.Div

The citizens of the United States are aging. Chonic diseases are the major causes of morbidity and mortality, and this is true for the people living undomiciled as well. Living homeless aggravates chronic illness, resulting in advanced aging and early death. Transportation and trust are two of the biggest challenges to the delivery of healthcare to homeless people. Bringing the clinic to the target population addresses these barriers. This interactive workshop will describe the “Nuts and “Bolts of the development, implementation, and evaluation of a “Clinic without Walls”

Linnea Axman is a Doctor of Public Health and a Family NP. She has been working with vulnerable populations to include the medically underserved for more than 25 years. She currently works as part of a 3-person team from Family Health Parternship to deliver primary care to homelesspeople living in McHenry County.

David Wywialowski joined the Night Ministry in 1998, first working as an intern street outreach worker. In March, 1999, he joined the staff to work on the Health Outreach Bus, and in December 2006 transitioned to the position of HIV Testing Coordinator where he oversaw our testing program. David currently holds the position of Director of Ourreach and Health Ministry. He holds a MA in Communication from UIC and an M.Div from Chicago Theological Seminary. He is an ordained minister of the United Church of Christ.

Influence Behavior, Save a Life: Health and Wellness Programming in a Free Clinic Setting

Presenters: Shawn West, MBA, Tiffany Engelman, and Adelle White

The U.S. spends more than all developed and industrialized countries on health care; however, we have the worst health outcomes. The U.S. lags behind behind all other developed countries in life expectancy and infant mortality. Despite ever growing expenditures, we continue to see spikes in preventable illnesses including a CDC report that states nearly 1 in 3 adults will have diabetes by the year 2050.

There are many factors that contribute to an individual’s health outcomes. However, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation individual behavior is the single most important factor in an individual health outcome and mortality. The Kaiser Family Foundation also reports though health care is essential to health, research demonstrates that it is relatively weak health determinant. Behaviors that are detrimental to health for example: poor diet, sedentary life style, lack of exercise, drug and alcohol use are the most important determinants of health. After a patient concludes a doctor visit and leaves their medical provider, it is important that they have the tools, information and support in order to make better decisions to attain better health outcomes.

Participants will learn about free initiatives that are evidenced based that help influence healthy patient behaviors and save lives. The participants will elarn about research institutions, foundations, educational institutions and educational websites that provide information for wellness programming. The Will-Grundy Medical clinic has implemented programs that focused on the following:

Patient Teaching

  • Equipping Patients with the tools & knowledge
  • Patient Follow up methods
  • Patient Support methods
  • Behavior Influence Strategies

The Will-Grundy Medical Clinic participated in the DPP a CDC based diabetes prevention program. The Clinic also participated in several public information campaigns including the American Heart Association’s Know Your Numbers.

Participants will learn about the current free evidenced based programs that can aid in influencing patient behavior. Participants will learn about implementation strategies and will also participant in a group and individual exercises in which they use information covered in the seminar to develop a simple outline for wellness program.

Shawn West is an experienced non-profit executive with nearly 15 years of management experience in the not-for-profit sector. She has managed healthcare, education, and community development organizations. She is currently the Executive Director of the Will-Grundy Medical Clinic, where she advances initiatives that improve access to health care for the residents of Will and Grundy County. She serves as the chief executive of the Clinic. She was previously the Director of Human Capital at Perspectives Charter School in Chicago. Previous to that she held the position of Senior Director of Human Resources at Bethel New Life. Shawn has presented at the Illinois Primary Health Care Association Conference, the American Bar Association Medical Legal Conference, the Will County Community Needs Assessment Conference and more. A Plainfield resident, Shawn holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Lake Forest Graduate School of Management, Lake Forest, IL, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Roosevelt University in Chicago. In addition, she is certified as a Human Resources professional through the Society for Human Resource Management.

Tiffany Engelman is experienced health care manager. Tiffany has nearly 10 years of management experience. A licensed registered nurse, Tiffany combines clinical expertise with her exceptional management skills in order to ensure that patients not only receive the best possible care, but also safe and appropriate care. She has extensive experience improving clinical operations and operational efficiency. She is currently the Director of Clinical Operations for Will-Grundy Medical Clinic. Prior to her work at the Clinic, she served as the Clinical Director for a large assisted living facility.

Adelle White is the Health Education Manager at CommunityHealth. She has a Bachelor’s in Biomedical Sciences from Marquette University, and has been working in health education for a total of 8 years; 4 years as a volunteer college student educator for reproductive health in Milwaukee Public High Schools, and 4 years professionally at CommunityHealth. Adelle is also a certified Zumba instructor, and teaches some of the fitness classes at CommunityHealth, as well as trains new Zumba instructor volunteers. As the health education manager, Adelle trains and supervises all health education volunteer instructors, develops and refines health education materials and curricula, and performs statistical evaluation on clinical outcomes from health education course graduates each year in order to assess the effectiveness of CommunityHealth classes.


2017 IAFCC Conference Photo Gallery

Special thanks to photographer Carol O’Rourke