The PCH Fellowship: Global Health Track offers two tracks.
The first track of the Global Health Fellowship is an optional, one-month rotation during the second half of the fellowship. Fellows live and work in Tanzania, gaining international service and learning experience in a low-resource setting.
Fellows in this track will work in partnership with Levolosi Hospital and MediTrip, who coordinates placement and logistics. This track is designed to address workforce shortages at Levolosi Hospital by providing surgical obstetrics care, including cesarean deliveries, under the supervision of local attending physicians.
Fellows will also gain hands-on experience in newborn resuscitation, IV placements, and ultrasound skills. Throughout the month, fellows will collaborate with each other and participate in global health activities that prepare them to work in rural and global health settings.
During their time in Tanzania, fellows are provided with international health insurance and maintain their usual fellowship salary.
Continuous Fellowship Activities:
Work with attendings at PCC/WSMC to prepare for low-resource community settings (e.g., NRP resuscitations, newborn IV placements, adult IV placements, ultrasound skills)
Development and implementation of a global health best practice guideline
Active participation in global health activities and check-ins with fellowship directors
Abroad Learning and Teaching Activities:
Surgical obstetrics preparation and skills, including cesarean deliveries, supervised by local attending physicians
Utilization of NRP resuscitation skills
Team participation with other international volunteers in cross-cultural intrapartum, postpartum, postoperative, and newborn care
Teaching opportunities for co-volunteers from diverse medical disciplines (e.g., nursing students, medical students, nurses) across different volunteer groups
Fellows will gain invaluable hands-on experience while contributing to the ongoing efforts at Levolosi Hospital, enhancing their ability to provide healthcare in global and underserved settings.
The second track of the Global Health Fellowship is a two-year program that builds on the first year of the fellowship, adding a second year of international service and learning. Fellows in this track must have Spanish language proficiency and the ability to live and work in Peru for 6-12 months. Language learning resources are available for fellows who need them.
During their time in Peru, fellows are provided with a stipend and international health insurance. To receive the stipend, fellows must commit to a one-year contract with PCC after the fellowship for each 6-month period abroad.
Year One (Continuous Fellowship Activities):
Participation in all surgical fellowship activities
Additional training in procedures useful in low-resource settings, such as spinal anesthesia and appendectomies
Development and implementation of a global health best practice guideline
Active involvement in the global health lecture series and other didactic education on global health
Year Two (Abroad Learning and Teaching Activities):
Full-spectrum healthcare service to the people of the Napo River Valley at the Santa Clotilde Mission in Santa Clotilde, Peru, under the guidance of PCC faculty
Completion of a global health project aimed at positively impacting underserved populations in Peru
Fellows in this track will gain invaluable experience in rural healthcare settings and develop leadership skills while working on projects that address global health challenges in underserved communities.
PCC Community Wellness Center is dedicated to providing comprehensive, accessible, and compassionate healthcare to individuals and families.
Hiren has stepped into the role of Chief Financial Officer at PCC Community Wellness Center, bringing with him over a decade of extensive experience across banking, retail, global manufacturing, private equity, and healthcare.
With a strong commitment to public health, Hiren is ready to tackle the evolving challenges of the healthcare sector head-on. He champions a data-driven decision-making approach, firmly believing that accessible data is crucial for empowering informed decisions at every level of the organization. Together, we will enhance our performance and ensure financial stability and profitability, establishing PCC as a definitive leader in community wellness.
Lorena joins the team with diverse Human Resource experience in hospitality, non-for-profit, medical and most recently in Quick Service Restaurants. She brings experience in developing HR programs, systems, updating processes and teams that effectively support the success of the organization.
Lorena has a passion for HR that stems from helping those around her and being that voice for employees. Aside from her work experience, she earned her Bachelors of Science in Health Studies & Psychology from Chicago State University and her Master’s degree in Human Resource Management from Walden University.
Jerrard Walker, RN, LCSW, CADC, SAP, CAMS-II joined PCC in 2020. He obtained his Master of Social Work from Wayne State University – School of Social Work. He also has a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Resurrection University and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, with a Minor in Social Work from Oakland University.
Jerrard completed his social work training at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, MI. He was one of the architects who established the CCHHS CountyCare program. In his free time, he enjoys playing tennis, traveling, and reading.
Sara Hogue, joined PCC in 2015. As PCC’s CQIO, Sara leads initiatives to develop new capacity in quality improvement across the organization. Sara is passionate about public health and committed to developing quality assurance tools that can improve population health.
She has a decade of experience in performance and quality improvement in such areas as research, program evaluation, data analysis, quality assurance, and performance management. Prior to her promotion to CQIO, Sara served as PCC’s Director of Performance Improvement, where she managed the National Committee for Quality Assurance’s Patient Centered Medical Home recognition process, expanding PCC’s recognition from four to eight sites of care. Sara also pioneered the organization’s Core Culture Committee, which worked to identify and address inclusivity needs for patients and staff. Sara holds a Master of Social Work from DePaul University and a Bachelor of Arts from St. Xavier University.
Paul Luning, MD, MPH has spent his entire career at PCC. He obtained his undergraduate degree from Yale University, his medical degree from the University of Chicago – Pritzker School of Medicine, and a Master’s in Public Health from the University of Illinois at Chicago.
He joined PCC in 1995 after graduating from West Suburban Medical Center’s Family Medicine Residency Program. He later completed PCC’s Fellowship in Community Medicine. Dr. Luning was promoted to Chief Medical Officer in 2007. He has been instrumental in the development and implementation of many programs at PCC, such as the Performance Improvement Program and PCC’s clinical program at The Boulevard, a local shelter for homeless individuals recovering from illness. He has received numerous honors and awards including the Distinguished Service Award from the American Academy of Family Physicians and Illinois Academy of Family Physicians, Teacher of the Year from the West Suburban Family Medicine Residency Program (2003, 2007, 2012), and George O’Neill Leadership Award from the Illinois Primary Health Care Association.
Chief Operating Officer, Nilsa Campos, joined PCC in 2019. As COO, Nilsa directs the the day-to-day activities of the organization.
As the Regional Director of Clinical Operations, she managed nine PCC health centers. She was promoted to Deputy Chief of Operations, where she implemented strategic operational plans for all PCC health centers. Nilsa has advanced experience with driving growth in facility development and profitability. Prior to PCC, Nilsa worked as a facility administrator at DaVita Harvey Dialysis, and as staff nurse and patient care manager for the pediatric cardiac ICU at UChicago Medicine Comer Children’s Hospital. Nilsa has a Master of Business Administration from Lewis University. She also has a Master of Science in Nursing from Lewis University and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Chicago State University.
Melissa Chrusfield serves as the Director of Communications and Community Engagement at PCC Community Wellness Center.
With a passion for connecting people and fostering meaningful relationships, Melissa oversees all communications strategies and community outreach initiatives. She brings extensive experience in public relations and advocacy, ensuring that PCC’s mission of accessible, high-quality healthcare reaches every corner of the community. Melissa is dedicated to amplifying PCC’s impact through innovative storytelling, strategic partnerships, and active community involvement.
Alyssa joins PCC Community Wellness Center with a robust portfolio in non-profit management and FQHC leadership, previously holding the role of Chief Administrative Officer at Lawndale Christian Health Center.
With over a decade of dedicated service, Alyssa’s professional journey is marked by significant achievements in enhancing healthcare accessibility and quality, which resonate deeply with PCC’s core mission. Educationally, Alyssa is grounded in community-centric development, holding a Master’s Degree in Community and Economic Development from Pennsylvania State University, alongside a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and International Studies from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Her academic background and ongoing contributions to discussions on healthcare best practices underscore her role as a visionary leader. Alyssa’s strategic approach aims for steady, sustainable growth at PCC. We are thrilled to welcome her to our team, confident in her leadership to guide us toward greater achievements in serving our community.
