Stories About Belonging Program Thank you for joining Primary Care Coalition (PCC) for Stories About Belonging. Due to COVID-19 we've had to pivot to a virtual format, but our storytellers are rearing to go! Watch a recording of the stories
Welcome by Host Sulema Salazar Presenter at Telemundo Network Award for Excellence in Community Health Leadership Presented to George Leventhal, Director of Community Health at Kaiser Permanente and Former Montgomery County Councilmember Presented by Leslie Graham CEO, Primary Care Coalition Storytellers Faith Makka, Director of Healthcare Quality & Collaboratives, PCC Joanna Rivera, Nurse Case Manager, PCC - Care for Kids Ruben Reyes, Director of Operations, Mary's Center Judith Thomas-Mayorga, Human Resources Director/Administrator, Proyecto Salud Kate Huixing Lu, Clinic Director, Pan Asian Volunteer Health Clinic Jose Yanes, Montgomery Cares and Project Access Patient
George Leventhal, Director of Community Health at Kaiser Permanente Former Montgomery County Councilmember Award for Excellence in Community Health Leadership Thank you George for all the work you've done. We couldn't have accomplished all that we have without you!
Faith Makka, Director of Healthcare Quality & Collaboratives, PCC Faith was born and raised in Nigeria, but considers herself a citizen of the world. She joined PCC in March 2020 as the Director of Quality and Collaboratives. She has worked as a family nurse practitioner for the past 10 years in a variety of clinical settings and has transitioned into the health care management space. She is a systems thinker who is passionate about people, processes and performance improvement. She strongly believes health systems should serve those who they were intended to serve – especially those on the margins of society.
In her spare time, she can be found volunteering at church, globetrotting (33 countries and counting), scuba diving and karaoke-ing! She is a champion for vulnerability and strongly believes laughter is medicine.
Joanna Rivera, Nurse Case Manager, PCC - Care for Kids Joanna has served as the nurse case manager for PCC's Care for Kids program for many years. Joanna is a compassionate nurse who goes beyond the scope of her duties to ensure the children and families receive the necessary health care services and additional resources that improve their wellbeing.
Over the years, as program enrollment and case complexity has grown, Joanna’s exceptional communication skills, attention to detail, problem-solving skills and commitment have kept case management available for those in need. As PCC implemented behavioral health services for the Care for Kids program, her creative suggestions for improvements have been praised by her workgroup colleagues. Patients and their families have expressed how much Joanna's service has meant to them during their time in the program.
Ruben Reyes, Director of Operations, Mary's Center Ruben Reyes was born and raised in El Salvador, but the long civil war and the ongoing violence forced him to flee the country. Upon his arrival in the United States during the 1990's, he worked in different fields such as restaurants, construction, and factories, always looking for opportunities to better himself. In 2001, he married his wife, who is from Puerto Rico, and she has blessed him with a smart son and a beautiful daughter. Shortly after, Ruben suffered an accident that changed his life forever. Although he continues to suffer the consequences of that injury, it has not stopped him from reaching his goals. Ruben began working at Mary's Center in 2008. Since then, Ruben has been able to assist clients as Referral Specialist, Patient Support Manager and now as a Director of Operations in the Adams Morgan Clinic. For the past twelve years, Ruben has been on a continued journey to learn, adapt, and grow, without forgetting those who helped me in the first place and value the community. His journey has not been complete; last year, another big event changed his life! He became the parent of a four-legged energetic dog! Rocco brought fun, on occasions chaos, but also joy and brightened their home!
Judith Thomas-Mayorga, Human Resources Director/Administrator, Proyecto Salud Judith Thomas was born and raised in Venezuela and moved to the US 20 years ago bringing with her extensive experience in public and community health. In 2000 Judith joined Proyecto Salud Clinic as Nutrition Consultant and Education Program Coordinator. She decided to move her career toward administrative roles and after completing a Master in Administration with concentration in Public Health, Judith was appointed as Proyecto Salud’s Clinic Administrator. In her role, Judith fell in love with Human Resources and she is a certified Human Resources professional from SHRM. Judith believes the most valuable asset for a healthy organization is a well-trained; feel valued, and engaged staff.
This busy lady is a full-time mother, happy wife, musician, and a curious individual who believes in the power of education and transparency to promote positive change. She is ready and excited about the opportunities year 2021 will bring…one in particular? Judith’s 7 years old daughter is ready for second grade. Yay!!
Kate Huixing Lu, Clinic Director, Pan Asian Volunteer Health Clinic Kate spent her college and early career in Shenzhen, the focal points of China’s economic boom in the early 90s. Holding jobs in banking and investment firms, Kate could have become a millionaire, like many of her classmates who seized some of the abundant opportunities in the surging economy, but Kate felt something was missing. She later relocated to the U.S. in 2000, with her husband. In the initial two years in the U.S., life was difficult: no job, no money, and few friends. However, Kate used the opportunity to look deeply into herself, and eventually found her calling. She went on to study mental health in the Graduate School of Social work at Washington University in St. Louis and landed on the helping profession that she truly feels meaningful, settled and fulfilling. After serving in child welfare, government welfare programs and mental health settings, Kate became the Clinic Director of the Pan Asian Volunteer Health Clinic. Kate creates programs that address the unique needs and challenges of her community. Kate also builds programs to introduce the eastern wellness philosophy into the western health system to address a person's overall health needs.
Jose Yanes, Montgomery Cares and Project Access Patient Jose’s life changed when he suffered an injury to the spine and lost his ability to walk. He was hospitalized for 3 months with major complications. After he was discharged in 2015, he began working with the Montgomery Cares program through Mercy Clinic to manage his symptoms. His primary care doctor referred him to Project Access, which connected him with an orthopedic doctor. Jose was able to receive rehabilitation and a special brace. Thankfully, he is now able to walk for brief periods.