Esperanza Health Center October 2020 eNews |
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EHC Introduces Learning Pods for Children of Staff Members |
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When Philadelphia’s public school district pivoted just prior to the start of the school year to virtual learning only due to COVID precautions, Esperanza realized that many parents among the staff, without options for child care, would need help in order to continue full-time work. The concept of “Learning Pods” to support staff members and their children was explored and implemented within weeks by two dedicated staff members, Debra Ortiz-Vasquez, Director of Community Health and Wellness, and Marquita Farmer, Executive Administrator.
“For a time such as this” describes how God moved in recent months as people from around the city have come together to support children in the public schools during the COVID crisis. “Initially, I started attending weekly meetings of churches, non-profits, and residents that ‘gathered’ virtually to talk about the Learning Pod model; it became clear that we needed to be a part of this movement in the City,” said Debra. “This model provides a place for families, organizations and churches to create Pods for learning support for our children.”
With the start of the school year only a few weeks away, several major questions had to be answered quickly: finding a secure location to host the Pods, planning a weekly schedule, and coordinating student support, among many other details. A local church near our Hunting Park site, In the Light Ministries, provided an answer to prayer by offering the already-outfitted children’s wing in their building. Two former Cairn University students were—miraculously it seemed—available immediately to serve as our new Learning Pod Coordinators: Brianna Torres (photos below, L) and Katherine Kempf (photos below, R).
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Katherine has a background in social work and graduated with her BSW from Cairn, having completed her internship with Esperanza’s Community Health and Wellness team. “I love when [the children] make each other laugh, or when they can be proud of something they accomplished, an assignment or art project, that is really special. Most of the kids are from different schools and we have a range of age groups and school levels, sixth graders, a couple of fourth graders, lots of first graders, but seeing the younger ones looking up to the older kids and them completing activities together, has been cool.”
Brianna also attended Cairn University and graduated with a bachelors and masters in counseling. Her experiences as a Community Relations Coordinator for a church in Northeast Philadelphia and as a part-time teacher have helped grow her desire to serve and build a better quality of life for others.
She shared about a day in the life of the learning pods: “I arrive at 7:30 am, open up and make sure everything is ready for the day. We wipe down the bathrooms one more time before the kids come, also do the screenings here to make sure everyone’s healthy. At 3 o’clock we offer two clubs; art with Kate, and team challenge with me. The kids also get time for one-to-one learning.”
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“I’ll say we wear a lot of different hats during the day. Some feel like a teacher, some as a parent, a lot of that is informal obviously. But I like that we have a unique label as ‘Pod coordinator’ because it covers all of those hats. When they make each other laugh, or when they can be proud of something they accomplished, an assignment or art project, that is really special. The kids get to interact not only with their virtual class, but with each other during breaks, lunch, and recess,” said Katherine. As the Learning Pods move into their third month, we’re grateful for everyone who has been involved in making the Pods a reality for these children and for Esperanza’s families! |
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Our K&A Location Turned One |
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Just over one year ago, on October 25, 2019, several hundred Esperanza staff and Board members, volunteers, patients, community members, partners and others gathered to celebrate the ribbon cutting and grand opening of our Kensington health center site, at 861 E. Allegheny Avenue. It was the culmination of several years of work to develop the new site, a 35,000 square foot former bank building at the corner of Kensington & Allegheny Avenues, also known as the gateway to Kensington. After having served the Kensington community for nearly 12 years at the former location (3156 Kensington Avenue), Esperanza is now established in this community for years to come.
Looking back, despite the many unexpected events of 2020, we are grateful for the way that God has sustained us at our new Kensington site over the past year and made it possible for us to expand healthcare access to our patients and community.
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New Arrivals To Our Patient Care Staff |
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We are excited to welcome Corin Dickinson, CRNP, Family Nurse Practitioner and Daniel Kim, MD, Pediatrician, who joined the Esperanza Health Center community earlier this month.
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Corin Dickinson, CRNP, Family Nurse Practitioner |
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Dickinson grew up locally in Souderton, PA and is quite familiar with the Greater Philadelphia region. She completed her associates in nursing degree at Montgomery County Community College in 2013. Her experience grew as an RN working in intensive care over the years, but soon enough Dickinson found herself with a desire to further her studies as an advanced practice nurse at UNC-Chapel Hill, where she earned her Master of Science of Nursing degree and was a member of the Sigma Theta Tau Honor Society. |
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“I chose to pursue primary care as a focus, with the goal of keeping patients out of the ICU as much as possible. I first learned about Esperanza through a current employee, Katie Bhadra, CRNP, who was a former roommate. When she described EHC, I was immediately drawn to its Christ-centered mission. My prayer is for God to use me to help heal His people and point them toward a relationship with Him,” wrote Dickinson. |
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Kim knew he wanted to work at Esperanza since completing an SMI term back in 2014 while he was a medical student at SUNY Downstate College of Medicine in Brooklyn, NY. Growing up in the working-class community of Woodside, NY and being a child of immigrant parents, he recognized that part of his calling was to work in medically-underserved areas. While completing his residency training in pediatrics, he gained clinical experience at Open Door Family Health Center in Ossining, NY, which serves a predominantly Hispanic and immigrant population. |
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Daniel Kim, MD, Pediatrician |
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“I think this was very much a calling—to use the medical knowledge I had gained through years of schooling and training in a very tangible way to serve the community of North Philadelphia. It is so wonderful to be part of a body that is striving to know the Lord more, and participating in His work in this community,” said Kim.
One of his favorite verses is Philippians 3:8: "Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.” Kim hopes that through Esperanza he can continually grow in Christ, with others, and to help bring others to Him.
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Your generous gift to Esperanza Health Center will enable us to provide excellent, compassionate care and health resources for our patients and community members. We are grateful for your partnership with us!
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We are open for business and actively hiring qualified professionals who seek to share in our mission to provide Christ-centered, quality health care services. Please visit our Career Center where you can view every open position up to date, and apply online! Highlighted below are some of our top priority hiring opportunities:
Finance Director/CFO
The Finance Director/Chief Financial Officer is responsible for leading and overseeing all financial aspects of Esperanza Health Center, including accounting, financial reporting, budgeting, reimbursement, and other financial matters. Supervises Associate Finance Director, Billing Manager, and Staff Accountant.
Dental Assistant
The Dental Assistant is responsible for assisting the Dentists and Dental Hygienists in the direct provision of dental services to patients of the center. The Dental Assistant is also responsible for sterilization, preparation and inventory control of dental instruments and supplies. Other responsibilities include dental radiography, equipment maintenance, oral health education, monitoring patient flow, and assisting the Dental Administrator as needed. Position includes some Saturday shifts.
Dispensary Coordinator (Pharmacy Technician)
Under the direct supervision of the Dispensary Supervisor, the Dispensary Coordinator oversees all aspects of the medicine dispensing at the assigned site. The Dispensary Coordinator is responsible to safely dispense medicines, manages dispensary inventory and daily adjust inventory to meet patient demands, adjudicates insurance claims, handles copay collections, and other duties as assigned by the supervisor.
Clinical Manager
The Clinical Manager position is responsible for managing the clinical operations and clinical staff (RNs and two clinical supervisors who supervise the medical assistant team) at the assigned site. The key clinical operations managed by this position include inventory and procurement, infection control, laboratory compliance, vaccine protocols and routine departmental tasks. Training-the-trainer, developing staff and providing leadership to the RN/MA teams are vital parts of this role.
Medical Assistant
The Medical Assistant performs a wide variety of roles in support of the clinicians and in the provision of safe and whole person care. The Medical Assistant prepares adults and children for exams and assists adult practitioners, pediatricians, obstetricians, gynecologists and HIV care providers in caring for patients. The Medical Assistant addresses the needs of walk-in and call-in patients in the back desk and triage areas, performs phlebotomy, tends to orderliness and stocking of exam rooms, hubs and labs, assists supervisors with specific tasks, and nurtures spiritual growth of team members and patients. Medical Assistants are assigned to the various roles above based on the needs of Esperanza Health Center and the skill set of the individual Medical Assistant.
Front Desk Security
Under the direct supervision of the Associate Director of Operations, the Security and Front Entrance Coordinator provides: 1) customer service at the Hunting Park front entrance, 2) security services throughout the Hunting Park facility, and 3) operational support services. The Front Entrance and Security Coordinator position may be covered by two or more shifts that provide front entrance services between 8 a.m. – 7 p.m. and approximately 60 hours per month of evening coverage until 9 p.m. This position may move from site-to-site among Esperanza's three clinic locations.
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Our Mission:
“Compelled by the love of God in Christ Jesus, in cooperation with the Church and others, Esperanza Health Center is a multi-cultural ministry providing holistic healthcare to the Latino and underserved communities
of Philadelphia.”
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