Jessica joined Community Empowerment as the Executive Director in 2024. She has practiced clinically as an Emergency Medicine PA for the last 11 years, and is an assistant professor at RUSH University where she most recently served as the director of the PA Program. Jessica has been a dedicated volunteer with CE since 2013 and has participated in 15 volunteer medical trips to the DR and Haiti where she has contributed primary care services and led volunteer teams. In the last few years, Jessica has secured two grants to fund a diabetes screening and management program in CE's partner communities in Villa Verde and Duquesa. Jessica is very excited work with the CE community both locally and abroad, and is hoping to meld her clinical, leadership, and operational expertise to provide oversight and support to the organization. She is most excited to work closely with the compassionate and hard-working group of people that bring life to CE! Jessica lives in Chicago but loves to travel, especially to the Dominican Republic which she considers her second home! In her free time, Jessica is an avid bachata dancer, boxer, and yoga teacher.

Melhi started in her role at CE in 2022 and oversees CE’s operations in the DR and Haiti. Her background is in economic sciences and human resource development. Her favorite thing about her job is the people – the staff, the patients, and the clinical teams that visit. Working alongside them fills her soul and she is grateful to have a job that is never tiring and always interesting. Melhi is known to answer questions before anyone can even ask them!

Wendys has been working for CE full time since 2022 as the Director of Clinical teams. Wendys works tirelessly to organize all aspects of the medical and surgical teams including patient recruitment & follow-up, hospital coordination, and community development. Before beginning her full-time role, she volunteered in a similar capacity for nearly fifteen years, helping to launch the first CE clinical site in Peralta. She appreciates the opportunity to help patients and counts them all as family.

Jose volunteered for nearly a decade prior to joining the CE staff in 2022. He oversees the logistics for surgical teams including managing all supplies and equipment. Jose is known for being able to fix anything, at any time. He loves his coworkers and is proud to be part of CE’s mission to provide healthcare to so many people.

Christian began working full time for CE in 2022, maintaining the vehicles and ensuring each team has all they need to function. Prior to his employment, he served as a volunteer for years overseeing operations at the Peralta water purification plant. His favorite thing about working for CE is his amazing coworkers and how well they all get along.

Mari started working for CE in 2018. She oversees all aspects of hospitality for visiting teams, including managing the CE guest house and all its operations—food preparation and house maintenance. She ensures teams feel at home and well cared for during their time with CE. She loves every part of her job at CE as she has learned so much, but she especially enjoys preparing food for the teams.

Dr. Stephanie Crane is CE’s Founder and the Director of the Office of Global Health and an Associate Professor of Medicine at Rush University Medical Center. Dr. Crane’s vision and commitment to working with underserved communities to empower them to improve their lives is the heart and soul of Community Empowerment. Dr. Crane initially and independently searched for a community in which to work and organized the first medical trip to Peralta in 2000. Now there are over 20 trips a year, providing critical primary and surgical care, infrastructure improvements, and community leadership training.

“I believe everyone has a sphere of influence that we should positively impact. Working with CE allows me to use my knowledge, skills and interests to maximally impact my sphere. I love children (I have eight of them!), extreme sports, and anything outdoors.”

Dr. Babs Waldman is the Volunteer Medical Director of Community Health in Chicago—it is the largest free clinic in the US. Previously, she was in private practice and then was the Medical Director, Health Care Bureau Office of the IL Attorney General. Dr. Waldman has been working in Haiti and the Dominican Republic since 2010 leading trips, implementing infrastructure improvement projects, and expanding the work of Community Empowerment.

“I value the work that CE does to create sustainable systems that reinforce the existing local infrastructure. CE provides experience for learners that cannot be taught in the books that they take with them in whatever they do. I am a full-time volunteer in my 'retirement' - I don't sit still well; I love to travel, walk/cross country ski/snowshoe, being a mother & grandmother.”

Dr. Cynthia Waickus holds a Ph.D. in Biochemistry and is Board Certified in Family Medicine. Dr. Waickus' first medical trip to Haiti was as a team member with the International Medical Corp immediately after the 2010 earthquake. She has been involved as a provider and leader of medical teams since. Her strong background in medical education and training provides academic leadership in addition to her commitment to improving the health of underserved communities. Cindy is an outstanding baker and chef.

Dr. David Ansell, MD, MPH is the Senior Vice President for Community Health Equity, Rush University Medical Center and Associate Provost for Community Affairs, Rush University. Dr. Ansell joined Rush in 2005 as the Medical Center’s first chief medical officer (CMO). Previously, he spent 17 years at Chicago’s Cook County Hospital and 10 years as chairperson of the Department of Internal Medicine at Chicago’s Mount Sinai Hospital. Throughout his career, Ansell has been involved in public health initiatives such as establishing the not-for-profit Equal Hope and co-founding the Sinai Urban Health Institute. David’s favorites are reading, writing, exercising outdoors, wilderness adventures, and spending time with friends and family, especially grandchildren.

Dr. Joel Augustin is an Assistant Professor Department of Family Practice Rush University Medical Center and is past Co-Chair of Community Based Health Section of Family Practice at John Stroger Hospital. Currently, Dr. Augustin is a physician at Oak Street Health. Dr. Augustin moved from Haiti to the US in 1986. He has spent many years working with local and national organizations to improve the lives and empower the people of Haiti. He is past Chair of the Haitian Congress to Fortify Haiti and is current Secretary of the United Front of the Haitian Diaspora. Dr. Augustin has been an important member of the medical teams working in Haiti from the outset providing care, training, and leadership. Joel loves salsa dancing, martial arts, and advocacy work.

Rhonda Goldstein, MSW, is an Executive Coach and Nonprofit Consultant for numerous nonprofits in the Chicagoland area. Previously, she had several leadership roles in the health care sector, including the Director of Development for Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization, the Director of Public Policy for the National Depressive and Manic-Depressive Association, the Senior Academic Administrator for the Asher Research Center for Depressive Disorders and the Director of Section Psychiatric and Substance Abuse Disorders at the American Hospital Association.

“CE provides essential services to those in need in the DR and Haiti. As a board member, I can have a meaningful impact on the patients accessing these valuable healthcare services. I became involved with CE through my son, who is an emergency room physician and participated on a medical trip with CE. As a retired social worker, I love being engaged with Community Empowerment since it provides me the chance to stay involved in health care. I also volunteer working with refugees.”

Dr. Bradley Hersh, MD, MPH, is a Senior Medical Epidemiologist at the CDC where he is the Liaison Officer to the WHO for COVID-19 and other health emergencies. Dr. Hersh has had a 20 year career in global health at the CDC with long-term assignments in Atlanta, Bujumbura, Burundi, Washington, DC, Geneva, Switzerland and Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Most of his CDC career was focused on vaccine-preventable diseases and HIV/AIDS. He also spent time on detail from the CDC or working in collaboration with the WHO, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), PEPFAR, and UNAIDS.

Brad is a member of the CE board to help assure that vulnerable populations in the DR and Haiti receive high quality preventive and curative health care.

Barbara Lorsbach is president of governWell, and founder of Great Hearts Initiatives (GHI). GHI governWell is an impact consultancy that brings together people and organizations that have shared visions for improving communities. Prior to founding GHI and acquiring governWell, Barbara was Senior Vice President, member relations, with the American Hospital Association (AHA). Barbara established the AHA Center for Health Care Leadership. She has also held management positions with Northwestern Memorial Hospital and the Northwestern Faculty Foundation. She is a Fellow of the American College of HealthCare Executives and a frequent speaker on governance, leadership, and healthcare trends.

“I have a passion for reading, outdoor activities, the arts and music. I value family (human and furry) as well as the opportunity to give back through helping nonprofit boards.”

CE works in partnership with the Office of Global Health at Rush University Medical Center. The programs work together to bring medical expertise and provide opportunities for service learning at our partner sites in the DR and Haiti.

CE works to create sustainable health systems. The Ministry of Health in the Dominican Republic assists in the transition of our primary care initiatives to a permanent, registered health system, allowing for continuity through funding and support.

CE works in partnership with Engineers Without Borders to eliminate standing water in Villa Verde, to improve public health and reduce water-borne illness.

CE partnered with the philanthropic branch of Laboratorios Feltrex, a Dominican pharmaceutical company, to bring Continuing Medical Education (CME) to local physicians with limited CME options.

CE partnered with Medline to create an electronic inventory system for CE’s medical supplies, resulting in increased efficiency and decreased costs.

CE partnered with PSN in Haiti when ongoing political unrest and safety concerns impacted our ability to see patients. The partnership provides our team with clinic space and additional support, while simultaneously allowing CE to expand its care and provide medical supplies for a greater patient population.

CE partnered with ProFamilia, an NGO dedicated to providing family planning and women’s health services in Duquesa, to increase primary care initiatives and sustainable public health programs.

CE partnered with Promesse Meds, an organization that supplies CE with discounted or free medications used by our medical teams in the DR.