We recently welcomed the two newest members of our clinical staff:  Christine Strickland, CRNP, Family Nurse Practitioner (photo, L) and Brittney Gangemi, CRNP, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (photo, R).

A graduate of the University of Scranton and the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, where she received her Master of Science in Nursing degree, Ms. Strickland has previously served as a nurse in cardiovascular, medical-surgical, emergency, home care, and rural health settings in Philadelphia, New York City, and Cameroon. Said Ms. Strickland: “I’m thankful for the opportunity to accompany my patients at Esperanza as we journey together toward health and into deeper relationship with God.”

Ms. Gangemi is a graduate of Saint Joseph’s University and the Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing, where she received both her Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Master of Science in Nursing degrees. Over the past several years, she has served in multiple countries on four different continents as a researcher, nurse and community health worker, and has also held nursing positions here in the U.S. Ms. Gangemi is passionate about caring for disadvantaged children and their families by integrating her personal faith and clinical care, and she looks forward to being a part of the Esperanza team.

At the heart of Esperanza’s ministry is our partnership with churches, as reflected in our Mission Statement: “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.”  Last month, Esperanza invited pastors and ministry leaders from many local churches to two Church Appreciation Events; over 50 pastors/leaders attended. The events were an opportunity to thank pastors and church leaders for their impact on the lives of our patients and our staff members, and for their service to their communities. Esperanza’s senior leaders also shared about the impact that churches have through our Volunteer Chaplain program, and provided an update on our Kensington health center project. Said Pastor Erwin Boche, who in addition to pastoring a local church, Day Shalom Church, also serves as one of Esperanza’s Volunteer Chaplains and is employed as a Community Health Worker at Esperanza: “The event was a very good opportunity for sharing with other pastors! It was good to know a little more about Esperanza’s history and the new building at K&A and how it will impact our community.”