St. Catherine Laboure Medical Clinic Adds Four Members to Board of Directors

PHILADELPHIA, PA, October 04, 2012 (Press-News.org) To extend community outreach and the medical care it offers to Philadelphians who lack insurance, the St. Catherine Laboure Medical Clinic has added four leaders in medicine, law and economic development to its Board of Directors.

Joining the board of the pioneering non-profit based in Germantown are Dr. John Scanlon, chief medical officer of Chestnut Hill Hospital; Dr. Ilene Warner-Maron, a practicing nurse and specialist in gerontology who is an assistant professor at St. Joseph's University; Maureen Pie-Bruno, a practicing attorney with 24 years' experience teaching college level sociology; and Kim Miller, an economic development consultant who works with development agencies and start-up entrepreneurs.

Founded in 1999, St. Catherine's provides health care for uninsured adults who do not qualify for medical assistance or welfare. St. Catherine's provides services for both acute illnesses and chronic disease management in thousands of patient visits each year. Clients are 99 percent low-income, 90 percent African American, 95 percent between the ages of 26 and 65 and 60 percent employed.

The St. Catherine's Board of Directors draws from a cross section of medical, university, law, finance and community professionals who share the organization's commitment to providing "compassionate, high quality, comprehensive, primary medical care in a dignified manner" to those without health insurance, regardless of ability to pay.

"The new board members have a wealth of experience and the kind of diverse backgrounds that will strengthen our ability to provide much-needed care to the community," said Dr. Sheila Davis, D.O., the clinic's executive medical director and its co-founder with Michele Palos-Samsi, PA-C, who is the clinic's executive director. "These members bring perspectives and skills that will help us better serve our clients, who have been marginalized by the healthcare system."

New Board Members

Dr. John Scanlon is chief medical officer and chief of podiatric medicine and surgery at Chestnut Hill Hospital. He also is president of the Chestnut Hill Podiatry Associates group practice, a former fellow of the American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine and president of Shoefitters, Inc., a retail comfort and walking shoe store located in Blue Bell. He is board certified in foot and ankle surgery by the American Board of Podiatric Surgery.

Dr. Ilene Warner-Maron, Ph.D., RN-BC CWCN CALA NHA, has been a practicing nurse for 30 years, specializing in the care of geriatric patients. She is an assistant professor at St. Joseph's University.

Maureen Pie-Bruno, J.D., is a Philadelphia native and a practicing attorney with 24 years' experience teaching sociology. She currently is a lecturer in sociology at Thomas Jefferson University and formerly taught at Chestnut Hill College and the University of Alaska, Northwest Community College. While in Alaska she pioneered efforts to re-establish Alaska Native tribal courts and sovereignty, particularly in areas of child welfare and substance abuse.

Kim Miller is an economic development consultant for development agencies, start-up entrepreneurs and small businesses. She is a founding board member of the Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia, a non-profit organization helping local, independent businesses with planning and development through the use of sustainable business practices. She previously worked in the software industry for 10 years in Los Angeles, one year in Dallas, four years in Australia and four years in the United Kingdom.