Mission
We are called to follow Christ by loving and serving our neighbors through comprehensive, quality healthcare. Our vision is the healing and restoration of homeless and underserved communities.
Meet Our Executive Team
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Bettina Lewis – Interim CEO
Bettina Lewis joined the Los Angeles Christian Health Centers in 2006 as the Executive Assistant to the President & Chief Executive Officer. Her diverse skills and background are a true asset for accomplishing the goals and objective of expanding LACHC’s programs and services to address the needs of the community. Bettina holds a Master of Business Administration and Certification in Health Care Management. She loves reading, spending time with her family and being an active member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority.
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Lelenia Ramirez – Interim COO
Lelenia Ramirez became Interim COO September 15, 2022. Lelenia has over 15 years of health care and leadership experience within Federally Qualified Health Centers. During her tenure at East Valley Community Health Center, she worked in various roles, including Chief Operating Officer, Director of Operations, Compliance and Privacy Officer, Clinic Manager, and HIV Prevention Program Manager. Lelenia earned a Master of Health Administration from the University of La Verne and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Political Science from the University of California, Riverside. Lelenia is alumni of the Center for Health Professions at the University of California, San Francisco, Clinic Leadership Institute Emerging Leaders Program, and earned her Green Belt in Lean Six Sigma.
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Katy White, M.D., M.P.H. – Chief Medical Officer
Dr. White first joined LACHC in August 2009 as a family practice doctor at our Boyle Heights clinic, and since 2012, has served as Chief Medical Officer. She was born and raised in the Los Angeles area, and attended Williams College in Massachusetts. She graduated from UC San Diego School of Medicine in 1997 and completed a Masters of Public Health at San Diego State University in 1997. She did her residency in Family Medicine at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center from 1997-2000 and is board certified in Family Practice.
Dr. Katy has been working with inner city underserved populations since 2000, at South Central Family Health Center from 2000-2007, St. John’s Well Child and Family Center in Compton from 2007-2009, and currently at LACHC. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for Christian Community Health Fellowship, a national organization which educates, encourages and equips Christians to live out the gospel through health care among the poor. She served as chairperson of that board for 2 years (2010- Fall 2012). Dr. Katy is passionate about seeing more faith-based clinics birthed in Compton, South LA and throughout the Los Angeles area. For fun, she loves to spend time with her husband and 2 kids, playing tennis, and running—even marathons.
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Steve Kennedy, Chief Financial Officer
Stephen Kennedy became the Chief Financial Officer of Los Angeles Christian Health Centers in September 2019 after serving on LACHC’s Board of Directors for 10 years, including three years as Chairperson. Stephen has worked for 30 years in accounting and financial management positions with public accounting, manufacturing, higher education, and homeless services organizations in Milwaukee, New York and Los Angeles. Most recently, he served for 13 years as Sr. VP & Chief Financial Officer of the Los Angeles Mission in downtown skid row.
In 1986, Stephen was licensed as a CPA in Wisconsin. He earned his Bachelor of Business Arts degree in Accounting and Finance from the University of Wisconsin, MBA from Columbia University, and Master of Divinity from Fuller Theological Seminary. For the past ten years, Stephen has also served as Assisting Priest at St. David's Anglican Church in Burbank and currently participates on the Executive Committee of the Diocese of Western Anglicans. Stephen enjoys sports, reading, movies, theater, spending time with family and friends, and serving in God’s Kingdom.
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Teresa Antelo, MPH, Director of Grants Management
Ms. Antelo joined the LACHC team as the Director of Development in June of 2011 and is currently the Director of Grants Management. She was born and raised in the Los Angeles area, completed her undergraduate studies at UC Berkeley, and received her Masters in Public Health from the UCLA School of Public Health. Throughout her educational and professional career, Ms. Antelo has been drawn to work with organizations dedicated to the health and mental well-being of vulnerable populations. Her previous work experience includes Contra Costa County Department of Public Health, NexCare Collaborative, and Children’s Center of the Antelope Valley. She has a strong background in program/project management and evaluation and has worked in the non-profit sector for over 16 years.
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Renee Smith — Director of Advancement
Renee joined the LACHC team in the fall of 2014 and shares more than 20-years’ experience in fundraising, communications and public relations. She is responsible for fundraising activities and events targeting individuals and corporate sponsors. Renee also handles all LACHC owned media, publications and press inquiries. Renee will complete a Master’s in Public Relations from California Baptist University soon and holds a B.A in Broadcast Journalism from Howard University in Washington D.C. She is a wife, mother and active President of the Los Angeles Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Inc. She is also a member of Holman United Methodist Church in Los Angeles. She considers her work in fundraising and public relations a critical ministry supporting God’s work.
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Shannon Fernando, RN, BS MSN-FNP – Chief Innovations Officer
Shannon Fernando is a California board-certified family nurse practitioner. She joined LACHC in July 2013 and currently serves as the Chief Innovations Officer (previously as the Associate Clinical Director). As CIO, Shannon oversees and manages special clinical programs, including the street medicine teams and Hepatitis C treatment programs, Whole Person Care and clinic-wide advocacy efforts. Shannon also engages in direct patient care and assists the CMO in running the medical department, recruiting Advanced Practice Providers, managing the medical provider schedule and education, and serving as the liaison with the operations department to improve medical care flow at all sites, and supervising the Clinical Satellite Site Lead clinicians and providers. She is also the founder and president of Alabaster Mobile Clinic (a non-profit organization which provides health services and health education to impoverished rural and urban communities in Africa); and founder and chair of the LA County HCV Provider Work Group in collaboration with the Community Clinic Association of LA County.
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Cheryl Barnes — Director of Human Resources
Cheryl Barnes transferred from the HR Dept of the LA Mission in 2008 to become the Director of Human Resources at LACHC. Cheryl has 14 years of HR experience and is an active member of HR organizations PIHRA and SHRM.
Cheryl grew up in Long Beach, CA. She graduated from Holy Innocents elementary and St. Anthony’s High School. She received a B.A. and M.A. from Cal State University Long Beach. She obtained her JD from Western State University of Law in Fullerton and graduated from Angelus Bible Institute in L.A.
Cheryl’s son and his wife have blessed her with two granddaughters Aveline 3 ½ years old and Katarina 3 months old.
Cheryl is an avid reader and spends her free time playing with her grandchildren.
Our History
LACHC Timeline
Two New LACHC Sites
LACHC expands behavioral health integration again. We collaborate with Exodus Recovery to start up two integrated medical-mental health teams operating at three sites as well as on the streets. An alliance with mental health organization Telecare Inc. leads to the opening of two LACHC sites serving individuals with severe mental illness, including state parolees.
LACHC Expands
With increasing demand for care at Joshua House Clinic – and the facility bursting at the seams – LACHC moves its administrative offices off site. This allows for the creation of six new medical exam rooms, three new mental health and social work rooms, one additional dental operatory and an insurance enrollment office.
Partnership is Key
Partnership is a vital part of our innovative approach. Delivering our best to patients requires an eclectic assembly of organizations and individuals. Academic partners, satellite clinic site hosts, community non-profits, coalitions, funders, contributors and volunteer health professionals are the vital to our effectiveness.
Board of Directors
Stacey V. Bolden-Bowers, M.B.A., Esq.
Chair
T. Sukari Finley
Secretary
John Hong, M.D., M.B.A.
Treasurer
Wayne Aoki, Ph.D.
Edward Lee, M.D., M.P.H.
Scott Reid, MBA
Pastor Jody Romero
Linda Trelles
Kim Mealy
Peggy Pleasant
Kendall Simmonds
Academic Affiliations
Academic Partnerships provide an opportunity to expose health professional trainees to the world of community-based health care. We teach students and residents from the following programs:
A.T. Still University- School of Osteopathic Medicine
Americorps
Azuza Pacific University-School of Nursing
California Baptist University-Physician Assistant Program
California State University, Long Beach-Nurse Practitioner Program
California State University, Los Angeles-Center for Engagement, Service and the Public Good
California State University, Los Angeles-EPIC: Educational Participation in Communities
California State University, Los Angeles-Nurse Practitioner Program
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Charles R. Drew University (CDU/UCLA Partnership)-Physician Program
Christian Community Health Fellowship
Glendale Adventist-Family Residency Program
Keck School of Medicine USC
Loma Linda University
Mount Saint Mary’s School of Nursing
Resurrection Health Family Medicine Residency
Samuel Merritt University-Nurse Practitioner Program
Samuel Merritt University-Physician Assistant Program
South University
St. Mary’s School
Stanford University-Foothill De Anza CC
Touro University
Touro University, Nevada-School of Physician Assistant Studies
Trevecca Nazarene University
UCLA School of Medicine
UCLA School of Nursing
United States University
USC Primary Care Physician Assistant Program
USC School of Medicine
USC School of Pharmacy
USC School of Social Work
Walden University
Western University Dental School
Western University Physician Assistant School
Western University School of Medicine
Yale School of Medicine Physician Assistant Program
Coalition Memberships
Service Partners
Funders
Capital Funders
Financials
LACHC is committed to financial transparency. Here you will find several years’ worth of financial disclosures. If you have questions about these statements, don’t hesitate to contact us.