About Us
Staff
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Jason Bao
Interpreter & Clinic Assistant
“Through Samaritan, I have the privilege of listening to the intimate life stories of patients. With a brief glimpse into their backgrounds, perspectives, or cultures, I strive to positively impact their lives - whether it is clarifying questions to help them feel more confident in managing their health or leaving them with a smile and a chuckle as they exit the clinic. I am appreciative of the opportunity to contribute to the health, dignity, and flourishing of our community.”
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Elizabeth Brill, MPS
Executive Director
“My days at Samaritan give me the privilege of seeing so many people collaborating for health, dignity, and flourishing: our patients, our volunteers, our community partners, our financial partners, my staff colleagues, and our Board of Directors. The relationships built and the journeys shared across this diverse community are a daily picture of God’s work among us.”
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Lenore Brown, RN
Staff Nurse
“Communication of health information is part of a nurse's role. Very often this involves communicating in Spanish, or occasionally in another language I speak, or calls for creative measures, such as drawing pictures on pill bottles so patients know what a medicine is for and what time of day to take it. I like getting to know many of our patients who have come here for a while.”
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Martha Carlough, MD, MPH
Community Health Director and Staff Physician
“As I think about health, dignity and flourishing through work at Samaritan Health Center I would quote Wendell Berry (agrarian poet and essayist) who writes “health is membership.” Our bodies are involved in the world, and we belong to each other. When we care for a patient during a visit we get just a glimpse of their life, and all that impacts who they are and what they carry in life. Our role is to come alongside, hear their stories, and offer the best medical care we can while attending to the bigger story. The presence of our clinic in Durham and our relationships and interconnectedness with others is a demonstration of our belonging to one another, and a sign of hope for a healthier community.”
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Kina Edwards, PA-C
Medical Director
“In my role at Samaritan Health Center, I have the privilege of working with patients, staff, community partners, donors, and volunteers in caring for the health of our community. I approach the community as I would want my family members to be approached: with a desire to provide the best medical care I can and help individuals grow towards health. It is a pleasure to walk with Samaritan and the community in the path of health and dignity seeing our community grow and flourish.”
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Shanna Moss, RN
Staff Nurse
“I honor our patients’ dignity through speaking to each person with respect and by offering choices when available: for example, which arm is preferred for a vaccine or lab. I am also learning medical Spanish. When I speak Spanish with our Latino patients, it increases their trust, to relax and share more of their history and how we can serve them.”
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Jenny Mullis, RN, BSN
Operations Director
“When patients come to Samaritan Health Center, we strive to see the whole person rather than one single part. Whether this looks like a friendly face or joke to brighten their mood, working with one of our partner organizations to provide free produce or medications or discussing an important health concern that has been worrying them — the comprehensive care that Samaritan offers is a true embodiment of Jesus' command to love our neighbors as ourselves.”
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Marjorie Nieto
Patient Navigator
Here in Samaritan Health Center we strive to offer the best experience for patients in their many different situations and needs, especially helping them and providing a guide through the health care system. We work with patients, their families, and caregivers to facilitate access to health services and overcome challenges to obtain the care they need. Making decisions in medical care could be a difficult moment; therefore, assessing and addressing immediate needs and laying the groundwork for future or ongoing support is crucial. My goal is to provide whole-patient care by addressing immediate needs and laying the groundwork for future support.
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Jennifer Parker, MD
Staff Physician
“At Samaritan we see patients from many different backgrounds and cultures. We treat our patients with the same love, respect, and medical care that we desire for ourselves and our families, remembering that each person is created and loved by God. With the help of our team, I am able to meet patients where they need help most by providing treatment, medications, labs, specialty referrals, and offering prayer and encouragement.”
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Jessie Prestwood, MD
Staff Physician
“At Samaritan Health Center, we get to walk along with people just like us, people suffering from the effects of the fall: sin and disease and death. We practice the best medicine we know how, struggling for easing of the burden, clarity in fear, and right functioning of the body. It is a deep joy to see people growing toward health—be the journey fast and direct or slow and long. I am grateful for the gift of this work.”
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Paul Van Tongeren, MS
Patient Services Coordinator
“Two areas where I contribute to providing health, dignity, and flourishing are in coordinating the vision clinics and helping patients apply for medications. It is a joy to see patients try on a new pair of glasses and watch their faces light up, or hear them say "I can see!" Helping patients apply for medications can also greatly improve health, dignity, and flourishing. I get to see diabetic patients who are able to get their blood sugar under control, those suffering from asthma who can obtain inhalers, and patients with high blood pressure who can get it under control without straining their finances.”
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Rosa Estela Vasquez
Front Desk Coordinator
“Being part of Samaritan Health Center reminds me that we have so many ways to help; in the center I can see so many people working for the health, dignity and flourishing of a community; like Jesus, he shows us that we have to work for others with love and humanity.”
Employment
Opportunities
Patient Services Intern
The focus of the patient services internship is front desk support at our University Drive clinic: scheduling patients, answering and returning phone calls, greeting visitors, and generally producing a welcoming atmosphere at the clinic. This will include administrative tasks (filing, documentation, data entry, etc.), with the potential for learning other aspects of clinic operations and completing special projects in collaboration with the administrative team.