Our Executive Staff
Charity Schwingle, M.S.W, Executive Director and Behavioral Health Director of the All Nations Wellness Center, is an enrolled tribal member of the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Ojibwe. Charity came on staff in October 2001. The All Nations Wellness Center, which offers services such as AODA counseling, Mental Health counseling, Support groups, Talking Circle, nutritional education, external referrals, case management, fitness instruction and life skills. Life skills include Resume assistance, Personal Care program, job search, and job interviewing. Charity is a member of the GLIIHC Executive Committee, actively involved in GLIIHC Annual Red Shawl Gala, President of the Milwaukee Indian Education Committee (MIEC) and been active in the urban Indian community since the age of 17.
Brenda Kinnart, All Nations Wellness Center & Human Resources Coordinator;
originally from the upper Peninsula of Michigan is an enrolled member of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians. She has been with the center since May 2007 and involved in the Native American community for 25 years.
Lacey Kinnart, Clinical Applications Coordinator (CAC);
An enrolled member of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians out of Upper Michigan, Lacey has been living and working with the Native community in Milwaukee since May 2008. She started with GLIIHC in May 2010 as a Seasonal Coordinator and now working as the CAC since December 2010. Lacey also works with the Milwaukee Indian Education Committee (M.I.E.C.) and is currently enrolled at MATC for Medical Coding.
Dr. Pradeep Kumar, Medical Director; promotes active patient participation in their health. As, Medical Director, he oversees the daily activity of the clinic. Dr. Kumar came on staff in October 2001. He is also on the Executive Committee, the Quality Management Team and the Diabetic Advisory Board.
Jacob Nowak, RPMS Site Manager, Systems Engineer
Our Medical Providers
Dr. David Abelson, Physician; With over 15 years of providing medical care to the people of Milwaukee, Dr Abelson joins our clinic as a full-time family physician and says that he is honored to work with the patients at GLIIHC. Prior to joining us a s a full-time family practitioner, he was the Assistant Clinical Professor at UW and eventually opened a private clinic in Milwaukee’s inner city. He is married and has 3 children. His approach is to treat the patient as a whole person, and he recommends that people seek balance in life and strive for moderation in all that they do. Acknowledging the mind-body-spirit connection is inherent in his approach to helping his patients manage chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease.
Marni K. Hebert, Family Nurse Practitioner; provides primary health care to patients of all ages. Her professional interests include health promotion, disease prevention and family medicine. She has been with the clinic since 2006.
Dr. Mustansir Majeed, Physician; is board certified in Family Practice and provides a full-range of patient care. After graduating from his residency in Utica, NY in 1998, he moved to MIlwaukee where he has provided medical care for underserved and at-risk populations. He is the Director of Clinical Services at Lakeview Specialty Hospital & Rehab and has received several honors including Top Doctor in Milwaukee. He has been with GLIIHC since 2006 where his primary focus is chronic disease management for people with diabetes, hypertension, and other chronic problems.
Dr. Steven Kauffman; Podiatrist
Our Diabetes Program Staff
Bridget Costigan, R.N., Diabetes Program Coordinator; with over 30 years of caring for her own diabetes, Bridget helps case manage and coordinate diabetic patients care, so they can help themselves control their diabetes, not have diabetes control them. Bridget helps provide education and care through community outreach at Indian Council for the Elderly and S.E.O.T.S. She is also attending the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee in the M.S.N. Program.
Jennifer Casey, R.D., C.D., Registered Dietitian; provides individual & group nutrition counseling to assist in improving people's quality of life. She works with elders in the WOLFE Program, and promotes diabetes and obesity prevention in youth, edits the monthly Wellness Newsletter, facilitates the garden program, and conducts healthy cooking classes. A past professional cook and ongoing advocate for Slow Food, her food philosophy is that eating should bring joy while nourishing our bodies and preserving the planet.
Lana Schocko, Diabetes Advocate and Referrals Specialist; is an enrolled member of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians. She works with our Diabetes Coordinator and handles all referrals. Lana is involved in the Fight Asthma Milwaukee, and Wisconsin Pink Shawl Initiative. She also works with the Indian Council of the Elderly. She attends M.A.T.C. for L.P.N.
Jim Wittlieff, Fitness Consultant; provides one on one assessment for fitness level and ability. He works with clients to develop an individualized fitness plan that promotes overall strength and flexibility. Jim provides fitness instruction, strength training, and leads aerobics and aquatics classes. Certified Arthritic Association Land Exercise Instructor and Deep & Shallow Water Aquatics Instructor. Is also part of the Diabetic Team and W.O.L.F.E Program.
Our Medical Clinic Staff
Joey Danforth, Security and Medical Records Assistant; Joey is an enrolled tribal member of Oneida nation. He has been volunteering for us since 2008 and has been employed with us since early 2010. Joey wears many hats in our agency, he is medical records assistant in the mornings, covers for the medical receptionist when needed, and is security/maintenance in the afternoons and when needed. He likes helping out other employees when possible, and is greatly appreciated. Joey has volunteered for the Red Shawl Gala and helped put it together since 2009, he has also and still volunteers for events involving the native community held at Potawatomi, pow wows, Indian Summer etc.
Sarah Gordon, Medical Receptionist; a member of the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Ojibwe and has close family ties to the Fond Du Lac Band of Lake Superior Ojibwe in Cloquet, Minnesota, where her grandmother was born. Sarah studied Intercultural Communications at UW-Milwaukee, where she earned her bachelor’s degree. She has lived and studied abroad multiple times in Mexico and plans to continue her education. Being urban and Native she has a profound interest in the current issues facing North, South and Central American Indian people and their efforts in carrying tradition forward during this time of great change.
Phyllis J, Medical Assistant; has been with the clinic since 2009.
Margaret M, Operations Assistant; Margie started with GLIIHC in 2008. She is now Improving Patient Care Team Leader. And she is a 2nd grade Catechism teacher for St. Helens Church, and Tri-Parish Choir member.
Patrice Richardson, Medical Assistant; Patrice’s mission is to serve the patients of GLIIHC. She is currently working towards becoming a Registered Nurse through Cardinal Stritch.
Ms Roberts, Medical Records Manager; is in charge of patient medical information, authorization of release, as well as other medical records needs. She is HIPPA trained and has completed a Medical Records and Law conference training. She asks that patients allow 48-72 hours for all medical records requests to be completed. She is available M-W = 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., T-Th = 8:00 a.m. -7:00 p.m. and F = 8:00 a.m. to Noon.
Desiree Schocko, Data Entry Coordinator; is an enrolled member of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians. Ms. Schocko manages all the Government Performance Result Act (GPRA) data. This is collected and entered daily for monitoring and improving quality patient care for GLIIHC. She has been working here since 2006. Ms. Schocko is currently attending Milwaukee Area Technical College for Nursing. Active member in the Wisconsin Pink Shawl Initiative, Fight Asthma Milwaukee, and core team member in the IPC II Chronic Care Initiative.
Our Administrative Staff
Catherine Lyons, Executive Secretary; is an enrolled member of the Menominee Tribe and provides clerical support to the Executive Director and works closely with the GLIIHC Board of Directors. Cathy started with the clinic in August of 2001. She worked at the original Milwaukee Indian Health Board when it was located on 930 N. 27th Street. Her son Brad was a patient at the original health clinic and now her granddaughter Gabriella has become a patient at the new clinic.
Our All Nations Wellness Center Staff
Brenda Kinnart, All Nations Wellness Center Coordinator; originally from the upper Peninsula of Michigan is an enrolled member of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians. She has been with the center since May 2007 and involved in the Native American community for 25 years.
Acharlis Bryant, All Nations Wellness Center Program Assistant; works closely with the both the Case Manager/Data Entry Clerk and the ANWC Coordinator to ensure each and every client receives the utmost care. Acharlis has been with the center since 2009.
Alyssa Miller, B.S.W., All Nations Wellness Center Case Manager & Data Entry Clerk
Our Security & Maintenance Staff
Greg Bigger, Transportation/Security/Maintenance Assistant, has a Certified Drivers License (CDL) and is primarily responsible for providing transportation. Greg has worked with GLIIHC since 2005 and has been involved in Milwaukee's Indian community for the past 10 years.
Donald Zalewski, Security Lead/Cleaning/Maintenance Assistant, is primarily responsible for cleaning the medical clinic and has been involved in Milwaukee's Indian community for the past 7 years.
Joey Danforth, Security/Maintenance Assistance, a member of the Oneida Tribe, he joined our GLIIHC staff in early 2010 and was volunteering for years prior.
Our Indian Community School Nurses
Dawn Haertel, R.N., B.S.N., B.S. Community Health Education. GLIIHC has
an agreement to provide school nurse services to the Indian Community School’s 300 + students. Services include but are not limited to: assessment/triage, management of chronic diseases, health screening, health education etc. Nurse Dawn joined the staff December 2006 and has over 23 years in Public Health.
Susan Waldoch, R.N., B.S.N. GLIIHC has an agreement to provide school nurse services to the Indian Community School’s 300 + students. Services include but are not limited to:assessment/triage,management of chronic diseases, health screening, health education etc. Nurse Sue joined the staff December 2006 and has over 21 years in pediatric/family nursing.