Lesley Arroyo, Director
Claire M. Bennett, Director
Carolyn Clift, Secretary
Chrissy Davis, Director
Elizabeth Hennessy, Treasurer & Finance Chair
Jose Hernandez, Director
Timothy B. Johnson, Investment Chair
Tomitra Latimer, MD, Quality Assurance Chair
Xiomara Maldonado, Director
Sean Murnane, Director
Kimberly O’Gorman, Director
Linda Ramirez, Director
Richard D. Raskin, President
Edward D. Rickert, Director
Patricia Ritsman, Board Development Chair
Adonna Roberts, Director
Maricela Robles, Director
William Carmichael
Colleen Creighton
Michael W. Davis
Diane Douglas
Kathleen M. Ferket
Marta Gazda-Auskalnis
Kristin V. MacRAE
Rosanne Merrill
Martin J. McHale
Suzanne Murin
Steven R. Rothbloom
Pat Pulido Sanchez
K. Sue Sanford
Cynthia Scholl
James H. Stacke
Margaret S. Tresley
Benjamin E. Wolff, III
JoEllen Bursinger Zacks
Bryan C. Cressey
Nathan P. Eimer
Cynthia Landreth
Chrissy Davis, Co-President
Kimberly O’Gorman, Co-President
Lisa Haines, 1st Vice President
Laura Gates Keogh, 2nd Vice President
Jennifer Horan, 3rd Vice President
Sarah Georgi, Treasurer, Day-to-Day Operations
Lynda Given, Treasurer, Audit
Joan Bowers, Corresponding Secretary
Carole Barthel, Recording Secretary
Laura Alter, Board Advisor
IWS Family Health provides healthcare services, education, and support to children and families in the Chicagoland area.
Call us +1 (773) 782-2800
Visit us 3600 W Fullerton Avenue
Chicago, IL 60647
We provide healthcare services and education to medically underserved and vulnerable families in the Chicagoland area.
Call us +1 (773) 782-2800
Visit us 3600 W Fullerton Avenue
Chicago, IL 60647
Monday 8am – 8pm
Tuesday 8am – 6pm
Wednesday 8am – 8pm
Thursday 8am-8pm
Friday 8am-5pm
Saturday 8am-2pm (open on the
2nd and 4th Saturday of the month)
IWS Family Health provides healthcare services, education, and support to children and families in the Chicagoland area.
Call us +1 (773) 782-2800
IWS Family Health provides healthcare services, education, and support to children and families in the Chicagoland area.
Call us +1 (773) 782-2800
IWS Family Health is a 501(c)3 Charitable Organization (Tax ID #: 36-2167752). IWS Family Health is a Federally-Qualified Health Center (FQHC) Look-Alike and a member of the Illinois Primary Healthcare Association (IPHCA) and the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC).
Heidi Ortolaza-Alvear is the newly appointed Chief Executive Officer of IWS Family Health, bringing a wealth of experience in public health and social equity. Raised in Chicago, Heidi feels a strong connection to the communities that IWS Family Health serves, making her appointment feel like a homecoming.
Prior to joining IWS Family Health, Heidi held the position of Vice President of Strategy and Business Development at Esperanza Health Centers, where she led initiatives that resulted in the opening of three new community health centers, the creation of a family medicine residency program, and the development of one of Illinois’ first PACE programs for seniors. Her career also includes leading impactful policy changes in maternal and child health at EverThrive Illinois.
Heidi holds dual master’s degrees in social work and public policy from the University of Chicago and undergraduate degrees from Carleton College. Her academic and professional background has fueled her commitment to health equity and access, aligning perfectly with IWS Family Health’s mission to provide quality, integrated healthcare to children and families in Chicago.
As CEO, Heidi is committed to continuing IWS Family Health’s 113-year legacy of innovation and community impact. She looks forward to collaborating with the IWS team, Board of Directors, and community partners to further advance the organization’s mission and ensure equitable healthcare for all.
Dr. Portela is a Board Certified pediatrician and a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. She graduated from Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago with a Bachelor of Science and a minor in Sociology. After college, she worked as a case manager at Casa Central in Humboldt Park. Soon after she graduated with honors from Ross University School of Medicine and a Masters in Healthcare Administration from National Louis University.
Dr. Portela completed her residency in pediatrics at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Her special interests are in areas of high-risk pediatric patients: newborns, obesity, nutrition, and asthma/allergy illnesses.
Dr. Portela was born in Colombia, South America and raised in Logan Square. She is bilingual and understands the multicultural facets of society to medicine. Her special interests are in areas of high-risk pediatric patients: newborns, obesity, nutrition, and asthma/allergy illnesses.
Dr. Portela has been an enthusiastic and dedicated member of the Angel Harvey Family Health Center team since her arrival in 2017. She exudes dedication and leads by example in her role as Chief Medical Officer and brings the same vigor and energy to her leadership as she is a provider and leader of our Comer Sano/Eat Healthy group.
Karen Williams is a Certified Public Accountant. She received her Bachelor of Science from Northern Illinois University in accounting in 1983. Working with several large corporations she gained extensive experience and expertise in accounting with over three decades of financial knowledge.
Her widespread experience with nonprofits has made her an ideal fit for Angel Harvey Family Health Center (IWS). She accepted the role of Chief Financial Officer (CFO) with IWS on September 10, 2018. Since then, she has been a financial executive who can seamlessly shift gears to also assist to help lead IWS through evolving times. Karen has prided herself on upkeeping her integrity in such an integral role.
Forward-facing, Karen’s future endeavor for IWS is to ensure that she preserves the financial risks management. Her substantial participation and encounter with FQHC’s have assisted IWS in modeling the criterion to prepare us for success for the next 100 yrs.
Jose Galarza serves as the Chief Healthcare Analytics Officer for Angel Harvey Family Health Center (IWS). Prior to joining the team at IWS, Jose worked with Joint Commission as a Written Report Analyst for 9 years where he recognized his passion for data analytics.
Earlier on Jose served for 16 years in the United States Army. During his time of active duty, he went on to obtain his Associates Degree in System Network and Computer Information. Jose continued his education at Rochville University. He is currently enrolled at Grantham University where he will receive his Bachelor of Science in Health Informatics.
Jose started with IWS in 2011 as the Director of Revenue Cycle. During his first year, he was able to get IWS’ Behavioral Health Services enrolled to bill for services under Medicaid rule 132. Jose’s analytic skill set allowed him to implement innovative processes and procedures to maximize revenue at IWS. In his efforts, his department revamped the credentialing process for providers which now allows them to have the ability to bill a multitude of insurances. This initiative has made it possible for IWS providers to increase the demographic population that we are now able to serve. Jose’s ongoing passion to always find a way is the determination IWS needs for many years to come.
At IWS Family Health, Michelle has led the organization’s strategy and business development, fundraising, communications, marketing, outreach, and community relations for over a decade. Before coming to the organization, she was the Programs and Development Director for the Kellogg Fellows Leadership Alliance, where she led the fund development program and shared a programs portfolio that included multi-disciplinary initiatives on global health, immigration, food security, and civic engagement. She has a master’s degree in Human Rights and Global Health from the University of Denver’s Korbel School of International Studies and a BA in International Studies with minors in Commercial Italian and French.
Cyndi Mozzetti brings over 17 years of Government Programs experience through her time working at Cigna-HealthSpring, BlueCross BlueShield of Illinois, and Molina Healthcare of Illinois. Much of her experience has been in performance improvement, program creation and implementation, data analysis, performance management and quality assurance. Cyndi has a demonstrated history of success in leading teams from multiple disciplines, to ensure the highest possible health outcomes for patients. In addition to her hands-on volunteer work in the community, Cyndi also volunteers her time serving as Lurie Children’s Hospital Co-Chair of the Finance Committee, for their All Hands Health Network; a 7-year Integrated Care for Kids grant award from CMS, to improve health outcomes and reduce cost of care for children covered by Medicaid.
As a teenager, Karina volunteered at the Department of Public Health clinics where she developed an interest in public health management. She began working at Angel Harvey in 2012 as a Patient Support Specialist and has since moved up in the organization to become the Director of Operations. Her ability to manage staff, assist patients, and simultaneously maintain the high standards of public health management and quality has helped IWS to provide exceptional patient care and respond to the quick and often changing needs of our population. Karina hopes to continue servicing and helping the community that she holds dear to her heart.
Cathy Alvarez, MSN, CPNP-PC, is a board-certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner with over two decades of experience dedicated to nurturing the health and well-being of children from birth through adolescence. Known for her warm, individualized approach to care, Cathy is passionate about building lasting relationships with her patients and their families—many of whom she’s supported through every milestone of childhood.
Cathy began her nursing career after earning her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Illinois at Chicago in 1999. She gained valuable experience working on the inpatient pediatric unit at Advocate Lutheran Children’s Hospital in Aurora. Driven to deepen her impact, she returned to UIC to complete the Pediatric Nurse Practitioner program, earning her Master of Science in Nursing in 2005. She is certified by the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB) and has since devoted her career to providing expert care to diverse pediatric populations.
She is an active member of the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners and the American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association, always staying at the forefront of pediatric healthcare.
Fluent in English and Polish, with conversational Spanish skills, Cathy connects seamlessly with families from many cultural backgrounds.
Outside of work, you can find her cheering on her son at soccer games, exploring new destinations, and enjoying quality time with her family. Her caring spirit and clinical excellence make her a trusted partner in every child’s healthcare journey.”
Marixa Alvarez, ARN, MSN, FNP-BC, is a dedicated and compassionate Family Nurse Practitioner, board certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center. She earned her Master of Science in Nursing from Lewis University, where she cultivated her passion for holistic, patient-centered care.
Fluent in both English and Spanish, Marixa connects deeply with diverse communities, ensuring every patient feels heard and supported. Outside of the clinic, you’ll likely find her in the kitchen—cooking, baking, and bringing people together over a homemade meal. A fun fact? Marixa has a knack for solving puzzles and putting things together—whether it’s a 1,000-piece jigsaw or helping patients piece together their path to better health.
Carlos is a board-certified Physician Assistant who joined the IWS Family Health team in January 2024. He was born and raised in Antigua, Guatemala and is fluent in both English and Spanish.
His academic journey began at Saint Michael’s College, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology alongside minors in Chemistry and Religious Studies. Driven by a commitment to service, he devoted a year to volunteering as a medical assistant at a health clinic in Albuquerque, NM, through the Jesuit Volunteer Corps. This experience solidified his interest in medicine, inspiring him to delve deeper into healthcare and ultimately leading Carlos to pursue a Master of Public Health in Community Health Sciences and Infectious Diseases from Boston University School of Public Health.
Following his MPH, Carlos dedicated several years to the public health sector, primarily serving as a linkage to care coordinator, clinical research coordinator, and COVID-19 contact tracer. Moved by a need to help his community during the 2020 pandemic, he secured admission to and completed the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine PA program, earning his Master of Medical Science degree.
Carlos aims to integrate his public health training with his medical practice to bring culturally competent and inclusive medical services to all his patients, but specially the Hispanic/Latino and LGTBQ+ communities he serves. In his downtime, Carlos enjoys cooking, collecting plants, fostering dogs, playing video games, watching reality TV shows, and adding more stamps to his passport!
Dr. Tara Ioffe is a dedicated and compassionate Board-Certified Family Medicine physician with a strong commitment to providing excellent care to her patients. She obtained her medical degree from Avalon University in Curacao and went on to complete her Family Medicine Residency at the University of Oklahoma. She has worked at the University of Chicago and most recently NorthShore University. She has since returned to Chicago and is thrilled to join the IWS Family Health team in 2023, where she will continue to provide excellent care to her patients.
Throughout her career, Dr. Ioffe has gained experience in diverse medical fields, such as immediate and urgent care medicine while working at NorthShore Immediate Care. She did clinical research at the University of Chicago. Dr. Ioffe strives to foster a secure and inclusive environment for all her patients. She believes in an integrated approach to medicine, dedicating her time to understand each patient’s unique needs.
During her leisure time, Dr. Ioffe indulges in reading a variety of books for pleasure, plays boardgames, and loves to explore Chicago with her spouse and young child.
