Meet the Team

Jessica joined Community Empowerment as the Executive Director in 2024. She has practiced clinically as an Emergency Medicine PA for the last 11 years, and is an assistant professor at RUSH University where she most recently served as the director of the PA Program. Jessica has been a dedicated volunteer with CE since 2013 and has participated in 15 volunteer medical trips to the DR and Haiti where she has contributed primary care services and led volunteer teams. In the last few years, Jessica has secured two grants to fund a diabetes screening and management program in CE's partner communities in Villa Verde and Duquesa. Jessica is very excited work with the CE community both locally and abroad, and is hoping to meld her clinical, leadership, and operational expertise to provide oversight and support to the organization. She is most excited to work closely with the compassionate and hard-working group of people that bring life to CE! Jessica lives in Chicago but loves to travel, especially to the Dominican Republic which she considers her second home! In her free time, Jessica is an avid bachata dancer, boxer, and yoga teacher.

Melhi started in her role at CE in 2022 and oversees CE’s operations in the DR and Haiti. Her background is in economic sciences and human resource development. Her favorite thing about her job is the people – the staff, the patients, and the clinical teams that visit. Working alongside them fills her soul and she is grateful to have a job that is never tiring and always interesting. Melhi is known to answer questions before anyone can even ask them!

Wendys has been working for CE full time since 2022 as the Director of Clinical teams. Wendys works tirelessly to organize all aspects of the medical and surgical teams including patient recruitment & follow-up, hospital coordination, and community development. Before beginning her full-time role, she volunteered in a similar capacity for nearly fifteen years, helping to launch the first CE clinical site in Peralta. She appreciates the opportunity to help patients and counts them all as family.

Jose volunteered for nearly a decade prior to joining the CE staff in 2022. He oversees the logistics for surgical teams including managing all supplies and equipment. Jose is known for being able to fix anything, at any time. He loves his coworkers and is proud to be part of CE’s mission to provide healthcare to so many people.

Christian began working full time for CE in 2022, maintaining the vehicles and ensuring each team has all they need to function. Prior to his employment, he served as a volunteer for years overseeing operations at the Peralta water purification plant. His favorite thing about working for CE is his amazing coworkers and how well they all get along.

Mari started working for CE in 2018. She oversees all aspects of hospitality for visiting teams, including managing the CE guest house and all its operations—food preparation and house maintenance. She ensures teams feel at home and well cared for during their time with CE. She loves every part of her job at CE as she has learned so much, but she especially enjoys preparing food for the teams.