Haitian Leadership at the Heart of Care

As Executive Director of FOTCOH, Nathan helps lead the organization’s work to expand access to health care, health education, and hope for more than 15,000 people in Haiti each year.

Nathan brings more than 25 years of leadership and fundraising experience with domestic and international nonprofits. Throughout his career, he has been drawn to organizations focused on health, nutrition, and community well-being, with extensive work across Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, and Haiti, where he has been involved in projects since 2002.

In his role, Nathan supports FOTCOH’s staff, volunteers, donors, and partners in advancing the organization’s mission. He is especially passionate about connecting donors to meaningful opportunities that reflect their values and help create lasting impact for the communities FOTCOH serves.

For Nathan, FOTCOH’s work is rooted in both compassion and quality care. He is grateful to be part of an organization where dedicated staff and volunteers provide high-quality health care in a place where access is deeply limited.

Outside of work, Nathan enjoys spending time with his wife, Missy, a special education preschool teacher, and their three grown children.

André has been part of FOTCOH since 2001, when he first joined the organization as a driver after completing secondary school. At the time, he was looking for work to support himself, help his family, and continue his university education. More than two decades later, André has grown into one of FOTCOH’s most trusted leaders.

Over the years, he has served as a driver, translator, and now Clinic Director, bringing steady leadership, deep institutional knowledge, and remarkable reliability to the organization. Today, André oversees Vital Health Clinics and Weekly Urgent Care, manages clinic financials, supports health care providers and staff, and helps keep high-volume clinic days organized and patient-centered.

His attention to detail also plays an important role in FOTCOH’s financial transparency, including careful documentation for accounting and audits. André holds a law degree from the School of Law in Jacmel.

When asked about his favorite part of the job, André points to the coordination it takes to serve hundreds of patients each clinic day. For him, organizing the Haitian team and volunteers to care for 300 to 500 people at a time is both challenging and deeply meaningful.

Outside of work, André enjoys spending time with his two children, especially taking them to the pool to cool off and have fun.

Dr. Nelson has served with FOTCOH since 2007 and is known throughout the clinic simply as Nelson. As Medical Director, he helps lead patient care during Vital Health Clinics and Weekly Urgent Care, working alongside Haitian doctors, nurses, and medical staff to provide consistent care for the communities FOTCOH serves.

Originally from Haiti, Dr. Nelson earned his medical degree while studying in the Dominican Republic before returning home to continue his medical training. He later served as assistant director of a private hospital before joining FOTCOH.

Over the years, Nelson has seen how consistent care can change the way patients think about their health. As people experience treatment that works, trust grows. Many patients return for continued care and encourage family members and friends to visit the clinic as well.

For Nelson, that growing trust is one of the clearest signs of FOTCOH’s impact: health care that is not only available, but believed in by the community it serves.

Ken supports FOTCOH’s work by helping ensure the Haitian team has the operational resources, logistics, and support needed to serve patients effectively.

As Director of Operations, Ken helps coordinate property needs, program support, logistics, and behind-the-scenes systems that improve efficiency and strengthen FOTCOH’s work in Haiti. His role helps connect day-to-day operational needs with the larger goal of keeping care consistent, organized, and sustainable.

After 14 mission trips, Ken has seen FOTCOH’s impact firsthand, from wounds healed during clinics to the improved health of returning patients. He has also witnessed the deep gratitude of patients and families, along with the strong sense of connection that forms between Haitian staff and volunteer teams.

Ken looks forward to returning to Haiti when travel conditions allow. Three of his children have joined him on FOTCOH trips, and as his family grows, he hopes future generations will also have the opportunity to experience the mission firsthand.

Dianne supports FOTCOH’s mission through the careful financial stewardship that helps keep the organization strong, transparent, and prepared to serve.

She oversees FOTCOH’s accounting, financial management, and office operations, bringing deep experience as a CPA and nonprofit business administrator. Before joining FOTCOH, Dianne worked in public accounting for two large firms and later found her niche in the nonprofit world, where she has also served in several volunteer treasurer roles.

Her work requires a steady eye for detail, especially when reconciling multiple currencies connected to FOTCOH’s operations in Haiti. For Dianne, the most meaningful part of the role is using her accounting skills in support of an organization providing essential care to communities with limited access to health care.

Dianne is continually inspired by the generosity and commitment of FOTCOH’s volunteers, whose willingness to serve reflects the heart of the organization.

Outside of work, Dianne enjoys life with her husband, Michael, a physician who has traveled to Haiti twice with FOTCOH. She first became connected to the organization while researching volunteer opportunities for Michael and their son. They have two grown children, Jonathan and Lauren, and two Sheltie dogs.

Dr. Renick brings both medical expertise and a long personal connection to FOTCOH’s mission.

A board-certified family medicine physician, Dr. Renick first learned about FOTCOH through his mother, Judy, a registered nurse who traveled to Haiti with the organization in the 1990s. The photos and stories she brought home left a lasting impression and inspired him to one day become involved himself.

That opportunity came during his residency, when two physicians who had volunteered with FOTCOH presented to his class. Dr. Renick joined one of them on a trip to Haiti in 2007 and has since returned several times to support clinic care. His father also joined him for one of FOTCOH’s WASH clinics, making the mission a meaningful part of his family’s story.

For Dr. Renick, what makes FOTCOH special is its long-term commitment. For more than three decades, the organization has continued providing care, hope, and trusted support to the Haitian communities it serves.

Dr. Renick has also been recognized with the Outstanding Teaching and Service Award for Community Based Faculty from the University of Illinois College of Medicine. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his wife, Kara, a physical therapist with Graham Health Services, and their three children, Ella, Dylan, and Declan.

Erin brings specialized pharmacy and global health experience to FOTCOH’s work, helping ensure patients have access to the medications needed for safe, effective care.

As Pharmacy Director, Erin supports FOTCOH’s pharmaceutical operations and helps strengthen the systems that make treatment possible in a region where reliable access to medication is limited. Her background includes 13 years as a community pharmacist and nine years in the nonprofit global health sector.

Erin holds a Doctor of Pharmacy, a Master of Public Health, and certification as an Emergency Medical Technician. She first traveled to Haiti with FOTCOH as a volunteer in 2011 and later served as a Pharmacy Advisor for an international global health organization, providing medical and pharmaceutical oversight across its operations.

She is also part of an Emergency Response Cadre, where she helps oversee pharmacy operations and deploy resources for disaster responses in the U.S. and abroad.

For Erin, FOTCOH’s mission became personal after seeing the dedication of founders Dick and Barb Hammond and the way they cared for both the communities in Haiti and the volunteers who came to serve. That experience made her want to become a lifelong advocate for the organization’s work.

Dr. Stephanie Lindstrom brings decades of family medicine experience and a long-standing commitment to FOTCOH’s mission. She has supported the organization since 1998, when she traveled to Haiti on her first mission trip, and now helps lead FOTCOH’s Women’s Health Initiative.

Dr. Lindstrom has practiced family medicine in Peoria and Metamora, Illinois since 2002. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology from Northern Illinois University, completed medical school at the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria, and completed her residency in family medicine through the University of Illinois Peoria in 2002.

In addition to her clinical practice, Dr. Lindstrom serves as Associate Chief Medical Officer for Carle Health Peoria, bringing both medical expertise and health care leadership to her work with FOTCOH.

Through the Women’s Health Initiative, Dr. Lindstrom helps support care focused on mothers, infants, and families during some of the most critical stages of life. Her long connection to FOTCOH reflects a deep belief in service, compassion, and expanding access to care for communities in Haiti.

Outside of her work, Stephanie enjoys hiking, traveling, gardening, and reading. She and her husband, Michael Joseph, have three children: Lexi, Livi, and Jacob.

Dr. Kate McGinn brings decades of dental experience and global volunteer service to her role as FOTCOH’s Dental Program Advisor. A retired general dentist, she has practiced field dentistry as a global volunteer in six countries for more than 30 years.

Dr. McGinn first learned about FOTCOH through a family connection and made her first trip to Haiti in 2005. Since then, she has traveled with FOTCOH 16 times, helping support the growth of the dental clinic and the patients it serves.

Over the years, Dr. McGinn has seen FOTCOH’s dental care expand from primarily extractions to include restorative fillings, hygiene, and more comprehensive oral health support. For her, it has been a privilege to help strengthen a program that has improved health and relieved pain for so many patients in Haiti.

Dr. McGinn graduated from the University of Iowa College of Dentistry in 1984 and practiced in a St. Paul suburb. She also volunteered with Hope Dental Clinic in St. Paul until it closed in 2025.

FOTCOH has also become a meaningful part of her family’s story. Dr. McGinn brought each of her two children to the clinic during their senior year of high school, giving them the opportunity to serve and experience the mission firsthand.

At home in Afton, Minnesota, Dr. McGinn enjoys life with her husband, Denny, their two cats, and her gardens.

Shelley Callahan brings more than 20 years of nonprofit development experience and a deep commitment to community health to her work with FOTCOH. A dedicated volunteer since 2011, Shelley has helped expand FOTCOH’s prevention-focused work through clean water access, sanitation education, and community outreach.

In 2017, Shelley worked with FOTCOH Director André Boyer to create and implement the organization’s Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene program. The WASH program provides education and clean water interventions to communities near Jacmel, where the FOTCOH clinic is located.

Today, Shelley serves as WASH Program Advisor for both FOTCOH’s WASH Program and Water4All Program. Through Water4All, FOTCOH supports partner organizations across Haiti by helping them provide water filters and WASH training in their own communities.

Shelley’s work reflects FOTCOH’s belief that lasting health starts with prevention, education, and access to the basic resources families need to stay well.

Dr. Lukas brings extraordinary surgical experience, service, and long-standing commitment to his role with FOTCOH. A surgeon and former member of the U.S. Army’s Delta Force, he has been involved with the organization for nearly two decades and has traveled to Haiti more than 40 times.

Dr. Lukas first became connected to FOTCOH after his wife, Sharon, a nurse, learned about the clinic in Haiti and felt called to help. He initially served as a general medicine provider during FOTCOH trips before launching the organization’s surgical program in 2004. Since then, the program has completed more than 1,500 surgical cases, providing life-changing care for patients who may otherwise have limited access to surgery.

In addition to his surgical and military background, Dr. Lukas has been recognized for his teaching and leadership at the University of Illinois, where he received five Golden Apple Awards and was named Faculty of the Year twice. He holds an MD with honors from the University of Florida College of Medicine and a Bachelor of Science with high honors from Michigan State University.

For Dr. Lukas, serving on FOTCOH’s Board of Directors has been both deeply rewarding and a true blessing.

Outside of his work and service with FOTCOH, Dr. Lukas and Sharon enjoy spending time with their two children and three grandchildren.

Marty Hammond’s connection to FOTCOH began long before he officially joined the organization. As the son of co-founders Barb and Dick Hammond, Marty grew up watching his parents serve the people of Haiti with deep compassion, commitment, and respect. Their example helped shape his own passion for service and his desire to support FOTCOH’s mission in a more formal capacity.

Marty brings a wide range of skills to the organization, supporting FOTCOH through graphic design, marketing guidance, fundraising, and hands-on operational projects. He has also assisted with solar panel work, clinic electrical maintenance, and volunteer service through medical and WASH teams.

Professionally, Marty serves as Art Director for a major manufacturer of motorcycle apparel and accessories. He holds an MBA from Lindenwood University and a BFA from Truman State University.

For Marty, FOTCOH is both a family legacy and a mission he continues to carry forward. Outside of his work with the organization, he enjoys spending time with his wife, Jamie, and their children, Abby and Evan.

Brian brings decades of financial and investment experience to his service on FOTCOH’s board, helping support the organization’s long-term strength, stewardship, and sustainability.

Before retiring, Brian spent nearly 40 years in the pension industry, consulting with domestic and multinational clients on investment governance, asset allocation, and investment structure. In 2008, after retiring from his role as Investment Director with Watson Wyatt, he formed Falcons Ledge Partners.

For Brian, serving with FOTCOH in retirement has been a meaningful way to give back and support work that improves quality of life for the communities the organization serves in Haiti. In addition to his board service, he volunteers with the Prisma Health System Cancer Institute and is involved with several Greenville, South Carolina nonprofits focused on financial education and affordable lending for underserved communities.

Brian holds a BA in English from Wesleyan University and an MS in Business Policy from Columbia University.

Outside of his volunteer and board work, Brian is proud of his daughter, Kathleen, who lives in Austin, Texas with her husband, Coogan. Kathleen is a graduate of The University of Texas at Austin and a two-time Olympic swimmer. Brian also honors the memory of his late wife, Regina, who passed away in 2012 after 39 years of marriage.

Jenna brings deep clinical experience and hands-on volunteer leadership to her service with FOTCOH. A Board-Certified Pediatric Clinical Nurse Specialist and Licensed Advanced Practice Nurse in pediatric neurosurgery, she was first introduced to FOTCOH in 2008 while working at OSF Children’s Hospital of Illinois.

Her interest in the organization grew as she met physicians who regularly traveled to Haiti with FOTCOH and brought medical residents as part of their international rotation experience. In 2013, Jenna joined her first FOTCOH trip to Haiti. Since then, she has participated in 12 trips and served as team leader for seven.

Today, Jenna uses her clinical knowledge and organizational skills to help coordinate the medical, surgical, and kitchen supplies needed for FOTCOH clinics, working with warehouse resources, donors, and suppliers to make sure teams are prepared to serve.

In addition to her work in pediatric neurosurgery, Jenna is a part-time clinical faculty member in the nursing program at Illinois State University and holds a master’s degree in nursing. She has been recognized as a Peoria Area 40 Under 40 Award Winner, an OSF Nursing Excellence Award Winner for Empowerment, and an Illinois State University Bone Scholar Recipient.

For Jenna, one of the most rewarding parts of FOTCOH is seeing how the organization continues to grow and adapt to meet the needs of the Haitian communities it serves.

Outside of work, Jenna enjoys traveling with her younger sister, Erin, a kindergarten teacher.

With gratitude for the legacy of Dick Hammond, Co-Founder

Barbara Hammond co-founded Friends of the Children of Haiti with her husband, Dick, in 1992 after years of traveling to Haiti and witnessing the need for consistent medical care. What began as a shared calling became a lasting organization rooted in health care access, dignity, and hope for communities in rural Haiti.

Beginning in the 1970s, Barb and Dick spent decades working alongside Haitian community members, medical volunteers, and dedicated supporters to help build something sustainable. In 2000, they helped establish the FOTCOH clinic in Cyvadier, creating a permanent home for medical care, volunteer housing, and long-term community support.

Barb remains actively involved with FOTCOH as a co-founder and board member, continuing to support the mission she and Dick began together. Following Dick’s passing, his legacy remains deeply woven into the organization’s story and the care FOTCOH continues to provide.

Over the years, Barb and Dick were honored for their community activism and philanthropy, including the Generosity of Joseph Award from the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet and Distinguished Alumnus of the Year from Peoria Notre Dame High School. Barb studied education at Illinois State University and holds a master’s degree in education from Bradley University.

For Barb, the work of FOTCOH has always been shaped by mutual learning, humility, and connection. As she has said, “The Haitians have learned a lot about health care from us. We have learned a lot about life.”

Outside of FOTCOH, Barb treasures time with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, while also honoring the memory of loved ones who have passed.

Ernie brings significant business, leadership, and financial experience to his service on FOTCOH’s board. In retirement, he sees FOTCOH as a meaningful way to pay it forward by supporting an organization committed to lasting care and stronger futures for communities in Haiti.

Ernie retired in 2013 from Ernie Aud LLC, a private practice focused on tax controversy management and intangible property migration. Before that, he spent nearly two decades as a Partner at Ernst & Young in Chicago and New York City, where he advised Fortune 500 clients in areas including transfer pricing, tax-effective supply chain, and international tax.

Throughout his career, Ernie developed a strong reputation for growing client service businesses and helping people become confident, capable leaders. He received a Lifetime Achievement Award from Ernst & Young and was recognized for many years as a Leading International Tax Adviser.

Ernie holds a JD from the Indiana University School of Law. He was admitted to the Indiana bar, currently inactive, and earned his CPA credential in New York, Indiana, and Illinois.

Outside of his board service, Ernie is proud of his four children and four grandchildren and honors the memory of his late wife, Melinda.

Dr. Bamberger brings medical expertise, public health training, and firsthand volunteer experience to his service with FOTCOH. Since first becoming involved in 2017, he has traveled to Haiti with FOTCOH on four medical trips and has seen the organization’s impact directly through the patients and communities it serves.

Dr. Bamberger works as an academic hospitalist at UICOMP, where he treats patients at OSF St. Francis Medical Center and the Children’s Hospital of Illinois. He completed his residency in Combined Internal Medicine-Pediatrics at UICOMP, followed by a chief resident year and a medical simulation fellowship.

His commitment to service and public health was shaped in part by his years in homeless outreach as an AmeriCorps volunteer. He earned his MD from the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Chicago and a Master of Public Health from UIC, with a concentration in Health Policy and Administration.

Dr. Bamberger has held national leadership roles with the Catholic Medical Association’s student and resident sections and has received several honors for medical education, volunteer service, and clinical leadership. He is also an Eagle Scout and a proud uncle of eight.

For Dr. Bamberger, FOTCOH stands out because of the meaningful, visible good it does in Haiti — work he has been able to witness firsthand through his medical volunteer service.

Jennifer brings extensive nursing leadership and health care operations experience to her service on FOTCOH’s board. For her, serving with FOTCOH is a meaningful extension of her personal mission to help expand access to care for people who need it most.

Jennifer has served as Chief Nursing Officer at OSF HealthCare Saint Francis Medical Center since 2014. In this role, she helps lead nursing strategy and patient services for a 642-bed academic medical center, ensuring high-quality care across the organization.

Her career with OSF began in 1998 as a registered nurse. Since then, she has held leadership roles as a patient care manager, director, executive director, and nursing executive. As Executive Director of TeleHealth Services, she helped implement an eICU model of care and contributed to the development of OSF HealthCare’s telehealth strategy.

Jennifer also serves on the board of the OSF Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing and is involved with the Illinois Organization of Nurse Leaders. She has previously served on the boards of OSF Transitional Care Hospital and Women’s Care Center.

Jennifer holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, a Master of Science in Nursing Systems Administration, and a Doctorate in Nursing Practice in Executive Leadership. She has been recognized as one of Central Illinois’ 25 Women in Leadership and as a Peoria Area 40 Leaders Under Forty honoree.

Outside of her professional and board service, Jennifer and her husband, Joshua, live in Peoria with their three children.

Julie brings decades of nursing experience, global health service, and emergency response work to her role with FOTCOH. As a Family Nurse Practitioner, she is passionate about helping connect people to meaningful care and introducing others to the work FOTCOH makes possible in Haiti.

Julie first traveled to Haiti in 2010 to assist with medical efforts in an emergency room and orphanage following the earthquake. That experience deepened her commitment to health care work in Haiti and eventually led her to join her first FOTCOH trip in 2014. Since then, she has returned on five additional trips.

Her professional background includes more than a decade in university health care, along with experience in urgent care settings. Julie has also served in a variety of crisis and international health care environments, including supporting patient evacuation efforts during Hurricane Ike, helping set up temporary medical clinics for displaced families, providing care through NGOs in Cambodia, and working as a locum tenens provider (temporary physician) at the U.S. Embassy while living in Singapore.

For Julie, serving with FOTCOH is both an honor and a responsibility. She is grateful to help introduce others to the organization’s work and to serve alongside volunteers who make a lasting difference for communities in Haiti.

Outside of her work and volunteer service, Julie enjoys life with her husband, Mark. They recently celebrated their 40th anniversary and have three children and six grandchildren.

Jim brings more than 30 years of fundraising leadership to his service with FOTCOH, helping strengthen donor relationships and sustain the resources needed to provide care in Haiti.

A seasoned major gift officer and fundraising executive, Jim has helped raise more than $200 million for local and national organizations, including the American Red Cross, United Way, National Arthritis Foundation, High Museum of Art, Prisma Health Cancer Institute, and FOTCOH.

Throughout his career, Jim has been recognized for both professional excellence and volunteer service, including honors from the American Red Cross, National Employee of the Year from the National Arthritis Foundation, and recognition in the Member Hall of Fame at the Dragon Boat Upstate Festival.

Jim holds a BA from the University of Toledo and is a Certified Fund Raising Executive.

For Jim, one of the most meaningful parts of FOTCOH is seeing how the organization has changed thousands of lives through more than 30 years of consistent care, service, and commitment in Haiti.

Outside of his work and board service, Jim enjoys life with his wife, Jamie, their children, Jadyn and Josie, and their rescue dog, Jeffery.

John brings legal, business, and philanthropic leadership experience to his service with FOTCOH. As Philanthropy Chair, he helps support the relationships and resources that allow the organization to continue expanding access to health care in rural Haiti.

John joined FOTCOH’s board after retiring as a Partner in the Atlanta office of Jones Day, a leading international corporate law firm. His legal career focused on mergers and acquisitions, private equity and venture capital investments, and financing transactions, including leading teams through complex multi-billion-dollar business deals.

Throughout his career, John served on several legal boards and panels, spoke at professional seminars, and authored legal articles and commentary. He became connected to FOTCOH through his former neighbor and fellow board member, Brian Hersey.

For John, FOTCOH stands out because of its history, mission, and practical ability to create meaningful change. He sees the organization as deeply rooted, entrepreneurial, and full of possibility.

John holds a JD with Distinction from Duke University School of Law, where he was a member of the Duke Law Journal, as well as a BA in Political Science from the State University of New York at Buffalo. He also serves on the board of a health care technology company.

Outside of his board service, John enjoys life with his wife, Kathy, a retired hospital pharmacist. They have three children, Jason, Kevin, and Julie, and four grandchildren.