Family Nurse Practitioner Residency Program
Michael Glorioso
Residency Program Coordinator
mglorioso@healthlincchc.org
Lisa Nelson
Family Nurse Practitioner Residency Program Director
lnelson@healthlincchc.org
Mission
We provide new nurse practitioners with enhanced training in a community health center setting that grows their confidence, fosters their mastery of skills and allows them to gain competence in primary care practice.
HealthLinc is committed to leadership, transformation, and innovation in health care. In 2016, HealthLinc launched its Family Nurse Practitioner Residency Program to provide intensive training on both the clinical complexity of family practice in the safety net setting and on a high-performance, PCMH model of primary care. HealthLinc has partnered with the Community Health Center, Inc. (CHC) in Middletown, Connecticut, to host and operate their Family Nurse Practitioner Residency Program. This residency is designed for new nurse practitioners with a commitment to developing career practices in the challenging setting of the FQHC and/or special populations.
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- Embrace Innovation to grow and expand the FNP residency program as it seeks to be a model for FNP primary care practice in the FQHC setting.
- Utilize Collaboration among preceptors, mentors, and specialty providers to align practice requirements within each community to assure the needs of patients are fulfilled.
- Increase Access to quality care by eliminating barriers through expanded training of FNP’s during the residency program.
- Demonstrates Respect in all circumstance by consistently treating all persons with compassion and integrity.
- Achieve Excellence by providing best-in-class, patient care services in all aspects of the FNP residency program.
- Humbly provide Servant Care to all communities through advocacy activities including developing quality improvement projects and engaging in leadership practices that impact care for all patients.
The Family Nurse Practitioner Residency Program consists of 12 months of full-time employment at HealthLinc, with a one-year commitment to employment after completion of the program.
Class Size
Each year, the class size varies depending on the needs of the clinics. This ensures you receive a comprehensive educational experience with close one-on-one instruction.
Full Integration into HealthLinc
- Involvement in quality improvement and practice redesign
- Clinical committees and tasks force participation
Core Elements
- Precepted Continuity Clinics (4 sessions/week) – Develop and manage a panel of new patients
- Specialty Rotations (2 sessions/week x 1 month) in orthopedics, women’s health/prenatal care, adult/child psychiatry, geriatrics, pediatrics, HIV care, Hepatitis C, newborn nursery, dermatology, health care for the homeless
- Mentored Clinics (3 sessions/week) – Sessions with a clinician mentor focused on practice of episodic and acute care
- Didactic Sessions (1 session/week) – Sessions on high volume/risk/burden conditions frequently seen in FQHCs
- Continuous training on HealthLinc’s model of high-performance health system: access, continuity, planned care, team-based, prevention-focused, use of data and technology
- Ongoing multi-input evaluation component using qualitative and quantitative measures
- Training on the quality improvement model, including clinical microsystems and facilitation, as well as leadership development
- U.S. Citizen
- Professional diploma (BSN, MSN)
- Recent graduate (less than 18 months) from an accredited Masters or DNP program
- Licensed (IN APRN) and credentialed (FNP-C) or license/credential-eligible as FNP
- Stated commitment to practice as a primary care provider in a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) or other safety net settings upon completion of the residency
- COVID-19 vaccination or a medical or religious exemption
HealthLinc is preparing for the 2022 Nurse Practitioner Residency Program.
Application Process
- Please apply for the FNP Residency Program through HealthLinc’s Employment Section of the website by clicking here. Application opens January 1, 2022.
- If qualified, you will be emailed the formal electronic application to complete.
- The deadline to return completed applications is April 1, 2022.
- Those selected are required to complete the credentialing application and MUST ATTEND HealthLinc’s Recruitment Day in mid May and a virtual meet-and-greet on one of the following dates in 2022: January 26, February 8, February 24, March 7 or March 19.
Application Requirements
- CV with 5 years work and education history sections in month and year format
- Copy of driver’s license
- Professional diploma (BSN, MSN)
- 3 signed letters of recommendation
- COVID-19 vaccination or a medical or religious exemption
If selected for HealthLinc’s Family Nurse Practitioner Training Program cohort, required documents include:
- Copy of Indiana RN license
- Copy of Indiana APRN license
- Copies of license(s) from any other state
- Indiana controlled substance license
- Federal DEA certificate
- ANCC/AANP certification or evidence of eligibility for certification
For more information about the Family Nurse Practitioner Residency Program, please contact npresidency@healthlincchc.org.
Before becoming a family nurse practitioner, I was a registered nurse for nine years on an inpatient intermediate care unit. I decided to become a family nurse practitioner to be able to help, impact, educate, and encourage more people on a larger and deeper level. I feel that is possible by treating patients holistically during all stages of their lives in the outpatient setting instead of just a moment in their lives. I was immediately interested in the residency program because it provides an excellent transition from graduate school to being a primary care provider by offering support, comprehensive continuous education, and the appropriate tools to increase my competency and confidence. My main goals during this residency program include obtaining as much knowledge as possible to be able to provide every patient with exceptional care and improving health outcomes to better patient lives
Prior to joining the HealthLinc residency program, I was an intensive care nurse for five years. During that period, I had the opportunity to care for many patients in crisis. Many stories, victories and losses were a part of that journey. One pattern that emerged in the patients I served was the need for primary care. At that time, I began studying to become a family nurse practitioner with Purdue University Northwest. After writing my boards I was ready to get started, but I wanted to find a place that valued new graduates and provided opportunities for education and training beyond the classroom. HealthLinc has proven to be the right place to sharpen my skill set and knowledge base in a highly structured, supportive and collaborative environment. Through numerous training opportunities, skill building sessions and provider rotations, it is my conviction that HealthLinc’s exceptional residency program will empower me to deliver unparalleled care to those I serve.
We create healthy communities.
Same Day Appointments are Available.
For normal and after-hours healthcare advice.
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Lilia Bonilla - Family Nurse Practitioner
Site Medical Director
Lilia Bonilla is the Site Medical Director and a Nurse Practitioner in Family Medicine. She is board certified with over 19 years of experience as a highly skilled and dedicated family nurse practitioner. Lilia provides comprehensive care for a wide variety of patients with diverse needs. She has extensive experience in family and adult medicine, women’s health and pediatrics. Lilia is a member of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners and American Nurses Association. She also serves as a preceptor and mentor for Nurse Practitioner Residents. Lilia is fluent in both English and Spanish.
Specialties: Family Practice, Women’s Health, Pediatrics
Diana Garcia Burns - Family Nurse Practitioner
Diana Garcia Burns has been serving East Chicago for over 30 years. She is experienced in family medicine, emergency medicine, public health, and administration. Diana is board certified through the American Nurses Credentialing Center and is certified in Advanced Life Support, Pediatric Life Support, and Stroke Care. She is currently an instructor for the American Heart Association and a member of the Indiana Nurses Association (INA), American Nurses Association (ANA) and American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP).
Specialties: Emergency Medicine, Public and Environmental Health
Dr. Ed S. Hassan - Internal Medicine
Dr. Hassan has practiced medicine on four continents: Africa, Asia, Europe, and North America, giving him a unique perspective to health care. He received additional training in Internal Medicine at Cook County Hospital in Chicago. Dr. Hassan is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine and is a member of the American College of Physicians. He is fluent in English, Spanish and Arabic.
Specialties: Hypertension, Diabetes, Asthma, Elevated Blood Cholesterol
Nadine Salman - Family Nurse Practitioner
Nadine Salman delivers patient-centered care from infancy to adulthood by providing education and counseling on health promotion and disease prevention. She serves as an advocate by working in a partnership with patients and families to provide holistic care. Nadine’s passion is to give patients the tools and knowledge to help them make better health choices so they can live longer and healthier.
Specialties: Pediatrics, Disease Prevention, Adult Health and Wellness Promotion
Jessica Sinclair - Clinical Pharmacist
Dr. Carl Toren - Pediatrician
Dr. Toren’s practice is focused on the health of children, both for the present and the future. He partners with families to monitor a child’s growth, development, nutrition, and safety, while following expert guidelines for vaccinations and screenings. If sickness comes, he offers comprehensive examinations, tests to discover the cause and then arranges any necessary treatment and follow-up. Dr. Toren is fluent in both English and Spanish.
Specialties: Pediatric Development, Pediatric Nutrition, Immunizations
Charita Weekly - Family Nurse Practitioner
Charita Weekly’s number one priority is providing excellent, comprehensive health care. She serves the entire family with a focus on promoting health and maintenance. Each approach is age specific to her patient and transitions throughout their life span. With emphasis on disease prevention and wellness, she treats the whole person and assists in achieving a higher quality of life.
Specialties: Family, Medical Examiner for the Department of Transportation, Disease Prevention
Dr. Firas Adhami - Dentist
Dr. Firas Adhami is committed to alleviating the health disparities of the underserved. He is the recipient of the Excellence in Prosthodontics Award from the American College of Prosthodontics. In May 2016, he published an article in the Journal of the American Dental Association entitled “Soft-tissue calcification on a panoramic radiograph.” Dr. Adhami maintains active memberships in the American Dental Association and the Academy of General Dentistry.
Specialties: Extractions, Root Canal Therapy, Prosthodontics
April Chaja - Dental Hygienist
LaTonya Cooper - Licensed Clinical Social Worker
HealthLinc, Inc. is a Health Center Program grantee under 42 U.S.C. 254b, and a deemed Public Health Service employee under 42 U.S.C. 233(g)-(n)