STAFF TEAM
Hannah Wilson, PA-C
Executive Director
Hannah Wilson, PA-C is the Board Chair, acting Executive Director and a Founding Member of Yakima Free Clinic. Originally from Alabama, she received her Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). Hannah has been a Physician Assistant for 10 years and has spent her professional career caring for the underserved communities of the Yakima Valley. She has run medical clinics at fruit processing facilities locally providing occupational health, urgent care, and primary care. She has more than 7 years of experience at a local free clinic where she also led the team as the Clinic Director for 3 years. In addition to running the clinic and serving as the primary care provider, she also developed a Street Medicine Program and a Respite Care Program. Hannah has served as a board member of the Washington Healthcare Access Alliance, and currently serves as Treasurer for Central Washington Mountain Rescue where she was awarded volunteer of the year. When not caring for the medically underserved of our valley or rescuing folks in the mountains, you can find her volunteering for our local Repair Cafe and hiking with her husband, Adam, and two dogs.
“Do small things with great love.”
Mother Teresa
Bertha “Lily” Gonzalez
CDCES, MPH
Patient Engagement and Programs Coordinator
Hello my beautiful and hardworking people of the Yakima Valley, as a migrant mother, wife, and sister, I have also had to navigate the healthcare system far from my native home and I understand how difficult it is to find and receive health care when you don’t have coverage, when you live with a chronic condition and your resources are limited, and when the language and culture are different. You are not alone, the team of providers of the Yakima free clinic would like to take care of your health with empathy, respect and joy; we know that despite the barriers of language and culture, LOVE is the most powerful UNIVERSAL language that helps to heal and that can break barriers. The free clinic is here for you and we want you to feel welcome.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Diane Patterson,
RN, MN, MPH
Board Chair
The Yakima Valley is an incredible community with a history of coming together through innovation to strengthen the lives of all who live here. I grew up here and worked as a nurse for 30 years. I have witnessed that unique spirit.
Nicky Bocek, MD
Director of Medicine
Founding Member
I love Yakima. It is my home. Our community can only be healthy if we tend to the health of everyone who lives in it. Our health system rewards those who can afford insurance and denies care to those who cannot, even if they are productive, responsible members of our society. I would like to do what I can to help heal this disease of inequality. YFC gives me that opportunity, for which I am very grateful.
Jim Simmons
Treasurer
My mother was a pediatric nurse who cared for gravely and developmentally disabled children, and watching her compassion and dedication inspired me to pursue a career where I could help people in my own way. The clinic’s mission to provide free, holistic healthcare to the people of rural Central Washington for humanitarian, educational, and public service purposes reflects the values I’ve carried throughout my life. After over 25 years in not-for-profit health care finance, I wanted to be part of an organization that puts people first and works to bridge the gap in access to care. My family has long been involved in public service, health care, and volunteering, and I’m proud to continue that tradition by supporting this vital work.
Tom Eglin, MD
Director
Founding Member
The US is a wealthy country and it is not right that so many who live here have little or no access to basic healthcare. Another free clinic in Yakima is one step in the right direction.
Jeff Kaplan, MD
Director
Founding Member
The Yakima Free Clinic represents the opportunity to provide care for those in need and to teach the next generation of clinicians without regard for compensation. I am proud to work with so many exceptional and dedicated individuals and organizations who share the goal of improving the health of our community.
Barbara Bartz, ARNP
Secretary
Founding Member
It is heartbreaking to see uninsured patients with chronic health problems that could have been prevented with regular medical care. I feel so lucky and grateful to be part of the Yakima Free Clinic team and able to care for uninsured folks living and working here in the Yakima Valley.
Amber Henderson
Director
The Yakima Free Clinic aligns with my values. It embodies the values of compassion and interconnectedness that I strive to live by. I am deeply committed to honoring and respecting the diverse lived experiences of others, recognizing the importance of empathy and understanding in building a stronger, more inclusive community. Through the clinic’s work, I see an opportunity to provide much-needed medical services while fostering meaningful connections, affirming the shared responsibility we have for one another in our community.
