Allison joins Lafayette Community Health Care Clinic as executive director, and Perez returns as director of clinical services
Jeri S. Allison was named the Lafayette Community Health Care Clinic's executive director, and Judith Perez has rejoined the staff as director of clinical services.
Jeri S. Allison
Judith Perez
Allison replaces longtime ED Jeanette Alcon, who has retired. A Louisiana native, she brings almost 25 years of experience in non-profit organization management to her role overseeing the clinic's free services for the working uninsured of Lafayette Parish.
"Lafayette Community Health Care Clinic provides an opportunity for working adults to receive greatly needed medical and dental services that otherwise would be outside of their reach," says Allison. "What we do prevents parents from choosing between getting the medical help they need and putting food on the table. We create opportunities for everyone to have a productive, positive life. It keeps them working, and it keeps the children fed and healthy."
"Jeri's proven track record in fund development and management of non-profit organizations is quite impressive, and we feel fortunate that Jeri has returned to Lafayette and will lead the Clinic in its future endeavors," says LCHCC Board Chairman Karen Hardy.
Allison, who grew up in Vidalia, graduated from Comeaux High School, the University of Washington and East Tennessee State University. Most recently, she served as director at Liberty Place Recovery Center for Women in Richmond, Ky., and as capital campaign director at Hope's Place in Ashland, Ky.
The clinic also welcomes back Registered Nurse Judith Perez as director of clinical services.
Perez, who has 38 years of nursing experience, earned her nursing degree from the Charity Hospital School of Nursing in New Orleans after working as an LPN, and has worked with patients in psychiatry, endoscopy and surgery. She began volunteering at the clinic in 2003, providing diabetic education, and joined the staff in 2004 as director of clinical services while still acting as a clinic nurse. She took a two-year hiatus in 2011 and resumed her previous position in August.
Perez is serving her second year as president of the board of directors at Faith House, has served on the board of directors for Food Net and has been a member of the Lafayette Commission for the Needs of Women.
Since opening its doors in 1993, LCHCC has provided and coordinated services at a value of more than $9.5 million at no cost to its patients. LCHCC offers medical clinics every Tuesday and Thursday evening, while dental clinics are held every Thursday evening and Friday morning, along with daily dental hygiene provided by the students enrolled in the LSU Dental Hygiene School. Specialty clinics include avoidable blindness eye care, gynecology, and dental hygiene. LCHCC also offers skin, breast, and prostate cancer screenings. The Clinic is home to the Community Pharmacy program, a collaborative effort of 15 local agencies that provides medications to eligible, low-income residents of the Acadiana area. LCHCC will celebrate its volunteers at the upcoming 16th annual Silver Bell Soirée, which is the Clinic's signature fundraising event.