MPCA | Missouri Primary Care Association - The Missouri Community Health Center Alliance

The experienced staff at the Missouri Primary Care Association understand the priorities of your Community Health Center: respectful, compassionate and culturally sensitive treatment of patients regardless of their life circumstances or ability to pay.

Please take a few moments to learn about our outstanding staff members who work hard for you and your community.

Joseph Pierle, MPA

CEO

Joseph E. Pierle, MPA, is a native St. Louisan. He was appointed chief executive officer of the Missouri Primary Care Association in April 1999. The Association serves as a voice for the medically underserved and represents Missouri’s community health centers, or FQHCs. Prior to this appointment, he worked for United States Senator Christopher S. Bond in Washington D.C., serving as an advisor on issues concerning health, children, the elderly, and veterans. Mr. Pierle has shared his experience as a member of the National Advisory Committee on the National Health Service Corps, Missouri Coalition for Oral Health Access, and as a board member of the National Association of Community Health Centers. He is currently the board chair of the Central Missouri Chapter of the March of Dimes, a member of the Missouri MO HealthNet Oversight Committee, MO HealthNet QI Council, Governor's Advisory Council on Physical Fitness and Health, and Community Advisory Board to the UMKC School of Dentistry, and Community Advisory Council to the Missouri Foundation for Health. Mr. Pierle received a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Kansas and a Masters in Public Administration from George Mason University in Fairfax Virginia. He also received a certificate from the UCLA Anderson School of Management for completing a health care executive program. He has been honored by the March of Dimes for his work promoting healthier babies, the National Association of Children’s Hospitals for child advocacy efforts, and by the National Association of Community Health Centers for Exceptional Service on behalf of community health.

Susan C. Wilson, MBA

COO

Susan Wilson, MBA, joined the Missouri Primary Care Association in September 2008 as Chief Operating Officer and Director of the Center for Primary Care Quality and Excellence. She brings over twenty years of hands-on health center experience gained during her tenure as Finance Director and then CEO at Northwest Health Services, a multi-site, multi-specialty Community Health Center (FQHC) serving northwest Missouri and northeast Kansas. Ms. Wilson served as treasurer, president, and most recently as chair of the Legislative Committee of the Missouri Primary Care Association while she was a board member representing Northwest Health Services. She has been active in the National Association of Community Health Centers for many years, serving a term on the Board of Directors and participating in the Subcommittee on Elderly Issues, the Rural Health Committee, the Health Policy Committee, and the Legislative Committee. Ms. Wilson has also been active in the National Rural Health Association, serving as a member of the Board of Trustees, as treasurer, and as a member of the Government Affairs Committee, receiving the Volunteer of the Year award in 2005. Ms. Wilson graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business and Public Administration, and completed an Executive Master’s in Business Administration at the University of Nebraska-Omaha. She was in the inaugural class of the University of California-Los Angeles and Johnson & Johnson Health Care Executive Program.

Karen Dent, CDA, EFDA

Director, Oral Health Network of Missouri

Karen Dent joined the Oral Health Network of Missouri as Program Coordinator in December 2003. Karen's responsibilities include development and coordination of the Oral Health Network of Missouri's education and outreach activities. Karen also collaborates with the Department of Health and Senior Services, Federally Qualified Health Centers, and other organizations to promote and fulfill the goals of the Oral Health Network. Prior to accepting the position of Oral Health Network Program Coordinator, Karen was a dental assisting educator from 1984 until November, 2003. In addition, Karen co-authored Dental Aide training modules for the University of Missouri Instructional Materials Laboratory and taught Expanded Function Dental Assistant Training from 1995 to 2003.

Daniel Kempker

Director of Finance/Grants

Dan's responsibilities include overall management of Missouri Primary Care Association's fiscal operations, external financial reporting, oversight of grants and contracts compliance and management, and management of MPCA's Information Technology systems. He also serves as the chair of the Chief Financial Officer Network for MPCA's members. Dan came to the MPCA with extensive experience in not-for-profit accounting as well as a background in retail accounting and an auditor in public accounting. He volunteers with several local nonprofit and fraternal organizations and serves as treasurer of two of these.

Laura Rankin

Accountant

Laura joined the Missouri Primary Care Association in August, 2008. She is responsible for accounts payable, accounts receivable and assists in the preparation of monthly program financial reports. Laura received her Bachelor's degree from the College of Business at the University of Missouri-Columbia.

Kathy Roller

Accountant/HR Specialist

Kathy joined the Missouri Primary Care Association in November of 2006. She is responsible for preparing the Association's payroll and assisting the Director of Finance in the preparation of the Association's financial statements. Kathy also oversees the personnel records, new hires, and training for the Association staff. Kathy comes to the MPCA from Evers & Company, CPA's, L.L.C. with 23 years of accounting experience of which 14 years were in public accounting and two years in management.

Mike Shimmens

Director, Recruitment and Workforce Development

Mike joined the MPCA in July 2006 after serving for nine years as Director of Medical Staff Development at St. Mary's Health Center in Jefferson City. He is a long time member of both the Association of Staff Physician Recruiters (ASPR) and their regional affiliate the Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska and Kansas (MINK) Physician Recruitment and Retention Network. As an in-house recruiter, Mike has extensive knowledge and resources in the areas of provider sourcing, interviewing, compensation and planning. In this role, he works closely with health centers to monitor their provider needs and serve as a resource for information and candidates. Through a relationship with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS), Mike supervises the Missouri Health Professional Placement Services Program and maintains a candidate matching program called Practice Sights that can be accessed via the internet by both candidates and employers.

Joni Adamson

Recruitment and Workforce Development Manager

Joni joined the MPCA in August 2008. She provides recruitment consultation and assistance to communities in search of healthcare professionals as well as candidate sourcing. Joni also provides technical support regarding workforce development initiatives and assists with planning efforts for the MPCA Human Resources Network. She is a member of the Association of Staff Physician Recruiters (ASPR) and their regional affiliate the Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska and Kansas (MINK) Physician Recruitment and Retention Network. Prior to working for the MPCA, Joni worked for the State of Missouri for ten years as a Health Program representative with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services and as a Transportation Planner with the Missouri Department of Transportation. Joni holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Management and Administration from Columbia College and a Master of Business Administration degree from William Woods University.

Kim Wolken

Recruitment and Workforce Development Coordinator

Kim joined the Missouri Primary Care Association in September, 2006. She previously worked at the Department of Mental Health as an accountant for the Office of Administration. Kim provides support to the Director and Manager of Recruitment and Workforce Development.

Daniel O'Neill

Government Relations Manager

Daniel joined the Missouri Primary Care Association in December, 2006. He serves as the Governmental Relations Manager and is responsible for monitoring state and federal legislation, meeting with policy makers and elected officials and developing and maintaining a network of advocates that support Community Health Centers. Daniel is a native St. Louisian and received his Bachelor's degree from the University of Missouri School of Business where he was active in student government and various campus activities.

Angela Herman, MPA

Clinical Programs Manager

Angela Herman joined the Missouri Primary Care Association in August of 2004. Ms. Herman is the Clinical Programs Manager for the Missouri Primary Care Association and the Deputy Director of the Missouri Center for Primary Care Quality and Excellence, an operational sub unit within the Association. She provides leadership and facilitates techincal assistance and training on quality improvement, patient-centered health care homes, chronic disease prevention/management, health promotion, and partnership development to the health centers and partners. In addition, Ms. Herman provides leadership and facilitation for the Association's integration efforts for behavioral health and primary care between community health centers and community mental health centers to improve access to integrated services in Missouri. Ms. Herman received both of her educational degrees from the University of Missouri-Columbia. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Food Science and Human Nutrition and a Master of Public Administration degree from the Harry S. Truman School of Public Affairs. Ms. Herman participated in the Johnson and Johnson Health Care Executive Program at the University of California-Los Angeles in summer 2008. Prior to working for the Association, Ms. Herman was a Health Educator with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services', Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Program.

Joyce Hill, LPN

Clinical Program Coordinator

Joyce started with the Missouri Primary Care Association in February, 2001. Previously she worked three years in geriatrics and seven and a half years in pediatric care at one of our member FQHC's. There she acquired vast knowledge of foreign cultures as the clinic worked with the Don Bosco Center providing health care to refugees from around the world place in the Kansas City Metro Area. Joyce provides technical assistance and training to FQHC's who are participating in the National Health Disparities Collaborative (HDC) with her main focus being new teams during their first year of participation by assisting them in learning the three models of improvement utilized by the Collaborative. In addition, Joyce provides oversight to the MPCA's asthma efforts in the St. Louis area with the Community Asthma Program, Obesity efforts by serving on the Missouri Council for Activity and Nutrition, and provides training and technical assistance to the Kansas CIty REACH Program staff along with its partners regarding health disparities, HDC models, and chronic disease management. Together better health care can be provided for Missourians especially Missourians who utilize FQHC's. Joyce is a native of Kansas City, Kansas, her working career has always been in the state of Missouri. She finally made it official by moving to Jefferson City in 2000.

Lane DePrima Jacobs, MPA

Health Outreach and Community Relations Manager

Lane DePrima Jacobs, MPA, lives in Columbia and started with the Missouri Primary Care Association in August 2002. Prior to coming to the MPCA, she worked as the community outreach manager for a Medicaid/MC+ managed care health plan for nearly five years. She has more than 20 years of experience in community health education and outreach, coalition building, marketing and community relations. Lane also has expertise in health literacy and developing messages and materials for patients with low-reading levels. Lane monitors changes to Medicaid and Medicare and shares pertinent information with health center staff. She provides Medicaid/MC+ outreach and enrollment consultation, technical assistance and training for CHC staff. She also coordinates production of MPCA's quarterly newsletter. Through The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Covering Kids and Families Grant, Lane developed the MC+ Statewide Coalition. She coordinates Coalition efforts to insure that children eligible for Medicaid/MC+ are identified and enrolled. She is a Board Member of the Missouri Rural Health Association, a member of the National Rural Health Association and serves as MPCA's liaison to Missouri's health care access advocacy groups. Lane served on the Columbia/Boone County Board of Health for more than ten years. Lane earned Bachelor of Health Science and Master of Public Administration degrees from the University of Missouri-Columbia. During her graduate studies she was awarded a Congressional Fellowship on Women and Public Policy in Washington, DC and worked on issues related to health care access for the uninsured.

Janice Pirner, LPN

Member Services Manager

Janice Pirner joined the Missouri Primary Care Association in November 2000. Ms. Pirner is the Member Services Manager and is a member of the Missouri Center for Primary Care Quality and Excellence team. She provides leadership, coordinates, and facilitates technical assistance and training on such topics as HIPAA, corporate compliance, customer service, UDS training, MO HealthNet Billing and other initiatives sponsored by the BPHC, NACHC, MPCA, and other professional organizations. In addition, Ms. Pirner coordinates the Emergency Preparedness planning activities for the Association and is a member of the Patient Centered Health Home technical assistance team. Janice comes to MPCA with a wealth of experience in CQI and nursing. Past experience include: Pediatric/Medical/Surgical staff nurse, Pediatric Case Manager and Credentialing Specialist for a Medicaid MC+ Health Plan, Clincal and Quality Management Nurse for a commercial HMO insurance company and Quality Improvement Coordinator with a Peer Review Organization which involved development and implementation of CQI projects.