Recruit a Physician!

July 14, 2011
For Immediate Release
Contact: Cathy Benson, 407-876-6699

Shepherd’s Hope Kicks Off Physician Recruitment Month

Non-Profit Recruiting Medical Professionals for Clinics Serving the Uninsured
Orlando — Shepherd’s Hope today announced its Physician Recruitment Campaign, with the goal of adding 10 new physicians to its volunteer roster during the month of July. The all-volunteer, faith-based organization that provides access to health care for the uninsured in Central Florida is in need of additional medical personnel to assist the growing number of residents without health insurance.

“Without the support of our volunteer doctors, nurses and other medical professionals, we simply would not be able to provide these critical services to our neighbors who need it most,” said Shepherd’s Hope President Cathy Benson. “We are hopeful this targeted recruitment campaign will result in welcoming new heroes to our dedicated team of medical volunteers.”

Shepherd’s Hope is seeking referrals of Licensed Healthcare Professionals (doctors, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurses, Certified Nursing Assistants, and other Licensed Healthcare Providers) who are currently licensed to practice in Florida. These individuals work in a team with other healthcare professionals to provide basic, non-emergency medical care and are provided with sovereign immunity protection through the State of Florida Volunteers in Healthcare Program.
Those interested in applying can visit www.shepherdshope.org to download the Licensed Healthcare Provider Volunteer Application.

Once an approved application has been received, the referral name will be entered for a chance to win two tickets to the celebrated Shepherd’s Hope Famous Faces Masquerade Ball on Saturday, October 22 at Loews Royal Pacific Resort. The winner will be announced on August 5.

In 2010, more than 2,500 Shepherd’s Hope volunteers provided healthcare services to 17,500 patients in Orange, Seminole and surrounding counties. Through the combined efforts of volunteer health care professionals, schools, hospitals, and faith congregations, Shepherd's Hope operates nine health centers that provide quality, non-emergency medical care to those in need. Currently there are more than 250,000 Central Floridians without health insurance.

For more information on Shepherd’s Hope, please visit www.ShepherdsHope.org

Shepherd’s Hope is a 2010 Bank of America Neighborhood Excellence Award Winner! This very prestigious award is given to two nonprofit organizations in Central Florida (45 around the country) who demonstrate solutions to local neighborhood issues. In addition to receiving local and national attention and the opportunity to participate in a national leadership training…we also receive $200,000 to support general operating costs for our organization ($100,000 each year for two years).

You will be hearing much more about the Awards Ceremony on November 9th. What makes the award even better, is that Jewish Family Services is receiving the other local award. Together, we make quite a statement that faith-based organizations can really make a difference in their local communities.

When the awards committee came to visit, they specifically stated that one of the main reasons we were selected was the commitment and dedication of our board of directors and of course our incredible volunteer health care staff. Congratulations!!

More details to follow, including our plans for a press release, invitations to the awards ceremony and our plans to share the news with our incredible volunteer health care team.

To God be the Glory!!

Cindi

Cindi Kopelman, President
Shepherd's Hope, Inc.
4851 S. Apopka Vineland Road
Orlando, FL 32819
(407) 876-6699 ext. 2
(407) 909-0603 (FAX)
president@shepherdshope.org

Bring a Doc to Dinner

“BRING A DOC TO DINNER”
Please Join Us
Thursday, November 18, 2010
6:00 pm – 7:30 pm

Healing patients. Remember when medicine was that simple?

At Shepherd’s Hope…it is.

Please consider joining over 600 practitioners who already volunteer at Shepherd’s Hope. This faith-based nonprofit organization provides free medical care to Central Floridians with limited income and no insurance............and we need you!

Imagine donating your time and talents to healing patients without all the red tape, without HIPAA and the threat of malpractice.

For just one evening a month (6pm to 9pm) you can make a difference in the lives of men, women and children in Central Florida.

Join us at Leu Gardens to meet other practitioners, enjoy drinks, a light dinner and learn about volunteering at Shepherd’s Hope.

Who? You! (Doctors, ARNP’s & PA’s)

Where? Leu Gardens
1920 North Forest Avenue
Orlando, Florida 32803

When? Thursday, November 18th
6:00 pm-7:30 pm

Why? Families who have limited income and no insurance need you.


Please RSVP by November 10, 2009 by calling Diane Sawyer at (407) 876-6699 x 3 or e-mail operations@shepherdshope.org. Let us know how many are in your party.

“Share Your Care”

Open House

Longwood Shepherd’s Hope Health Center

Thursday, May 20, 2010

5:30-7:00pm

Healing Patients. Remember when medicine was that simple? At Shepherd’s Hope, it is. We provide free medical care for the working poor in Central Florida, and we need you. Imagine being able to heal patients without all the red tape, without HIPAA, and without the threat of malpractice.

We hope you will consider joining the more than 250 doctors and nurses who already volunteer at Shepherd’s Hope. All LHCP’s are covered by sovereign immunity and CME credits are available for volunteering.

For only one evening a month (6p-9p) you can bring hope and healing to the increasing number of families living in Central Florida with no access to basic medical care.

Please call 407-876-6699 for more information, and we hope to see you in Longwood on May 20, 2010!

Who? You! (All Doctors, Pas, and ARNPs)

Where? Longwood Health Center

Fairmont Plaza 600 N Highway 17-92, Suite 124

Longwood, FL 32750

When? Thursday, May 20 (530-730p)

Please RSVP by May 14, 2010 by contacting Diane Sawyer at 407-876-6699 ext. 3 or operations@shepherdshope.org

Health Care Reform Update

Dear Friends,

With health care reform being the primary topic of every television news program and most social gatherings these days, many of you may be wondering how this new legislation affects the need for volunteer medical programs like Shepherd’s Hope.

More than 42 million Americans are uninsured in this country and while a historical health care bill has been passed that will eventually provide coverage for 29-30 million Americans, free clinics like Shepherd’s Hope will continue to serve those who are in need of medical care today and in the future. Shepherd’s Hope is and always will be a program that helps fill the gaps in medical care for the poor, the vulnerable and the disenfranchised. Sadly, we believe there will always be a need for compassionate, affordable care for people in need. But, there is good news too. We believe there will always be people who respond to the call willingly and joyfully to serve those in need.

Currently there are 250,000 uninsured men, women and children living right here in Central Florida. In the past year, Shepherd’s Hope has experienced the biggest influx of patients at our nine Shepherd’s Hope Health Centers, than ever before in our thirteen year history. Although we provided 16,000 free medical visits last year, we still turned away 3,800 people. There are simply more people lining up outside our doors each night than we can treat. With the local unemployment rate over 10%, many people have lost their jobs and subsequently their health insurance. But, they still get sick and they still need their medications.

Since we opened our doors in 1997, Shepherd’s Hope volunteers have provided over 100,000 free medical visits and will continue to serve these patients while the legislative process is underway but still many years away. Although this historic legislation is a first step in providing coverage for some of our patients in the future, full implementation of the legislation does not go into effect until 2014 and at that time there will still be millions of uninsured in the country. Shepherd’s Hope will continue to need the support from our community, our donors, our hospitals and our volunteers to provide the services to our patients.

Shepherd’s Hope Board of Directors and staff, along with our patients are interested to see where this historic legislation will bring the country. Thankfully, our leadership team will have the time we need to plan thoughtfully to the changes to come and we look forward to the future to serve our patients in new and rewarding ways. In the meantime, we will continue to focus on bringing hope and healing to all those who walk through our doors each day.

Thank you for your continued prayers, volunteerism, and support. We continue to be amazed by the miracle work God is doing through people who are simply and lovingly caring for people.

With warm regards,

Dr. William S. Barnes, Founder

Dom Meffe, Board Chair

Cindi Kopelman, President

New Leaders Take Office

Shepherd’s Hope, Inc. has elected its 2010 Officers and four new members to the board of directors.

Joining the Founder, Dr. William S. Barnes, Senior Pastor, St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, is Chairman of the Board, Domenic Meffe, CEO of Triad Isotopes, Inc.; Chair Elect, Gail Clark-Bittman, Community Volunteer; Board Secretary, Gregory Ohe, Senior Vice President, Health Central Hospital; Treasurer, Tammy Tipton, Chief Accounting Officer of CNL Financial Group, Inc.; and Immediate Past Chair, Ted Hamilton, MD, Vice President of Medical Missions, Adventist Health System.

Newly elected board members include: Jay Falk, MD, FACEP, FCCM; Vice President, Medical Education, Orlando Health; Chirag Kabrawala, Esq., Latham, Shuker, Eden & Beaudine, LLP; Becky Moroose, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, UCF Medical School; and Thad Seymour, Jr., Ph.D., Vice President and General Manager, Health and Life Sciences, Lake Nona.

Shepherd’s Hope is a faith-based organization of volunteers

that exists to provide access to health care for the uninsured.

www.shepherdshope.org

Personal Letter from Shepherd's Hope

Dear Friend of Shepherd’s Hope:

It’s been quite a year, hasn’t it? It certainly has been a year to remember for Shepherd’s Hope. Shepherd’s Hope provided its 100,000^th free medical visit! We reach this milestone with mixed emotions, since it speaks to the incredible commitment of our volunteers and donors who have sustained this program for the past twelve years. But, sadly it also speaks to the enormous need for medical care for the uninsured and the working poor.

To ensure that Shepherd’s Hope can provide the next 100,000 patient visits, we have launched our 100,000 Faces of Hope campaign. Our goal is to raise $100,000 by the end of 2009, with each dollar representing one of the past and future 100,000 faces seeking hope and healing.

Janet had been sick on and off for several months but couldn’t afford to see a doctor. Thankfully, someone told her about Shepherd’s Hope. Janet walked into a Shepherd’s Hope Health Center one evening with her four year old daughter, Katy. Not wanting to leave Katy unattended in the waiting room, her mother brought her into the exam room when she met with the volunteer physician. When the doctor, finished with the exam, something unexpected happened. Katy flew across the room toward the doctor. “Thank you for making my Mommy better,” she said as she hugged him. Katy’s mother along with the volunteer nurse and the physician were momentarily stunned. No one knew that little Katy has been so worried about her mother. There were tears in the eyes of everyone in the room that night. Sometimes the faces of hope at Shepherd’s Hope are not the one’s we expect. The face of hope might be a patient, or a loved one or even a volunteer.

Will you help us bring hope to all those who will seek care at one of our health centers by making generous year-end gift if you can. Perhaps you would consider making a gift to the Faces of Hope campaign in honor of someone you love? Just click here to make a donation.

We wish you and your family peace and joy as well as good health during this season of hope,

Cindi Kopelman

President