About Us - Prime Health Foundation

Mission

To support organizations, programs and initiatives that demonstrate potential for improving the health of our community.

Overview

We fund organizations that are finding innovative solutions to health issues in the diverse communities we serve. Our Board members are experts in many areas, including law and health care, and strive to share their expertise and act as resources to grantees in our seven-county area.

History

The Prime Health Foundation was established in 1987 through the conversion and sale of Prime Health, a health maintenance organization and the first managed care plan in Kansas City. In keeping with the health plan’s mission, the foundation initially concentrated on supporting efforts related to managed care. In 2000, the foundation broadened its mission to support efforts related to health issues and services in the Kansas City area.

In 2022, the Prime Health Board of Directors adopted a new strategic plan with a concentration on improvements in the health, mental health and social determinants of youth and men of color ages 14 to 64.

Since its founding, the Prime Health Foundation has awarded grants totaling more than $10 million dollars to advance health in the Kansas City region.

Board of Directors

Nohemi Alvarez-Landa

Nohemi was connected to the Prime Health Foundation by a current Board member who heard her speak at the University of Kansas School of Nursing.

A bilingual family nurse practitioner, Nohemi is passionate about providing culturally and linguistically competent health education to Spanish-speaking patients.

An active volunteer and community member, Nohemi enjoys participating in the National Association of Hispanic Nurses (NAHN) Kansas City and Latina Giving Circle KC. She has implemented several community health education grants with NAHN-KC. Nohemi looks forward to implementing initiatives to improve health in underserved communities with PHF.

Robert Barrientos

Robert’s work with underserved youth and their families motivated him to join the Prime Health Foundation’s Board of Directors. He believes in taking a holistic approach to health care — one that acknowledges the physical, mental and environmental factors that affect the health of our community.

Robert, who is CEO of R.J. Barrientos & Associates, has over 30 years of experience as a CEO and Senior Fundraising & Marketing Executive. He also brings an in-depth knowledge of grant writing and grant management to the Prime Health Foundation’s Board of Directors.

Chito Belchez

Chito is a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Kansas School of Nursing, where he teaches System Leadership, Quality Improvement and Healthcare Informatics. With his extensive background in nursing education, quality improvement and informatics, he brings his knowledge of systems thinking and quality improvement to the Board.

Chito believes in addressing healthcare issues in our community and patient population through a systems approach and in educating future healthcare providers for multiple roles to address the various needs of a diverse population.

Ralph Caro

Ralph has spent most of his career in the community health care arena. He joined the Prime Health Foundation’s Board of Directors while serving as Chief Operating Officer at a local community health center.

Ralph began his career in the life insurance industry before accepting a position with the Xerox Corporation. He spent 20 years at Xerox and has 37 years of experience in executive leadership at two Kansas City Community Health Centers. In 2019, Ralph took a sabbatical from a leadership role in his senior living referral service to serve as Interim Executive Director of the American Jazz Museum. Currently, Ralph serves as President & CEO of Senior Living Concierge Services, LLC.

He is well versed in managing human, financial, material and intellectual resources to achieve strategic health care objectives and enjoys partnering with collaborative community organizations.

Karin Chang

Karin joined the Prime Health Foundation Board of Directors while deeply embedded in early childhood research for the state of Kansas. This research alerted her to the tremendous need for comprehensive, high-quality early childhood programs in the Kansas City area.

She currently serves as Director of the Kansas City Area Educational Research Consortium, where she partners with schools and organizations across the metro. She has spent the past 25 years advocating for educational equity, first as a high school teacher and then as a researcher studying student success in preK-16 educational institutions.

Karin brings extensive knowledge of evaluation and reporting practices to the Board.

Mary Corcoran

Mary has worked with a wide range of health institutions, health maintenance organizations (HMOs) and foundation boards. Her professional connections in the health care industry inspired and encouraged her to join the Prime Health Foundation’s Board of Directors.

Mary currently works as a psychologist and management consultant. She consults with a variety of organizations, including Fortune 500 companies, nonprofits, small businesses, and federal and state agencies.

Mary’s research in mental health treatment and services, as well as her knowledge of community and nonprofit organizations, are beneficial to the grant review process.

Katie Cronin

Katie is passionate about using innovative tools, such as legal remedies, to improve health in the communities where we live, work, learn and play.

Katie has spent her career using the law as a tool to address the social determinants of health, first as a legal services attorney, later as a clinical law professor, and now as the senior manager of the pro bono program at the Stinson law firm.

No matter her professional role, Katie relishes the opportunity to serve as a connector. She looks forward to working with grantees on their efforts to collaborate with other nonprofits, the government and the business community.

Ryan Mize

Ryan is inspired by Prime Health Foundation’s mission and its role in the lives of individuals reached by a diverse group of grantees.

Ryan is an attorney practicing in the health care department at Polsinelli PC where he advises a variety of health care clients on corporate and regulatory matters. He has a law degree and a master’s degree in Health Services Administration from the University of Kansas, where he also completed his undergraduate education.

Ryan’s educational and professional background has given him an appreciation for how health care and community organizations can overcome challenges to become a positive force of change.

Ryan views the Prime Health Foundation as an organization that draws on the collective experience of its Board members to do more than just provide financial support for deserving programs.

Leo Prieto

Leo’s advocacy efforts in preventive health and wellness brought him to Prime Health Foundation’s Board of Directors. He currently works as the Executive Director for Linwood YMCA where he lives and breathes Healthy Living, Youth Development and Social Responsibility.

Leo’s passion for addressing health disparities in minority communities, not to mention his 20 years of experience in civic engagement, sports and entertainment, public affairs, and outreach give him a good sense of grantee and community needs.

His overall vision for Prime Health Foundation is to utilize creative ways to reach the underserved by providing resources to quality care, education programing while focusing on social determinants to promote a healthy and empowered Kansas City.

Tom Ryan

As an attorney and long-time Kansas Citian, Tom uses his legal and financial expertise to improve health outcomes in our community. He has served as chair of the Prime Health Foundation’s finance committee for many years.

He has worked at Lathrop Gage law firm his entire career, serving as Chair of the Environmental Team and a member of the Executive Committee.

Tom brings critical analysis skills, as well as intricate knowledge of Kansas City and the needs of its communities, to the Prime Health Foundation.

Susan Wilson

Susan is a licensed clinical psychologist. She has worked in many fields throughout her career, including education, healthcare administration, consulting, clinical and media work. She currently serves as Chair of the Prime Health Foundation Board of Directors.

Susan is Vice Chancellor of the Division of Diversity and Inclusion at the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC). She has held leadership positions in several notable health and behavioral organizations in the Kansas City area, including Crittenton Children’s Center, Swope Health Services and Saint Luke’s Health System.

She earned her PhD in Clinical Psychology as well as her Master’s in Business Administration. In her health care leadership roles, she has been involved in developing culturally appropriate prevention and substance abuse programs. She also developed the first Kansas City primary care behavioral health integration program in adult medicine at a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC). She brings experience in training, public speaking and grant review to PHF.

Jim Nunnelly, Ex-Officio

Jim Nunnelly

Throughout his career, Jim has worked to provide information that supports equal access for everyone in the health care arena.

He is a retired consultant and has worked with community health centers for many years.

His strong written and oral communication capabilities are an asset to the Prime Health Foundation’s Board of Directors. He works to take a historic viewpoint to guide the organization’s goals and objectives.

Teesha Thomas, Grant Administrator/UMB Trust Advisor

Teesha Thomas

Teesha has worked in the Financial Services industry for the past 12 years. She currently serves as Assistant Vice President and Trust Advisor for UMB Bank’s Private Wealth Management Division. There she is responsible for estate planning and administration for high-net-worth clients encompassing irrevocable and revocable personal trust accounts, life insurance trusts, IRAs, foundations and special needs trusts.