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Leadership

Alivio leadership

Carmen Velásquez is the founder of Alivio Medical Center and the former Executive Director. In the mid-1980s, she was very passionate and involved with issues surrounding barriers to healthcare. Troubled by the fact that the medical needs of so many Mexicans living in Pilsen, Little Village and Back of the Yards were being severely neglected, she garnered the support of fellow Latino community members and spearheaded a drive called Project Alivio.

Ms.Velásquez and Dr. Ann Garcelon, a colleague of Ms.Velásquez and former Alivio board member, approached Mercy Hospital’s CEO, Sister Sheila Lyne. When Sister Sheila supported the creation of a community health center to address the issues of access to health care, the work of Alivio Medical Center was initiated.

Executive Management Team

Esther Corpuz
Chief Executive Officer
Esther Corpuz

Mrs. Corpuz joined the Alivio team with more than 30 years of experience in hospital operations and management. Prior to leading Alivio, she served in numerous progressive leadership roles including Vice President of Business Development and Strategy, Regional Vice President of External Relations for MacNeal Hospital (now part of Loyola Medicine) and Tenet Health Care. She is a powerful voice by building and strengthening relationships within the community and with key public policy decision makers at local, state and federal levels. She is an active community leader and currently serves on the board of directors of MacNeal Hospital (now part of Loyola Medicine), IlliniCare, Medical Home Network ACO, Pilsen Neighbors Community Council, Healthy Illinois and the Pilsen Land use Committee. She has received numerous awards for her civic engagement including the Yolotlmezti Health Advocate Award, Vanguard’s Corporate Community Pillar Award, National Medical Fellowship Diversity Leadership Award, Cicero Chamber of Commerce Community Service Award and is the past recipient of State Treasurer, Judy Barr Topinka’s Volunteer Trailblazer Award. Corpuz was selected to participate in the National Association of Healthcare Executives Senior Leadership Academy which she completed in October of 2009. She attended DePaul University and majored in Political Science.

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Jennifer Gonzalez
Chief Operations Officer
Jennifer Gonzalez

Ms. Gonzalez joined Alivio Medical Center in November of 2015. As the Director of Operations, her responsibilities include oversight of health information management, call center functions, patient registration, and workflows with an emphasis on process improvement and increased patient satisfaction. She is responsible for upholding the mission of Alivio Medical Center by managing the day-to-day health center operations including: medical, dental, behavioral health, pharmacy, and clinical support functions. Additionally, the Director of Operations is responsible for facilitating the creation and execution of organizational strategy, including relevant planning for all business units. Jennifer collaborates with departmental managers to update and development corporate policy and develop business plans to ensure comprehensive, quality services are provided to patients.

Prior to joining Alivio, Jennifer’s professional experience has included several years in hospital focused process improvement and leadership roles. She received her Bachelor’s in Psychology from Loyola University and a Master’s of Business Administration with a dual concentration in Change Management and Healthcare Management from Concordia University.

Over the next few years, Jennifer hopes to expand services to the community. Her goal is to continue to propel Alivio Medical Center as a leader in quality healthcare delivered with compassion, respect and integrity.

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Terri Rivera
Director of Development
Terri Rivera

Terri Rivera joined Alivio Medical Center in 2021. Mrs. Rivera is responsible for developing and executing strategies to meet Alivio Medical Centers’ bold objectives for grants, fundraising and communication. Terri joins Alivio with more than 15 years of experience in fundraising, volunteer and board management and event planning. Terri works with her team to identify, submit and execute grant opportunities, plan high visibility fundraising events and engage individuals, foundations and corporate partners with the mission, Terri graduated from North Park University in 2010 with her Masters in Non Profit Administration with a focus in Health Care Management. Terri is excited to help Alivio grow through strategic vision and new connections.

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Maria Granados
Human Resources Director
Maria Granados

Maria is a seasoned HR professional and has been with Alivio for 18 years. Maria started at Alivio as a Patient Service Representative, then served as the Medical Director Assistant for several years before moving to human resources in 2010. Having been raised in Back of the Yards and attended high school in Gage Park, Maria has a deep connection to the Hispanic community we serve. Maria earned her AAS in Management and Marketing from Daley College and she completed a Community Health Center Executive Fellowship in 2010 through the University of Kansas.

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Jennifer Vargas, MD
Alivio Medical Director
Jennifer Vargas, MD

Dr. Vargas joined Alivio in 2008 and was recently appointed as the Medical Director. Dr. Vargas directs, coordinates and supervises the delivery of medical services to promote the quality of medical care according to the philosophy, mission and goals of Alivio.

Dr. Vargas received her BA in Spanish Literature as well as a BS in Biology from Loyola University. She received her Medical Degree from Wright State University, School of Medicine and finished her residency in Family Medicine at MacNeal Hospital, where she also completed her training with a Fellowship in Women’s Health.

Dr. Vargas was born and raised in Chicago, IL, in a predominantly Latino community and understands the immediate needs of immigrant patients. Dr. Vargas hopes to bring new and innovative ideas in the health care delivery.

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Mahamid Khan, DMD
Alivio Dental Director
Mahamid Khan, DMD

Dr. Mahamid Khan is a native Chicagoan that grew up in the Uptown/Buena Park area of Chicago. He completed his undergraduate and dental studies from Southern Il. University. He has practiced in the Chicagoland and St. Louis Missouri metropolitan area for over 25 years with an emphasis on family and preventive dentistry. He truly feels that everyone deserves to smile and not be embarrassed of their teeth regardless of their financial situation. At Alivio, he hopes to develop a patient centered dental program that provides compassionate care to all of Alivio’s patients and staff. When not watching a Cubs game, he is usually spending time with his family traveling or cooking a meal together. Dr. Khan joined Alivio in 2020.

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Officers

Teresa Fraga
President; Treasurer, Pilsen Neighbors Community Council
Patient board member
Teresa Fraga

Community organizer | Alivio patient

Affiliations
Pilsen Neighbors Community Council
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Peter Martinez
First Vice President
Patient board member
Peter Martinez

Former foundation officer | Alivio patient

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Elizabeth Aquino, RN, PhD
Second Vice President; Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, College of Nursing University of Illinois at Chicago
Elizabeth Aquino, RN, PhD
Certifications
Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, College of Nursing University of Illinois at Chicago
Education
School of Nursing, College of Science and Health, DePaul University
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Antonio Guillen
Treasurer; SVP Commercial Loans-Diverse Markets Manager, Wintrust Financial
Antonio Guillen
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Scott Cruz, Esq.
Secretary; Attorney at Law, Labor & Employment Group, Greensfelder, Hemker & Gale, P.C.
Scott Cruz, Esq.

Labor & Employment Group, Greensfelder, Hemker & Gale, P.C.

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Members

Lourdes F. Diaz
Vice President, head of Diversity and Inclusion of U.S. Foods
Patient board member
Lourdes F. Diaz
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Francisca Tamayo
Alivio Patient
Patient board member
Francisca Tamayo
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Santiago Garcia
President/CEO of The HOH Group Inc.
Santiago Garcia
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Alejandra Perez Tamayo, MD
Retired UIC Associate professor of clinical surgery, surgical director breast cancer center University of IL and Franciscan Alliance at Olympia Fields
Patient board member
Alejandra Perez Tamayo, MD
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Jill Seidman, MPH
Strategy, Healthcare & Life Sciences, Microsoft
Patient board member
Jill Seidman, MPH
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Margarita Lopez
Realtor, Baird & Warner
Patient board member
Margarita Lopez
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