History of Integrated Health Services
History
Integrated Health Services, Inc. was founded by Dr. Deborah Poerio, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC. The organization’s purpose – to provide comprehensive, accessible, and integrated health care services at local schools – had been cultivated over the previous fifteen years while she ran the School Based Health Center (SBHC) program at Manchester Memorial Hospital.
The School Based Health Center Program transitioned from Manchester Memorial in 2007 with support from the hospital’s president, along with the president of Goodwin College (now Goodwin University), the East Hartford mayor, and superintendent. All joined forces to support Dr. Poerio’s efforts to locate a new funding source for SBHC services. Recognizing the critical role SBHCs play in providing quality healthcare to vulnerable populations, Dr. Poerio founded Integrated Health Services, Inc. in 2007, with the intent of maintaining services in East Hartford and expanding the SBHC program to serve other vulnerable communities.
Financial support to create the organization’s infrastructure was awarded by the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving to ensure a solid administrative foundation from which the organization could continue to grow and expand its mission. IHS successfully operated and administered DPH-funded elementary school-based health centers in East Hartford for 18 years (from 1998-2016).
Currently, IHS operates SBHCs serving the scholars and families of the Goodwin University Magnet School System at Riverside Magnet School and Connecticut River Academy, offering behavioral health, medical, and dental services to children from Pre-K through Grade 12. IHS also partners with Goodwin University to offer counseling services to the enrolled University students.
Nestor Leon has over 25 years of workforce development experience. He has designed, implemented and monitored programs that provide pathways to economic self-sufficiency. He has coordinated programs in multiple states such as Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York, and Virginia that resulted in improved access for low-income customers. He is currently working with the Connecticut State College and Universities (CSCU) on a 35-million-dollar statewide healthcare and social work initiative.
James Cornell is the Senior Manager of Accounting Compliance at Hartford Steam Boiler. For the last 17 years, he has provided his assurance and financial analysis experience to healthcare and insurance entities in Connecticut. He joined the IHS board in May 2023.
Dr. Andrew Feller is a Family Physician who currently works with Trinity Health of New England. For the last 20+ years, he has split his time working as a family doctor in East Hartford, taking care of hospitalized patients at St. Francis Hospital, and teaching residents and medical students at University of CT in Farmington. 
Matthew Cholewa is an attorney with over 30 years of experience. Matt has spent about half his career in private practice and half in the title insurance industry and is currently employed with Old Republic National Title Insurance Company as First Vice President & Senior Underwriting Counsel for its Commercial Agency Services office based in Hartford, Connecticut. While in private practice, Matt’s practice consisted of commercial and residential real estate transactions, real property related litigation, zoning, tax appeals and other small business matters.
Dr. Saunders is a staff psychologist working at the Institute of Living/Hartford Hospital and is also Board Certified in Clinical Psychology. She is the Director of the new initiative, the Center for Gender Health at Hartford Healthcare. In 2015, Dr. Saunders was named Employee of the Year for Hartford Hospital and in 2019, she was the recipient of the Ned Graffagnino Award for distinguished service in the areas of community-oriented work and collaboration with other mental health professionals. Her areas of expertise include LGBTQ mental health, child psychopathology, behavior management, parent training, and family therapy. She appears regularly in local TV news to provide psychological input on topics relevant to youth and families and currently has two weekly segments on WFSB/Ch. 3 Great Day CT, related to child mental health. 
Joe Murphy is a Certified Financial Planner™ at Gateway Financial Partners. He has over 40 years of experience in Wealth Management and Investment Planning, including working with teams in the bank investment arena. 
Kareen Wilson is a team leader, owner, and patient-therapist at Contemporary General Dentistry in West Hartford, CT, and Smile Studio Dentistry in Hartford, CT. Kareen also works as an adjunct professor in the leadership program at Goodwin University. She has over twenty-five years of experience in clinical dental hygiene and office management. 
Jeff Walsh is a graduate of Babson College in Wellesley, MA, with a degree in Accounting. Prior to joining CRT as their CFO, Jeff worked in public accounting for 19 years, specializing in non-profit and governmental audits throughout the northeast region. Jeff has extensive experience with the Federal Single Audit and State of Connecticut Single Audit requirements, in addition to Form 990 preparation and indirect cost rate calculations. 
For over 25 years Doug Edwards has been a family services consultant who designs and facilitates fatherhood-focused programs. He provides professional development and training for family workers at state and non-profit human services agencies.