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.
Laura M. I. Saunders, Psy.D. ABPP 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. 
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. 
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.
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.