The following people are the members of the Board of Directors of the Friends of the Portland Community Free Clinic.
Caroline Teschke, MD, PhD, President
Until December 31, 2016, Caroline oversaw all the clinical programs at 103 India Street, which includes the Portland Community Free Clinic. She has always been fierce advocate for the mission and patients of the PCFC. Caroline has extensive experience in public health caring for vulnerable populations, particularly those persons living with HIV and AIDS. She joined the Friends Board in February 2017 and became President on July 1st of that year.
Charlotte Phillips, RN, MPH, Vice President
Charlotte Phillips has been an RN volunteer at PCFC for 4 years and a member of the Friends Board since 2015. Before retiring, she was involved in clinical research working in data collection, administration, human subjects protections and building clinical registries at hospitals in Portland, Boston and New York City.
Peter Toohey, Treasurer
Peter spent 30 years growing up on Pitt Street in Portland with his 8 brothers and sisters. He went to Nathan Clifford, King Junior High, and Portland High School. He earned his CPA at BerryDunn and came to the Friends through a sailing connection with our Past President, Joan Tryzelaar. When he’s not working, he spends his time with his family at the beach, going hiking and backpacking, and playing hockey.
Amanda Burgess, MPH
Gina D’Angelo, RN, MSN
Gina D’Angelo has been a volunteer nurse at the PCFC for the past 20 years and a Member of the Friends of the PCFC Board since it’s inception. She is a 1973 graduate of Kent State University and received her Masters Degree in Nursing from Boston University. She has also been a member of the Beach to Beacon 10K Medical Committee and a nurse volunteer in the Medical Tent for 20 years.
Kristen Ellensohn, MSN, APRN
Kristen started volunteering at the PCFC in 2014, shortly after moving to Portland. She started providing primary care and diabetes education at PCFC as a nurse practitioner. She joined the Events Committee of the Friends of the PCFC to be involved with fundraising, and 5 years later joined the Board in 2020. Her 30 years in healthcare have included physical rehabilitation as a nurse, family practice and diabetes specialty care as a NP. She embraces the beauty of Maine with any opportunity to be outside to run, hike or stroll.
Michael Brennan
Michael is a Maine politician and professor who formerly served as the 87th Mayor of Portland, Maine. Brennan, a Democrat, served as State Senator from 2002-2006 and Senate Majority Leader and a 2008 Democratic candidate for Maine’s 1st ongressional district. On May 15, 2011 Brennan announced his candidacy in the Portland, Maine mayoral election. On November 9, Brennan won the 15-candidate contest and became the first directly-elected mayor of Portland since 1923, a position he held for four years. Michael joined the Friends Board in 2015.
Elizabeth Kilbreth, PhD
Elizabeth (Beth) Kilbreth recently retired after more than 25 years as a research professor at USM’s Muskie School of Public Service. Her work centered on health policy and health system reform with a special focus on access to care for the uninsured. She currently serves on the boards of several community organizations and an Advisory Group on the impact of the Affordable Care Act in Maine.
Nancy Smith, RN, MS
Nancy Smith has been an RN volunteer at PCFC for 10 years. She has practiced as an RN for over 40 years, and for over 25 years of that time she has been educating student nurses. Many of these students become RN volunteers at the PCFC. Nancy retired from her role as Department Chairperson for Nursing at Southern Maine Community College in 2016. She keeps busy with the Friends as a member of the Events and Development Committees.
Joan F. Tryzelaar, MD, Past President
Joan Tryzelaar has been a volunteer physician at the PCFC since 2013 after a long career as a cardio thoracic surgeon. These days he keeps busy as a Chronic Wound Care physician, managing an informational website about heart diseases http://www.cardiachealth.org on the side.
Curtis Winchenbach, MD
Curtis Winchenbach is a former PCFC volunteer and a retired gastroenterologist in Portland. He keeps busy taking care of his summer cottage in Waldoboro, volunteering at Partners for World Health, kayaking, bicycling, and walking.
Portland Community Free Clinic 