At Open Arms Free Clinic (OAFC), we believe that health care is not just a service—it’s a relationship, a calling, and a commitment to the well-being of our community. Since our founding in 2012, we’ve delivered high-quality, compassionate care to more than 10,000 uninsured and underserved residents of Walworth County. Behind every patient visit, every prescription filled, and every smile in the dental chair, there is a team of dedicated individuals—which includes some who began their healthcare journeys right here, at Open Arms.
That’s why one of our strategic priorities is workforce development.
PLANTING SEEDS FOR THE FUTURE
Workforce development at OAFC is about more than just training future professionals; it’s about cultivating a generation of care providers who understand the power of empathy, equity, and integrated care. Our programs give high school and college students first-hand experience in a clinical setting rooted in community values.
Through partnerships with local schools, technical colleges, and universities, we offer a range of immersive learning opportunities: Youth Apprenticeships, Junior Board participation, Summer Select opportunities, and Internships and shadowing experiences.
These programs are not only instrumental for students—they help us deliver high-quality care to our patients by expanding our volunteer-driven workforce. The synergy between learning and service strengthens our clinic while empowering the next generation of caregivers.
REAL STORIES, REAL IMPACT
The power of these programs is best illustrated through the stories of the individuals who participate in them.
Take Katelyn M., a Williams Bay High School student who joined OAFC through the Youth Apprenticeship Program at Gateway Technical College. Katelyn worked in the OAFC dispensary, where she witnessed the collaborative rhythm of our clinic in action. From pharmacy to dental, medical to behavioral health, Katelyn saw how integrated care serves our patients holistically—and how her work as a student volunteer contributed to that mission.
Open Arms Free Clinic’s workforce development efforts are supported by strong partnerships with educational institutions across the region, including Gateway Technical College, Marquette University School of Dentistry, UW-Milwaukee School of Nursing, UW-Whitewater, and many local high schools. Through the dedication of the OAFC team, these collaborations create meaningful, hands-on learning opportunities for students at every stage of their academic journey. As a result, OAFC is quickly becoming a destination of choice for students seeking immersive, real-world experience in compassionate, community-based healthcare.
INNOVATION THROUGH EDUCATION
Another inspiring example of collaboration is our work with the University of Wisconsin of Milwaukee School of Nursing. In Winter 2025, OAFC hosted two Doctor of Nursing Practice students, Holly Alba, RN, BSN, AGACNP, and Famar Sanneh, RN, BSN, FNP, who spent 12 weeks designing and implementing a quality improvement project focused on hypertension.
Their mission: enhance and streamline our Self-Monitoring Blood Pressure (SMBP) program.
The results were powerful. Their intervention, which combined patient education with practical tools and resources, not only improved workflow but also improved blood pressure in 93% of the patients who completed the program. More importantly, the project elevated health literacy across the board—a key factor in long-term health outcomes.
This partnership was a win-win. The students fulfilled their academic requirements through impactful, real-world experience. OAFC, in turn, gained a sustainable, data-backed program that will continue to serve patients for years to come.
GROWING FROM WITHIN
Sometimes, workforce development begins right at home.
Maribel’s journey with OAFC began in the summer of 2016 as a volunteer interpreter. Referred by Reverend Oriol Regales from St. Patrick Parish in Elkhorn, Maribel started by bridging communication gaps between Spanish-speaking patients and providers. As a student at UW-Whitewater, she became a familiar face at the clinic. She volunteered regularly and helped the clinic’s COVID-19 testing efforts by bringing in fellow students from her campus chapter of Doctors Without Borders.
In 2021, Maribel joined our staff as a Patient Service Representative in the dental clinic. Her commitment, empathy, and work ethic were undeniable. Inspired by her experiences, Maribel decided to pursue a Master of Science in Nursing at Carroll University, in Waukesha, Wisconsin.
This May, Maribel graduated, passed her boards, and earned her nursing credentials—ready to join the healthcare workforce not just as a clinician, but as a compassionate leader rooted in the values of Open Arms.
THE RIPPLE EFFECT
These stories reflect a broader truth: investing in workforce development is investing in our community. Every student who walks through our doors brings fresh energy, perspective, and purpose. In return, they gain not just clinical skills, but a deeper understanding of what it means to serve with dignity and compassion.
At OAFC, workforce development isn’t a side project—it’s embedded in who we are. From volunteer interpreters to nursing doctoral candidates, from youth apprentices to aspiring dentists and pharmacists, we are proud to be a launching pad for future healthcare professionals.
As we continue to grow, so does our responsibility—to our patients, to our partners, and to the students who see Open Arms not just as a clinic, but as a classroom for life.
Because when we care for our community, we’re not just changing lives today—we’re shaping the future of healthcare for generations to come.
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