Freeman donates $1 million to Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas

Joplin, MO – Freeman Health System is investing a million dollars in the future of healthcare in southeast Kansas with a donation to the Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas (CHC-SEK) capital campaign.

“Freeman Health System is honored to make this gift to Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas to help establish the John Parolo Education Center,” said Paula F. Baker, Freeman President and Chief Executive Officer.

“We applaud CHC for its leadership in creating this much-needed educational environment. Freeman Health System is honored to work alongside CHC to provide specialty services to the residents of Southeast Kansas. We value our collaborative efforts with this extraordinary organization.”

The John Parolo Education Center will work to educate local healthcare workers with a goal of keeping them in the area to practice as doctors, physician’s assistants, nurse practitioners and dental hygienists. The intent is to have as many as 10 third- and fourth-year medical students and up to four residents at the education center. Construction on the new $5 million campus is to begin in 2021.

“The overwhelming support and generosity of Freeman Health System most certainly demonstrates its true commitment to the future of healthcare in southeast Kansas,” said Krista Postai, CHC-SEK President and CEO. “This is an investment not only in health education, but also in the lives of hundreds of our young people who will now have the opportunity to train locally and then serve the communities in which there were raised. This is indeed a dream come true, and we are honored that Freeman President and CEO Paula Baker – who grew up just a few blocks from where this health education center will be built – shares our vision of training health professionals who are fully committed to the people they serve.”