Nicholas Comninellis, MD

Nicholas Comninellis is President and Professor of INMED, the Institute for International Medicine. He is also part-time faculty at Research Medical Center Family Medicine Residency. Over a two-year period Dr. Comninellis served inner-city citizens at Shanghai Charity Hospital. Over another two years, he led a healthcare ministry in the war-besieged nation of Angola in southern Africa. Dr. Comninellis next served for six years in the Kansas City public hospital before launching INMED in 2003.

He graduated from the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) School of Medicine and Saint Louis University School of Public Health and was a family medicine resident at John Peter Smith Hospital. Dr. Comninellis also earned a professional diploma in tropical medicine from the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research and became board certified in both public health and family medicine. Among his authored books are Shanghai Doctor, Where Do I Go From Here, and INMED International Medicine & Public Health. Dr. Comninellis is a classical guitarist and faculty co-advisor for UMKC Cru. He was recognized as the 2009 United Nations Association of the United States World Citizen and the 2015 University of Missouri-Kansas City Alumni of the Year.

Susan Aycock, MD

Dr. Aycock started her career as a full-spectrum family practitioner in rural eastern North Carolina. Her residency track prepared her for a concentration in women's health to include obstetrics and colposcopy. After twenty-five years of full-time work Dr. Aycock went to the local health department working two days per week in family planning and running the colposcopy clinic. This freedom allowed her to pursue her interest in world missions. As part of her preparation, Susan earned the Diploma in International Medicine and Public Health (DIMPH) through INMED. The service component of the DIMPH Program took her to Roatan, Honduras where she explored a women's health program. When she asked about cervical evaluations, she discovered the cost equated to a month of income for a family, so it rarely happened. Encouraged by a clinic manager to "come up with a protocol" for cost-effective treatment, Dr. Aycock has pursued this endeavor. In the meantime, the WHO resolved to eliminate cervical cancer as a public health problem. Dr. Aycock states, “I have resolved to develop a tool to win this battle in the service of women worldwide.” 

Jacquelyn Borst, PA-C, DMSc, MIH

Dr. Jacquelyn Borst graduated from the DeSales University PA Program in 2006. She has practiced in various areas of medicine, including hospital medicine, gastroenterology, and urgent care. In 2020, she completed her DMSc from the University of Lynchburg, and in 2023, she finished her Master’s in International Health from the Institute for International Medicine. Dr. Borst is the executive director of the International Impact through Medicine Foundation, a nonprofit that supports medical projects in Haiti and Honduras. The foundation focuses on providing service opportunities for PAs. In her role, she has led over forty short-term medical service trips to Haiti and Honduras in the last fifteen years, often bringing PA students with her. In 2018, she joined the faculty of the Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania PA Program. In 2022, she became the PA Program Director, a position she continues in today.

Catherine Hooper, GPC and Andrea Lombard, GPC

Catherine Hooper, GPC, has written grants since 2008, working as an in-agency grant manager and consultant. Specializing in health and human services, she’s secured over $100 million in funding. An “accidental grant writer,” Catherine’s career was shaped by mentors and her passion for nonprofit strategy and capacity building.

Andrea Lombard, GPC, is a nonprofit leader with 15+ years of experience in fundraising strategy, grant writing, and agile project management. A Registered Scrum Master and Michigan State University alum, she has led successful initiatives across health care, education, local government, and social services, supporting mission-driven work through strategic funding.

Linabelle Finnegan, MA, MBA, Mmin, DMin, MIH

Linabelle grew up in a poverty-stricken community in the Philippines and witnessed first-hand the devastation when healthcare was not easily accessible. Because of this, she planned on studying medicine but “man makes the plans, but God directs his steps”. Linabelle’s education and training in business, ministry, and international health have provided a well-rounded collection of knowledge and experiences that have benefited her work in a non-clinical capacity. Linabelle is especially interested in community outreach, education, healthcare planning, infectious disease management and prevention, and solutions to pressing issues related to global disease breakouts, poverty-related health problems, and the growing population of sexually trafficked children, men and women. Locally, Linabelle is actively involved in supporting missions for trafficked children in Mountain Grove, MO, and a home for trafficked pregnant teens in Lee’s Summit, MO. Linabelle has traveled extensively on church mission trips, as well as for international gymnastics meets for her girls as members of the USA and Philippine National Teams. 

Marc Shaffer

Marc Shaffer, CFP®, AIF®, EA, helps families achieve financial continuity and life goals through strategic planning. A nonprofit board leader and community advocate, Marc supports education, philanthropy, and mentorship. He’s an avid adventurer, devoted husband and father, and recognized speaker honored as a KState Alumni Fellow and “40 Under 40.”

Ted Higgins, MD, FACS

Dr Edward (Ted) Higgins, MD is a retired vascular surgeon from Kansas City who has built a hospital in a rural area of Haiti to help train Haitian surgeons as well as care for Haitian patients. After initially working in Haiti as a required rotation of his surgical residency at Yale, he continued his mission work teaching Dominican Republic surgeons for 20 years after establishing his vascular and general surgery practice in Kansas City. 

Following the devastating 2010 earthquake in Haiti, Dr Higgins dedicated his mission work to operating and teaching Haitian surgical residents in Haiti. To accommodate the surgical needs the Higgins Brothers Surgicenter for Hope was built in 2016 and a full Haitian surgical staff providing 24/7 care was begun in 2018. Two years later a failing medical clinic run by clergy was reorganized and incorporated into the Surgicenter. The clinic is now the only functioning medical facility in the region of Haiti and cares for 1500 patients monthly.

Catherine Hoelzer, MPH-PA-C

Catherine Hoelzer, MPH, PA-C, has served in global medical ministry since 1992, working in conflict zones like Iraq, Sudan, and Afghanistan. With expertise in international health and development, she has led health programs for underserved communities, trained health workers, and spoken at medical conferences including CMDE, AAPA, INMED, and GMHC.

Anthony Kovac, MD, MIH

Anthony L. Kovac, MD is a Professor in the Departments of Anesthesiology and Nurse Anesthesia Education and an Affiliate Professor in the Department of History and Philosophy of Medicine at the University of Kansas Medical Center (KUMC) in Kansas City, Kansas, USA. He has been on staff at KUMC since 1981.

Nizar Mamdani, PhD

Nizar Mamdani grew up in Tanzania, East Africa, and received his undergraduate and graduate education in Tokyo, Japan. He has served as the Executive Director of International Healthcare at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC). After almost 20 years of service at UNMC, Nizar recently retired. He speaks seven languages and has traveled extensively in Asia, Africa, Central and South America, and the Middle East.

Nizar and his wife, Marsha Davidson-Mamdani, PhD, are also the founders and the CEO of First Sight, a philanthropic organization established to provide free, low-tech, fool-proof, clinically tested, and affordable vision-screening and prescription eyeglasses to children and adults in developing countries. Over 139,000 eyeglasses have been distributed by First Sight and its associates to children and adults in 18 countries and it is beginning to make a much-needed positive impact in the lives of its recipients. First Sight works with Rotary and Lions Clubs as well as with many educational, healthcare, NGOs, and faith-based organizations.

Gary Morsch, MD

Would serving people in serious need help to fulfill my life?” is a question frequently posed to Gary Morsch. He replies, “People really do want to help one another, but they often don’t know how to do it.” Dr. Morsch has invested his entire life in assisting people to discover just how. In 1993 he organized the first Physicians With Heart airlift of goodwill medical supplies to the new Russian Federation. Heart to Heart International grew out of that initiative to become one of today’s leading global humanitarian organizations, providing disaster assistance, healthcare supplies, and primary medical care in Haiti, Nepal, and the United States. Today, Dr. Morsch leads Global Care Force, providing pathways for healthcare volunteers to serve in the world’s most precarious communities.

Tim Myrick, MD

Dr. Timothy Myrick lived and served for two decades with his family in the Muslim world, including sub-Saharan Africa, North Africa, the Middle East, and the Horn of Africa – including INMED Training Sites Kanad Hospital and Kijabe Hospital. His wife, Lori, has served as a labor and delivery nurse alongside him. While in Kenya, they focused on the needs of Somali refugees. Dr. Myrick communicates fluently in Arabic and French, has taught medical school in northern Somalia, and is currently teaching family medicine at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Dr. Myrick has spoken on tropical medicine topics and other medical and mission subjects at a variety of healthcare conferences and teaching events.

Ryan Northup, MD

Dr. Ryan Northup is a board-certified pediatrician at Children’s Mercy Kansas City. He is a Clinical Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Missouri-Kansas City and serves as Director for Global Health at Children’s Mercy. Clinically, he specializes in working with Spanish-speaking families at Children’s Mercy’s Clínica Hispana de Cuidados de Salud (CHiCoS) where he also serves as Medical Director of the resident clinic and Continuity Clinic Director for the pediatric residency program. He frequently advocates for improvements in health services for global populations as well as advocating for best practices in community health and engagement. He completed medical school at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center and his pediatric residency at Children’s Mercy Hospital.

Dennis Palmer, DO 

Dr. Palmer is an Internist with over 40 years of experience working in mission hospitals in Cameroon, Africa. His interests include appropriate medical technology in low-resource settings and medical education especially post-graduate training for African physicians. 

Diane Petrie, APRN 

Diane Petrie is a Nurse Practitioner at Children's Mercy. She is a certified HIV Specialist (AAHIVM and HANCB). She completed her DIMPH through INMED and has a passion for global health. She also leads the missions/outreach teams at her church. Diane lives in Raymore, MO with her husband and 3 kids.

Abigail Rattin, FAAFP

Dr. Abigail Rattin has served with her family in Uganda since 2011 to strengthen the local church. Professionally, she primarily serves children with disabilities and epilepsy while equipping others to do the same. She is trained in family medicine (Greater Lawrence Family Medicine residency) and public health (UMass).

Paul Spacek, MS, CCHI

Paul Spacek is the Education and Development Program Manager for Language and Accessibility Services at Children’s Mercy Hospital, where he has worked for 11 years. In his role, Paul serves as a coach, mentor, and instructor for interpreting students and new hires, and is also involved in the development and presentation of continuing education classes and community outreach. Additionally, he designs and presents educational materials for the hospital system about how to work with interpreters and provide better care to Limited English Proficient families. Paul is a nationally certified Medical Interpreter through the Certification Commission for Healthcare Interpreting, holds a Bachelor’s degree in Spanish from the University of Kansas, a certificate in Medical Interpretation from Johnson County Community College, and a Master’s degree in Adult Learning and Leadership from Kansas State University. Paul has presented previously at Medical Interpreter Conferences including, MICATA, NATI, and CCHI.

James Fyffe, RN

James Fyffe began his career as a youth pastor in El Salvador, later serving in nursing at Saint Luke’s Hospital and North Kansas City Hospital. In 2015, James moved his family to central Asia where he taught nursing for 4 years.