LIDERES Mission
To increase access to quality primary care services for individuals with limited English proficiency in the Yakima Communities of Central Washington

LIDERES
Background: Community Health of Central Washington is a Federally Qualified Healthcare Center with a mission to provide high quality healthcare through service and education in Yakima and Kittitas counties.
At the Central Washington Family Medicine Residency (CWFMR) Program, our residents provide medical services to a community of underserved populations, particularly those with limited English proficiency.
As a response to the current healthcare gaps for our people with limited English proficiency, CWFMR is drawing upon our current resources to increase the number of Family Medicine physicians trained to provide linguistically appropriate care. CWFMR plans to do this through the development of a residency track program called “Language Instruction and Dedicated Education of Residents for the Yakima Community” (LIDERES).

The Birth of LIDERES:
LIDERES is designed to ultimately recruit and train resident physicians with a desire to serve our rural Yakima communities and improve their linguistic competency in order to better care for those with limited English proficiency. LIDERES will provide a specialized curriculum that includes:
- Longitudinal Spanish language instruction.
- Additional continuity clinic at our rural clinic sites.
- Focused didactics covering linguistic considerations when working with with limited English proficiency.
- Community engagement projects focused on serving rural underserved populations.
- Incorporation of additional electives focused on providing language with service-based learning for the Yakima community.
Click here to view the curriculum
It is our goal that when our enrolled resident trainees graduate from the LIDERES track, they will become healthcare “LIDERES” or leaders, who are dedicated to lifelong service for our community through their delivery of linguistically appropriate care to meet the healthcare needs of our patients.
Program Requirements:
Residents must have already been accepted into CWFMR in order to apply. Applications for enrollment into the LIDERES program occur during the spring of the first year residency. Accepted individuals will begin the track program starting in their second year of residency and continuing until graduation.
Program Faculty

Portia Jones, MD, MPH
Interim Program Director
She has spent most of her life dedicated to serving the community from the development of bilingual clinics to international work with the Latino community.

Mayra Y. Correa Barada, PsyD
As a Latina, being part of a team that upholds respect and honor to her community is of highest importance to her.

Ryan Moultray, DO
Dr. Moultray is a former CWFMR graduate who has worked extensively in rural Central Washington with the Latino community.

Shanice Santa Olivo, PhD
Santa Olivo throughout her training has had the opportunity to work with individuals from across the lifespan with diverse socio-economic status, multiple cultural backgrounds.

Gracie Ortiz, MSW
I want to work for the company that is passionate to provide/care for people in the community I grew up in.
Program Residents

Zachary Parker, DO
He has grown up in the Yakima Valley and is so excited to work with our great community in new ways!

Angela Maxson, DO
Dr. Maxson is proud to be selected for and to participate in the LIDERES program because she aims to better serve patients in the language of their choice.

Carlos Verlarde, MD
I am tenaciously passionate about using my experience and skills to create a positive impact for the health of communities.

Caroline Farmer, MD
Hi y’all – I am part of the class of 2027 and am so excited to be a part of this program.

Haneef Mohamed, MD
I am a 2nd year resident and have had the opportunity to work with the Latino Community in NY, TX, and now WA.

Florence Akintan M.B.CH.B.
I am grateful for the opportunity to be part of this program.
Program Staff

Sitlali Cortes
Public Relations Liaison
Within CHCW, Sitlali Cortes currently holds the position of Communication Specialist. Recently, she has been entrusted as the Public Relations Liaison for the LIDERES program, offering her a chance to expand her contributions.

Koraima Tejeda
Program Coordinator
She is currently the Program Coordinator for LIDERES, a role that goes hand in hand with her passion for helping others and serving her community.

Carlos Pelley M.A.
Program Coordinator
Being of Latino origin and growing up in the Central Washington community, he developed an interest in learning more about the history of this community.

Joaquin Vidrio-Ruiz
Program Evaluator
He is bilingual with a BA in Public Health from Central Washington University with specialization in community health.

Miguel Sanchez
Certified Interpreter
Miguel is a first-generation migrant from Mexico. He has worked with the Latin community in the Ellensburg area for the past 25 years.

Verta Arreguin
Highland Clinic Manager
Born in Washington state to Mexican immigrants, first generation college student Graduated from Washington State University with a Baccalaureate degree in Nursing. Bilingual and resilient Clinic Manager has the drive to break barriers for patients that live in our rural communities that prevent access to affordable quality care. With the motivation to promote patient centered care to build strong patient-provider relationships