Rhode Island Free Clinic’s VISTA Team

AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteer In Service To America) is a national program that seeks to combat poverty by assisting local organizations to build capacity and make change, while providing VISTA Volunteers nonprofit and community service experience that prepares them for a life of service. The Rhode Island Free Clinic has partnered with AmeriCorps VISTA since 2003, mobilizing over 80 VISTA Volunteers to help build Clinic capacity and aid in patient care, including outreach initiatives and data analysis used to improve patient health outcomes. Serving on the front lines of public health, our VISTA Members have been instrumental in RIFC’s operations to provide critical health services for our patients, including COVID-19 testing and vaccination efforts.


Meet our AmeriCorps VISTAs
(2024-2025)

  • Elise Erickson

    Patient & Volunteer Services VISTA

  • George Garcia Garcia

    Marketing And Communications VISTA

  • Abigail Cerwonka

    Grants and Program Development VISTA

As the 2024-2025 Patient and Volunteer Services VISTA, Elise Erickson works on a variety of quality improvement and outreach initiatives. Her work includes developing and implementing surveys to evaluate RIFC’s patient and volunteer bases. Elise’s outreach work includes educating the public and stakeholders on RIFC’s impact on Rhode Island’s healthcare ecosystem, as well as designing and distributing volunteer recruitment materials.

Elise is a 2023 graduate of Rice University, where she double majored in Social Policy Analysis and Economics, and minored in Global Health Technologies. She is extremely passionate about health accessibility and equity, showcased by the award-winning global health design projects she worked on at Rice. Elise is excited to be able to apply her studies to help the Free Clinic and to continue promoting health equity on a wide scale.

As the 2024-2025 Marketing & Communications VISTA, George Garcia Garcia’s role is to help and improve community awareness and engagement through all modes of the Rhode Island Free Clinic’s communication platforms. This will result in RIFC’s influence and domain expanding throughout Rhode Island. This growth can also be leveraged to grab the attention of future foundations, sponsors, donors, practitioners, volunteers and patients.

George is a 2022 graduate of the University Of Rhode Island, with a degree in Biological Science. George plans to attend medical school in the future and has the burning desire to help people that are in need. This unique opportunity provides a unique perspective in accomplishing that goal. He’s quite excited about what the future holds for him.

As the 2024-2025 Grants & Development VISTA, Abigail maintains relationships with RIFC funders and community partners through written reports and proposals. She also identifies new funding opportunities for various programs and crucial clinical needs.

Abigail is a recent graduate from American University with a degree in International Studies. Passionate about justice and equity, she strives to learn how vital organizations like the Rhode Island Free Clinic improve health outcomes and serve the surrounding community. She looks forward to a career in international humanitarian work.

Become a…

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There are currently over 45,000 Rhode Islanders without health insurance. Your donation will help provide our most disadvantaged neighbors with access to the healthcare they need.

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2023 Rhode Island Free Clinic’s Year in Review