Thanks to your donations to the ongoing Around the State in 8 Districts campaign, the Wisconsin Medical Society Foundation (Foundation) awarded a grant to Lakeshore Community Health Care, Inc. (LCHC). LCHC provides medical, dental, behavioral health and pharmacy services at health centers in Sheboygan and Manitowoc and was recommended through the Physician County Survey by Donald DeBruyn, MD, a retired Internal Medicine physician member in Two Rivers, Wisconsin.

LCHC provides medical, behavioral health and dental services
Doctor DeBruyn noted, “Lakeshore Community Health Care has been an essential part of the health care response to COVID – offering testing, vaccines and outreach to low-income and minority populations.” He added, “I see important needs being met and am grateful for the presence and dedication of their staff. I’m pleased to support them and recommend them for support.”
LCHC, a Federally Qualified Health Center, provides dental care at 43 schools in Sheboygan County and 22 schools in Manitowoc County through their mobile outreach program. They have been providing primary medical care and dental care to underinsured and uninsured individuals in northeast Wisconsin since 2013 and expanded that care in response to COVID-19.

The “PATH Team”: LCHC's behavioral health counselors who visit K to 12 schools
With limited resources, the physicians and public volunteers on the Foundation’s Grant committee have the difficult job of prioritizing among so many worthy organizations. When reviewing the many outstanding programs in District 6 that physicians recommended, LHCH stood out for their expansion of mental health counseling services. They are developing a supervision and mentoring program for Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW) and Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC). The Mentoring Mental Health Providers (MMHP) program is part of their response to the combination of a shortage of providers and high and growing mental health needs in their communities. The ratio of population to mental health professionals is 952:1 in Manitowoc County and 652:1 in Sheboygan County, both well above the Wisconsin average of 471:1 and the national average of 380:1. To help build a pipeline of future mental health professionals, LCHC will begin the MMHP supervision and mentoring program for LCSW and LPC trainees.
Each year physicians throughout Wisconsin help the Foundation identify which physician workforce and population health issues are most significant in each county by completing the Physician County Survey. In 2021 physicians also identified more than 230 organizations that are making a difference to address those issues and improve health in Wisconsin. Please take a little time to complete our 2022 Physician County Survey. Your input helps the Foundation and Society set priorities related to better serving physicians and our communities.
Help the Foundation support these important community programs that are increasing health equity and access by contributing to the Around the State in 8 Districts campaign. Through this campaign, every dollar will go directly back to your district to support programs that were championed by your fellow physicians.
If you would like to learn more about LHCH, please visit lakeshorechc.org. For questions or to learn more about the Foundation or our programs, please contact Executive Director, Elizabeth Ringle at elizabeth.ringle@wismed.org.
Back to top