SAMARITAN
HEALTH CENTER
Pediatric Clinic
The Samaritan Health Center is a community-based non-profit organization dedicated to improving the health of underserved and uninsured children in Danbury and neighboring communities.
We seek to extend the love of Jesus Christ and make a meaningful difference in the lives of children and their families by providing low-cost, excellent, compassionate, and professional healthcare services.
The story of the Good Samaritan is a well-known Bible parable (Luke 10:25-37) that inspires the significance of showing kindness, empathy, compassion, respect, and mercy to those in need. The Samaritan’s actions exemplify true neighborly love, going out of one’s way to help and care for others and serves as a timeless reminder to live out these values in daily life. Here at Samaritan Health Center we aim to live our lives the same way.
Our History
The Samaritan Health Center was launched by Jericho Partnership Inc. after several years of work by its founder, Bill Beattie, who saw the need for a pediatric clinic for Danbury’s uninsured children. He recognized the gap between children with medical insurance and those without it, and decided to create a Christ-centered medical clinic to bridge the gap.
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The Samaritan Health Center opened in 2008 as a state-licensed outpatient clinic with initial funding for three years from Jericho Partnership. The 501(c)(3) Center is now fully funded by private donations. It was located in the Jericho Samaritan House building at 13 Rose St. in downtown Danbury, until 2022, when it was relocated to it’s current address at 27 Hospital Ave, Suite 201, right in front of the Danbury’s hospital main entrance.
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Our Mission
Our Mission is to deliver and promote personalized and dignified health services to the children without medical insurance in the Greater Danbury Community Area. Which includes collaborating with other community health organizations for our patients who need expanded care.
Samaritan Health Center understands equity is the fair and just practices and policies that provide consistency in care, treatment, access, opportunity and advancement for staff and volunteers. We also have policies and procedures that encourage engagement of marginalized and neglected communities by reducing and eliminating barriers that prevent full participation of diverse communities and individuals.
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Our vision is to create a community in the Greater Danbury area where every uninsured child receives personalized, dignified health services through collaborative efforts with other health organizations. Our aim is comprehensive healthcare for all children, ensuring access to care regardless of insurance status. We're committed to fostering an inclusive environment where everyone feels welcomed and respected, enabling full participation and engagement, irrespective of barriers.
Our Strategy
Need
We recognize that the lack of health insurance among many members of our community prohibits some from seeking medical care.
Therefore
We promise to do our best to financially help those who are uninsured by providing low-cost primary pediatric health care.
Need
While a patient’s physical health can require assistance, spiritual health will ultimately make a person whole. Our ability to offer service to both areas of well-being makes our mission unique and special.
Therefore
We will continue to incorporate the love of Jesus Christ into every aspect of our services with gentleness and without imposition.
Need
The diverse culture and ethnicity of our community can make it difficult for some of our patients and their families to communicate with some of our staff.
Therefore
We promise to treat each patient with the same professional, dignified care by providing a translator, whenever possible, for those who may need help with confidential communication. However, we encourage families to bring an adult family member to act as a translator as well as to help with understanding the complexity of many new information and procedures.
Board of Directors
Patrick Broderick, MD
Chairman
Dr. Pat is chairman of Danbury Hospital’s Department of Emergency Medicine, exercising full leadership responsibility for the high-volume emergency department, and is EMS medical director for metro Danbury. He sits on a full gamut of hospital-based, community-based and EMS-based committees; is president of the Western Connecticut Medical Group; and is the Clinical Adjunct Assistant Professor at Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Conn., an Adjunct Associate Professor of Medicine/Emergency Medicine at New York Medical College, and an Associate Professor at the University of Vermont College of Medicine in Burlington, Vermont. His community involvement includes being medical director at the AmeriCares Free Clinic in Danbury.
Rajadevi Satchi, MD
Medical Director
Dr. Satchi is board certified in pediatrics, has been a pediatrician in the Danbury area for 44 years. She is a member of the Fairfield County Medical Society, the Connecticut State Medical Society and the American Pediatric Board, and is an assistant clinical professor at the New York Medical College in Valhalla, N.Y. Dr. Satchi has participated in several short-term medical mission trips to Nigeria, Costa Rica, Sri Lanka and India. She attends Walnut Hill Community Church in Bethel. She and her husband, local OBGYN Dr. Mahalingam Satchi, have three daughters and two sons-in-laws, one of whom is an orthopedic surgeon, and four grandchildren. Dr. Satchi is thankful to God for all the blessings and trials to reflect the love of Jesus Christ in her life.
Rupert Grant
Treasurer
Mr. Grant is a Finance Manager (Memorial Sloan Kettering, Southbury, CT) and he has been Samaritan's Board Treasurer since 2021.
Linda Broderick, RN
Linda Broderick is a CT state board certified Registered Nurse with over 45 years of experience delivering high quality care in ; CCU, Medical/Surgical, Home Care IV Therapy, Pediatric, Psychiatry, ECT, and School Nursing in all levels. Volunteer Activities include; St Edward CCD teacher, St Edward Parish Nurse, New Fairfield College and Career Center, New Fairfield school teaching art appreciation, Mission trips to Haiti, Guatemala, Lourdes. Dame in the Order of Malta.
Flavia Pesarini
Flavia Pesarini is a compassionate advocate and dedicated representative of our non-profit pediatric clinic and has been a volunteer translator for a number of years. Her commitment to inclusivity and community engagement has had a significant impact on bridging cultural gaps in our local surroundings. Flavia is originally from Brazil and her life experience has been instrumental in guiding our clinic toward its mission of providing exceptional care to children in need, ensuring that the diverse needs and perspectives of the Brazilian, as well as Spanish communities are not only heard but also embraced. She is married, has three kids and is currently employed at another local non-profit organization.
Staff
Dr. Donald Sampson
Clinic Director
Dr. Don is board certified in pediatrics and adult internal medicine. He received his medical degree from the University of Colorado, then moved to Connecticut to be part of a family medical practice for eight years. He was chief of pediatrics at a teaching hospital in Nigeria, where he had moved with his family in 2007 as a medical missionary with SIM in response to a call to serve the poorest of the poor. During that three-year period, he trained Nigerian doctors; cared for hospitalized children, orphans and children with HIV; and went into outlying villages to provide medical care. He became Samaritan Health Center’s pediatrician and clinic director in 2010. For the last several years when not at Samaritan, he has been working part time at the Danbury Hospital Pediatric unit taking care of children who have been admitted there. He enjoys teaching medical students at the hospital and also at the Samaritan clinic.
Sue Heller, RN
Nurse Manager
Sue is a CT Board Certified Registered Nurse and has been with Samaritan Health Center since it’s inception in 2008. She serves as our Nurse Manager. Sue has been an RN for 52 years and has worked in many specialty areas within a hospital setting. "It's an honor to serve God in the capacity of providing health care to these children." Sue is married with 3 adult married children and has been blessed with 4 grandchildren.
Patricia Alcon
Office Manager
Patricia started working at Samaritan in September 2020. She brought valuable office experience and firsthand knowledge of Samaritan, as her nephews and niece were all patients. Patricia holds an MBA and has years of experience as a back-office manager. Her multilingual skills in English, Portuguese, and Spanish, attention to detail, organizational ability, and easy-going demeanor greatly contribute to handling our daily challenges and busy schedule. Patricia feels called to serve at Samaritan and loves helping families connect with various resources in the community.
Victoria Araujo
Med/Admin Assistant
Victoria Araujo is 21 years old. She speaks fluent Portuguese and some Spanish. Vicky is currently pursuing her studies in psychology, driven by a deep passion for helping others. She was very happy for the opportunity to combine her academic pursuits with meaningful, hands-on experience in a non-profit setting. In her own words: we strive to make a difference in the lives of children, fostering a healthier and happier community.
Donna Shaw
Human Resources
Donna joined Samaritan Health Center in January, 2016 after nearly five years as Operations Manager for the Good Samaritan Mission, another Jericho Partnership ministry. She has a lengthy history of Human Resources and office management experience, specifically in the healthcare and not-for-profit sectors. Donna feels called to continue serving at Samaritan and Jericho as a HR specialist. A scripture she often quotes as a reminder – Blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence (Jeremiah 17:7) Donna is married to Collin Shaw and they have two wonderful daughters, Olyvia & Payge.
Volunteers
Click here to watch some of our volunteers testimonies.
Here are some opportunities to join us:
Licensed and Insured Healthcare Providers
Doctors, Physician Assistants and Nurse Practitioners are welcome to join our volunteer force. Not much time to spare, no worries, how does 3 hours per month sound? Our schedules are super flexible and can be made up to 4 months in advance.
Nurses
RNs and LPNs – Do you enjoy pediatrics? Do you have some extra time in your schedule where you could volunteer once or twice per month? Samaritan is looking for volunteer nurses to help the nursing staff. We’d love to chat with you if this sounds like something you’d want to do.
Translators
About 42 languages are spoken in the city’s public schools. Most clinic patients are from Brazil and speak Portuguese, followed by many more patients who speak Spanish. Translators are an integral part of Samaritan running efficiently. Our translators are in the exam room with the doctors and nurses relaying everything that is said back and forth. They assist families with completing paperwork, greeting patients upon arrival to the clinic, and helping patients check out. Translators also assist staff with updating forms that need to be done in Portuguese and Spanish.
Prayers
Calling all Prayer Warriors! The clinic needs people to bathe its operation, patients and volunteers in prayer.
Volunteers
Most volunteers with us are not here frequently, but they’re here regularly and that’s what makes it a great fit for those who volunteer with Samaritan Health Center!
Our Partners
Church Partners
