We are equally proud of our past and our future.   Please take a moment to learn more about our modest neighborhood beginnings and our exciting growth and development.

Our Roots

HealthLinc began as Hilltop Community Health Center  which was part of the Hilltop Neighborhood House in Valparaiso, Indiana.  Hilltop Neighborhood House was created in 1995 to serve a growing population of poor and unemployed residents in Porter County.  Community leaders recognized the need for affordable, high quality housing, food, child care, health care, and other services.  The Hilltop Neighborhood House was created to meet these needs.  In addition to health care services, the Hilltop community now is home to a child care center, a food pantry, and a community center.  Hilltop CHC originally started as a free clinic in 1996, serving low income residents without insurance.  In April 1999, the Hilltop Free Dental Clinic opened to serve the same people as the health center.

In 2000, with funding by the Indiana State Department of Health, Hilltop CHC began the shift to becoming a full service community health center, including provisions for sliding fee scales, Medicaid, Medicare, and private insurance payers.  In August 2001, the Hilltop CHC was established as its own not-for-profit organization serving a broader constituency through expanded health services.  While still a member of the Hilltop Neighborhood House “family” of community organizations, the Hilltop CHC began developing its own funding sources and health-related community programs.

In September of 2003, Hilltop CHC received designation as a “Federally Qualified Health Center Look-Alike” which enabled the Center to receive federal funding to support patient care.  Later, on January 1, 2006, Hilltop was awarded full designation as a “Federally Qualified Health Center.”  Today, Hilltop CHC offers a wide range of quality health care services to those in need.  Hilltop’s primary service area is rural northwest Indiana (Porter, Starke, Jasper, and LaPorte counties) but patients from other communities are also welcome.

In addition to government funding, Hilltop CHC also receives financial support from generous donors in our community.  As a not-for-profit organization, the Center is able to accept charitable donations from individuals as well as grants from private foundations.  These funds supplement the “bare necessities” that are covered by government programs such as Medicaid and Medicare and enable us to fulfill the Hilltop mission.

Recent Developments

In 2007, we were awarded a federal grant to open a satellite clinic in Michigan City, a designated "high poverty" area.  We opened our doors at 710 Franklin Street in February 2008.  We opened another satellite in Knox to bring services closer to our patients who live in Starke County in August 2008.  As much as possible given space and funding limitations, these new clinics will follow the Hilltop model of providing integrated care in one setting.  Our goal is to provide a full range of prenatal and child care, adult primary care, dental care, and mental health services in a team environment.  Our reach has extended far beyond our Hilltop neighborhood home - HealthLinc is truly becoming a multi-faceted, regional provider of health care services to the underserved of Northwest Indiana. 

To reflect this expanding role in our community, the Board of Directors decided to launch a new name for our organization.  In 2008, we are rolling out a new name, tag line and logo.  "HealthLinc - Your Community Health Center."  We believe this name reflects what we do:  we link health care services to people who need them and we link multiple services together in one place.  The "c" in HealthLinc represents our commitment to our community - something that will never change regardless of what our name is or how many clinics we operate. 

If you would like to stay current on our organization's services and activities, sign up to receive our monthly newsletter.  It will be sent to your email in-box at the beginning of each month.  Just send your e-mail address to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it   and request to be added to our newsletter distribution list. 

Our Practitioners

HealthLinc proudly offers highly educated, experienced, compassionate practitioners to care for you and your family.  Our focus is on treating you as a whole person – we help you stay healthy as well as care for you when you are sick or injured.  Our team approach to patient care means that you can receive a wide range of services at our clinics.  We will treat you with respect and will give you the information you need to take an active role in your health and well-being.  Some of our patients had this to say about receiving care at HealthLinc:

§          “The quality of care here is fantastic.”

§          “We need more places like Hilltop.”

§          “This center and these amazing people certainly are a blessing!” 

We strive to create this type of experience every day.  We hope you will agree.  Learn more about our practitioners and their qualifications (Practitioner Bio's).

Board of Directors

HealthLinc is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors representing a cross section of our community.  We appreciate the time and effort they contribute to our mission of service.

Jackie Pillar King, President

Bonnie White, Vice President

Susan Mowbray, Secretary

Tim Warner, Treasurer 

Danielle Corley

Keith Gingerich, MD

Linda Jefferson

Michael Meadows

John Poncher, MD

Roger Weitgenant

Dionne Wisniewski

John Worstell

Ivan Bodensteiner, Advisor