Donna L. Torrisi, MSN has been a Nurse Practitioner since 1976. In 1992 after securing a federal grant, she founded a Community Health Center in Philadelphia which grew to five sites serving over 24,000 patients. While directing the network of centers, she continues to provide primary care to the low income communities. It was here that she was inspired by her courageous and resilient patients to write this book. She co-wrote the book, “Community and Nurse Managed Health Centers, Getting them Started and Keeping them Going”, published in May 2005 as well as multiple book chapters and peer reviewed articles. The model and her work are recognized nationally and have been the recipient of multiple awards.  She is a Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing and completed the Robert Wood Johnson Nurse Executive Fellowship Program.