Board of Directors
Walter Argueta, MPH, ARNP, FNP-C
Walter was born in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. He earned his medical doctor degree from the National Autonomous University of Honduras. Then, he came to Minnesota and received a Masters in Public Health from the University of Minnesota’s School of Public Health. He earned his BSN/MSN ARNP FNP from Florida International University in 2018. Walter has worked for several non-profit organizations and has been doing medical mission work for the last 20 years. He has planned medical mission trips to El Salvador, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Haiti and Tanzania. He believes everyone should go on at least one mission trip during their professional career. He currently works at VIPcare in Ocala, Florida. Walter lives with his wife Lidia and enjoys helping people during his free time. He also serves as our Board Vice President.
Walter was born in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. He earned his medical doctor degree from the National Autonomous University of Honduras. Then, he came to Minnesota and received a Masters in Public Health from the University of Minnesota’s School of Public Health. He earned his BSN/MSN ARNP FNP from Florida International University in 2018. Walter has worked for several non-profit organizations and has been doing medical mission work for the last 20 years. He has planned medical mission trips to El Salvador, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Haiti and Tanzania. He believes everyone should go on at least one mission trip during their professional career. He currently works at VIPcare in Ocala, Florida. Walter lives with his wife Lidia and enjoys helping people during his free time. He also serves as our Board Vice President.
Cecelia DuPlessis Erickson, BSN, MPH
Cecelia is a nursing leader and educator in public health, school health and management. She recently retired from Metropolitan State University where she provided clinic experiences in public health for RN/BSN students in a variety of community settings with underserved populations experiencing poverty and needing health and social services interventions. She has been a nursing manager at the Wellness Connection, Minneapolis Public Schools and Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC) in the Emergency Department and Ambulatory Services. Cecelia has participated in many global health missions including Honduras, China, Jamaica, and the last several years with Total Health Africa. She is Coordinator of the Eucharistic Ministry Program at Hennepin County Medical Center. She lives in St. Louis Park with her husband, Peter and both are thrilled with being grandparents to three girls. Cecelia provides THA leadership with Ndolage School of Nursing and Midwifery. She also serves presently as the Board President.
Cecelia is a nursing leader and educator in public health, school health and management. She recently retired from Metropolitan State University where she provided clinic experiences in public health for RN/BSN students in a variety of community settings with underserved populations experiencing poverty and needing health and social services interventions. She has been a nursing manager at the Wellness Connection, Minneapolis Public Schools and Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC) in the Emergency Department and Ambulatory Services. Cecelia has participated in many global health missions including Honduras, China, Jamaica, and the last several years with Total Health Africa. She is Coordinator of the Eucharistic Ministry Program at Hennepin County Medical Center. She lives in St. Louis Park with her husband, Peter and both are thrilled with being grandparents to three girls. Cecelia provides THA leadership with Ndolage School of Nursing and Midwifery. She also serves presently as the Board President.
Kristine Alice Foslien, MD
Kris graduated from the University of Minnesota Medical School in 1987 as a member of the United States Air Force. She completed her residency in Pediatrics at David Grant Medical Center at Travis Air Force Base, California in 1990. After serving her country as a solo pediatrician in a small military base in Illinois for three years, she returned to her home state of MN. She joined Fairview Medical Group, working as part of a five-person pediatric team located in a suburb south of Minneapolis until her retirement in October, 2021. She felt privileged to be trusted with the care of so many children as they grew into adulthood. She has two grown sons and one son-in-law who continue to bring her great joy. Next year she will increase her family significantly, welcoming her husband, Kevin, and his family of three children who are all married and his 5 grandchildren. Kris enjoys hiking, camping, and dancing in her spare time. In 2014, she joined the first Total Health Africa trip and has been involved ever since. Working and learning alongside the pediatrician at Ndolage Hospital in rural Tanzania over multiple trips and from Minnesota has been extremely fulfilling. She is honored to serve on the Board for Total Health Africa.
Kris graduated from the University of Minnesota Medical School in 1987 as a member of the United States Air Force. She completed her residency in Pediatrics at David Grant Medical Center at Travis Air Force Base, California in 1990. After serving her country as a solo pediatrician in a small military base in Illinois for three years, she returned to her home state of MN. She joined Fairview Medical Group, working as part of a five-person pediatric team located in a suburb south of Minneapolis until her retirement in October, 2021. She felt privileged to be trusted with the care of so many children as they grew into adulthood. She has two grown sons and one son-in-law who continue to bring her great joy. Next year she will increase her family significantly, welcoming her husband, Kevin, and his family of three children who are all married and his 5 grandchildren. Kris enjoys hiking, camping, and dancing in her spare time. In 2014, she joined the first Total Health Africa trip and has been involved ever since. Working and learning alongside the pediatrician at Ndolage Hospital in rural Tanzania over multiple trips and from Minnesota has been extremely fulfilling. She is honored to serve on the Board for Total Health Africa.
Jerusa Kamala, MD
Jerusa is a retired OB/GYN physician and the founder of Total Health Africa. She currently serves as our Executive Director. More information about Dr. Kamala can be found here: About our founder.
Jerusa is a retired OB/GYN physician and the founder of Total Health Africa. She currently serves as our Executive Director. More information about Dr. Kamala can be found here: About our founder.
Johnson Makoba, Ph.D
Johnson is a Professor of Sociology and Carnegie African Diaspora Fellow. He received his Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley in 1991. He has been teaching at the University of Nevada, Reno since 1990. Dr. Makoba is the author of two books on development in Sub-Saharan Africa and has also published several book chapters and articles in the International Journal of Sociology of Law, Scandinavian Journal of Development Alternatives, Austrian Journal of Development Studies, Journal of Third World Studies, African Development, and other scholarly journals. In 1996, Dr. Makoba established the Foundation for Credit and Community Assistance or FOCCAS Uganda, a microfinance institution. He currently heads the "Microfinance and Development" subsection of the Sociology of Development Section of the American Sociological Association (ASA). His areas of specialization include race and ethnic relations, organizations and bureaucracies, third world development, and African State NGO relations Studies. He is currently engaged in research on the role of the nongovernmental organizations (NGO), and other issues in third world development. Dr. Makoba is currently serving as Editor-in-Chief of an online peer-reviewed International Journal of Technology and Management (IJOTM).
Johnson is a Professor of Sociology and Carnegie African Diaspora Fellow. He received his Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley in 1991. He has been teaching at the University of Nevada, Reno since 1990. Dr. Makoba is the author of two books on development in Sub-Saharan Africa and has also published several book chapters and articles in the International Journal of Sociology of Law, Scandinavian Journal of Development Alternatives, Austrian Journal of Development Studies, Journal of Third World Studies, African Development, and other scholarly journals. In 1996, Dr. Makoba established the Foundation for Credit and Community Assistance or FOCCAS Uganda, a microfinance institution. He currently heads the "Microfinance and Development" subsection of the Sociology of Development Section of the American Sociological Association (ASA). His areas of specialization include race and ethnic relations, organizations and bureaucracies, third world development, and African State NGO relations Studies. He is currently engaged in research on the role of the nongovernmental organizations (NGO), and other issues in third world development. Dr. Makoba is currently serving as Editor-in-Chief of an online peer-reviewed International Journal of Technology and Management (IJOTM).
Samuel Mangaali, CPA, CFO
Samuel was born in Mbale, Uganda. He went to Suomi College and Michigan Technical University where he earned an Associate Certificate and a Bachelor of Science Degree. He completed a CPA certificate from the District of Columbia. Samuel worked on the Carter/Mondale campaign committee and with IBM before settling with the State of Maryland Department of Labor Licensing and Regulation, where he worked as Assistant Chief of General Accounting until retirement. He is now the Chief Financial Officer at Vassa Commercial Capital LLC, a company he founded that promotes business growth by providing capital. He also serves as our Board Treasurer.
Samuel was born in Mbale, Uganda. He went to Suomi College and Michigan Technical University where he earned an Associate Certificate and a Bachelor of Science Degree. He completed a CPA certificate from the District of Columbia. Samuel worked on the Carter/Mondale campaign committee and with IBM before settling with the State of Maryland Department of Labor Licensing and Regulation, where he worked as Assistant Chief of General Accounting until retirement. He is now the Chief Financial Officer at Vassa Commercial Capital LLC, a company he founded that promotes business growth by providing capital. He also serves as our Board Treasurer.
Crystal Saric Fashant, MPNA, DBA
Crystal is an associate professor in the department of public and nonprofit leadership at Metropolitan State University in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Crystal completed her dissertation in the field of healthcare and environmental sustainability. She has spent 20 years working in hospitals, learning how to make healthcare more efficient on numerous levels. Her environmental work in hospitals ultimately led her to an interest in medical missions, and how medical equipment and supplies can be better distributed throughout the world. She has a masters degree in public and nonprofit administration, and a doctorate in business administration. She lives with her husband and two children in Dayton, MN. She also serves as our Board Secretary.
Crystal is an associate professor in the department of public and nonprofit leadership at Metropolitan State University in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Crystal completed her dissertation in the field of healthcare and environmental sustainability. She has spent 20 years working in hospitals, learning how to make healthcare more efficient on numerous levels. Her environmental work in hospitals ultimately led her to an interest in medical missions, and how medical equipment and supplies can be better distributed throughout the world. She has a masters degree in public and nonprofit administration, and a doctorate in business administration. She lives with her husband and two children in Dayton, MN. She also serves as our Board Secretary.
Joel Wegener, MD
Joel is a Family Physician from Minneapolis, and is the medical director at M Health Fairview Uptown Clinic. He enjoys spending time doing outdoor activities such as running races with his race team and canoeing. He has two feisty daughters who like to give him a hard time but also like to seek out his advice. Dr. Wegener enjoys providing medical care to people of all backgrounds and works hard to create a personalized treatment plan which takes into account a person's individual beliefs, background and financial circumstances. He enjoys the challenge of international medical work and is grateful for the broad perspective it provides. His patients appreciate that he is willing to give his time to international work and it helps them appreciate that he practices medicine out of a genuine interest to help others.
Joel is a Family Physician from Minneapolis, and is the medical director at M Health Fairview Uptown Clinic. He enjoys spending time doing outdoor activities such as running races with his race team and canoeing. He has two feisty daughters who like to give him a hard time but also like to seek out his advice. Dr. Wegener enjoys providing medical care to people of all backgrounds and works hard to create a personalized treatment plan which takes into account a person's individual beliefs, background and financial circumstances. He enjoys the challenge of international medical work and is grateful for the broad perspective it provides. His patients appreciate that he is willing to give his time to international work and it helps them appreciate that he practices medicine out of a genuine interest to help others.