INMED Staff
Serving Students.
Advancing the Mission.
"True leadership is found in giving yourself in service to others."
- Max Lucado
Senior Administrators
INMED’s senior administrators provide strategic leadership, academic oversight, and operational stewardship in support of the institution’s mission.
Nicholas’ Blog
Nicholas’ Videos & Presentations
Nicholas Comninellis, MD, MPH, is President and Professor at INMED, the Institute for International Medicine, and practices emergency medicine. He founded INMED in 2003 to advance global health education and service. Dr. Comninellis previously served for two years at Shanghai Charity Hospital, providing care to inner-city communities, and led a healthcare ministry in war-torn Angola for two years. He also taught family medicine and public health for six years at the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) School of Medicine while caring for patients at Kansas City’s public hospital.
He graduated from the UMKC School of Medicine and Saint Louis University School of Public Health and was a family medicine resident at John Peter Smith Hospital. Dr. Comninellis also earned a diploma in tropical medicine from the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research and became board certified in both public health and family medicine. Among his authored books is Five Bags of Gold – a Modern Parable of Wealth, Responsibility, and Eternal Investment. Dr. Comninellis is a classical guitarist and faculty co-advisor for UMKC Cru. He was honored as the 2009 United Nations Association of the United States World Citizen and the 2015 University of Missouri-Kansas City Alumni of the Year.
Vice President of Engagement
Elizabeth Burgos MPA
Elizabeth Burgos joined the INMED staff in 2010. As Vice President of Engagement, Elizabeth serves the INMED student body and oversees INMED's programs. She enjoys collaborating with the faculty and staff to serve students and help carry out the mission of the institute. Elizabeth graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Missouri–Kansas City. In 2012, she completed her Masters in Public Administration from UMKC’s Bloch School of Management with an emphasis in Health Services Administration. Elizabeth lives in Kansas City, MO with her husband and three young children. They enjoy spending time in the great outdoors and serving with their church family. Elizabeth’s work has taken her to the INMED Service-Learning Sites, Haiti Health Ministries and Clinica Esperanza. “I knew that I wouldn’t be satisfied with a job that didn’t align with my passions. INMED has allowed me to combine my skills with my desire to serve others in a job that makes a lasting impact in people’s lives.”
Vice President of Operations
& Research Librarian
Addison Lucchi PhD, MLIS, MBA
Dr. Lucchi, PhD, MBA, MLIS serves as Vice President of Operations and Research Librarian. Dr. Lucchi is passionate about the intersection between education and global mission, and he has 10+ years of experience in higher education, including as an academic librarian, professor, and library director. He has taught in the areas of English, Business, and Information Literacy. Dr. Lucchi is a graduate of University of Missouri-KC (Ph.D.), Simmons College (MLIS), and MidAmerica Nazarene University (MBA). He has received awards and written/managed grants from the Lilly Foundation, the Kansas Library Association, Association of Christian Librarians, and Humanities Kansas for a variety of educational projects, excellence in librarianship, and innovation. His research is interdisciplinary, primarily centering on application of narrative theory and storytelling principles towards faculty and student identity development.
In addition to his academic work, Dr. Lucchi enjoys service and teaching in the Czech Republic, including studying Czech language (he is also a graduate of Ostrava University). He volunteers as president of Odysea CZ, a nonprofit focusing on empowering individuals and teams to serve in and support ministry in the country.
Vice President of Academics
Maia Kling PhD
Maia Kling is a bilingual, career educator whose work spans public, private, and government sectors in the U.S., Latin America, and overseas. She has broad experience in teaching multiculturally and in providing educational program and curriculum support in intercultural settings. Dr. Kling received her BA from Smith College, her EdM from Harvard University, and her PhD from George Mason University. Her research has focused on education in multicultural/multilingual, system-settings. She is well versed in qualitative research and educational measurement in the assessment of curriculum and instruction, bilingual/ESL instruction, professional development, and special programs for at-risk students. Dr. Kling lives in Richmond, Virginia where she is an active member of Third Church. She enjoys music, reading, good conversations, spending time with friends, and volunteering with local service initiatives and international ministries.
“The first question which the priest and the Levite asked was: ‘If I stop to help this man, what will happen to me?’ But the good Samaritan reversed the question: ‘If I do not stop to help this man, what will happen to him?’
– Martin Luther King Jr.
Staff
INMED staff support student engagement, service-learning, continuing medical education, academic operations, and institutional initiatives.
Dean of Faculty
Scott Armistead MD, DIMPH
Dr. Armistead trained at the Medical College of Virginia and Truman East Family Medicine Residency in Kansas City, where he met Dr. Comninellis as a faculty member. Dr. Armistead and his family lived in Pakistan from 1999-2015, providing medical care at Bach Christian Hospital, with a 1 1/2 year stint at Kanad Hospital in the United Arab Emirates when the security situation in Pakistan worsened.
Since returning from Pakistan in 2015, Dr. Armistead has taught family medicine at the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) School of Medicine and was in private practice before joining INMED. Since 2015, he has also worked part-time as a CMDA staff worker at VCU. At the School of Medicine, he started the month-long International Medical Mission elective for senior students during which he has taken a group annually to Karanda Mission Hospital in Zimbabwe. He completed VCU’s TIME (Teaching in Medical Education) certificate course. He loves teaching and has received teaching awards in the Practice of Clinical Medicine program at VCU and from the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine. He is very keen on the professional, moral and spiritual formation of students. He is active with the Urdu-speaking S. Asian refugee and immigrant population in Richmond, Virginia. His wife, JoAnn, is an ESL teacher and they have three grown sons.
Director of Student Engagement & Technology
Registrar
Leda Rivera
Leda joined the INMED staff in 2019 after volunteering at the Humanitarian Health Conference. With a rich background in cross-cultural community involvement – including roles with the Truman Heartland Community Foundation, Independence Youth Court, and Graceway’s Children, Spanish, and Outreach ministries – Leda has observed time and time again the impact of a single person. Acknowledging the significance of every individual has continually ignited her passion for empowering others. As the Director of Student Engagement & Technology at INMED, Leda brings this enthusiasm and dedication to supporting individuals as they navigate their paths, concentrating on people who work with those often overlooked – the world’s most underserved and under-resourced. Beyond her professional endeavors, Leda finds fulfillment in her personal life with her husband, toddler, and their three beloved canine companions.
Director of Service-Learning
& CME Coordinator
Amy Gilmore
Amy joined the INMED team in the spring of 2022. She attended both Southwest Baptist University and Midwestern Seminary, where she received degrees in counseling and gained a wide range of ministry experiences. Following her graduation, she devoted a number of years to working in the Student Life department of Midwestern Seminary/Spurgeon College in Kansas City. Now at INMED, Amy serves as the Director of Service Learning and the CME Coordinator. This role allows her to play a part in many facets of INMED and she loves the opportunity to work with people from all over the world. One highlight of her time at INMED thus far has been the opportunity to attend the Roatan Learn and Serve Conference in Honduras and to visit the INMED Service-Learning site, Clinica Esperanza. She also greatly enjoys the Humanitarian Health Conference, and she is thankful that she has the privilege of being involved in so many fun and impactful events. Above all, Amy has a passion for investing in the growth and lives of others. She is grateful for her family and for the privilege of walking closely with many friends from within her church family. She shares her home with a lively little dog named Ember, and she loves spending her free time working on her house, enjoying the outdoors, and reading.
Continuing Medical Education Manager
Kim Boyd
Kim joined INMED in 2019 as a CME Coordinator and advanced to CME Manager, where she supports the delivery of high-quality accredited continuing education. She is committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity and independence in CME and ongoing professional development through the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) Academy. Outside of work, Kim enjoys time with her husband, Jason, and their three adult children. An avid reader, she also enjoys serving through her church by organizing women’s ministry events and Bible studies.
Continuing Medical Education Assistant Manager
Valerie Geier
Valerie Geier joined the Continuing Education Team with INMED in 2016. Val attended Pittsburg State University where she received a Bachelor’s Degree in Family and Consumer Sciences with an emphasis in marketing. She is married with three children. Val is an active volunteer at the schools her children attend and with her church.
Controller
Kayla Calderon
Kayla Calderon, B.A., serves as INMED’s Controller. Kayla is an accountant who specializes in nonprofit organizations. She also has served in global missions, and she has a passion for both missions and teaching focused on music and language.
Executive Coordinator
Muangkong Yang, MDiv
Muangkong Yang is married to his beautiful wife, A. Both are members of Liberty Baptist Church in Liberty, Missouri. He graduated with a Master of Divinity degree from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Missouri. During one year of his studies at the seminary, he had the privilege of assisting both faculty and students with their technological needs. Having spent much of his life as a student, Muangkong has experienced both the joys and challenges of education firsthand. As a result, he is excited to serve alongside others at INMED in support of the institute’s mission. He strives to serve with joy, encourage and assist students, and help them succeed in their educational and professional endeavors.
Faculty & Instructors
Meet the faculty, instructors, and subject matter experts who teach, mentor, and guide learners through INMED’s educational programs.