PHSC | SEASON OF HOPEAND HEALING

Article by MEREDITH MCKINNIE and photography by TONI NAVARRO

Each December, Primary Health Services Center transforms into a place filled with holiday magic
and heartfelt generosity, blending compassion, community, and elegant décor to remind families
that the true spirit of Christmas is found in giving, healing, and coming together. Led by Founder and
CEO Catherine M. Tonore, the celebration turns every PHSC location into a warm, welcoming space
where joy is shared, burdens are lifted, and every visitor feels seen, supported, and cherished.

Christmas, the most wonderful time of the year!” declares Catherine M. Tonore, Founder, CEO, and President of Primary Health Services Center (PHSC), her eyes alight with joy as she welcomes the community to the PHSC campus. Her voice carries the warmth of someone who knows both the joy and the ache of the season. For Catherine, Christmas is more than twinkling lights and holiday songs; it’s a time to give back, to lift spirits, and to remind the community that togetherness is the greatest gift of all.
That spirit of giving runs deep in Catherine’s story. When she lost her father at just 13, the holidays changed, and Christmas lost some of its shimmer. The magic she once felt as a child dimmed, replaced by the quiet ache of loss. Yet out of that pain grew a passion to restore the wonder she had once known. She understands, perhaps more than most, how grief can change the holidays. Today, she channels that empathy into creating joy for others, particularly the those who might otherwise feel the weight of hardship or the absence of loved ones during the season. “Everyone deserves to feel the magic of Christmas,” she says softly. “That’s what this is all about.”
Every December, the PHSC campus transforms into a winter wonderland, a labor of love led by Catherine and her team of “Santa’s little helpers.” Local designer and decorator Kelly Taylor helps bring Catherine’s vision to life with her signature touch of elegance and class, ensuring that every wreath, garland, and ornament reflects both sophistication and heart. “It’s a magical collaboration,” Catherine says. “Kelly understands the spirit of what we’re trying to do, to create joy and beauty that reach people on an emotional level.”

Visitors arriving at the PHSC campus are immediately swept into the holiday spirit. Wreaths crown lampposts along the entryway, and the air seems to hum with Christmas cheer. Outside the main clinic, which houses primary care, behavioral health, and pharmacy services, stands a majestic Christmas tree, its red poinsettias and shimmering ornaments glinting in the winter sun. Families pause there for photos, capturing memories framed in light and laughter. Inside, festive vignettes unfold: a carousel horse twinkles beneath soft lights while a genial Humpty Dumpty smiles among candy-striped ribbons and twinkling garlands. The juxtaposition of whimsy and refinement transforms the clinic into a storybook dreamscape, each corner filled with warmth and wonder.
That same sense of celebration extends across PHSC’s many facilities. The Dental Clinic invites visitors along a paved brick walkway lined with lush evergreen garlands and radiant poinsettias, the rich greens and reds accented by golden ornaments that catch the sunlight. Inside, the atmosphere is one of refined festivity, where wrought iron, velvet ribbons, and classic Christmas motifs blend seamlessly with the clinic’s comforting design. Just outside, a bronze tiered fountain serves as the sculptural centerpiece of the campus. Designed at the request of the PHSC community, the fountain’s cherubic figures and regal detailing evoke a sense of timeless elegance and joy, symbolizing both innocence and renewal.
In the Women’s Health and Pediatrics Clinic, Christmas magic takes a playful turn. A smiling Rudolph wearing a Santa hat welcomes children at the entrance, while a mischievous elf rides on his back.

Everywhere one looks, color and joy abound; elves dangle from sconces, Santas stand guard on tables, reindeer greet guests, and Christmas trees stand tall in every corner. Cutout figures invite families to take portraits, turning waiting rooms into spaces of laughter and connection. The decorations aren’t just for show; they’re an extension of PHSC’s commitment to care. “We want our patients, especially the children, to feel comforted and happy here,” says Catherine. “Health and healing come from the heart as much as from medicine.”
That belief has guided PHSC since its founding. Nearly three decades ago, Catherine Tonore envisioned a place where families could access comprehensive, compassionate healthcare under one roof. With the support of community leaders, she laid the groundwork for PHSC in 1997, and received funding starting in 2000. What began as a single primary care clinic with a small handful of employees has grown into a large healthcare complex with a range of integrated services including primary care, behavioral health, dental, pediatrics, women’s health, pharmacy, mobile health clinics, and school-based health clinics.
Beyond its walls, PHSC reaches deep into the community. Its mobile clinics travel to underserved areas, bringing quality healthcare to those who might otherwise go without. Partnerships with local churches extend that outreach further, providing hats, gloves, socks, and hot soup to the homeless, along with blanket drives during the coldest months. The organization also offers transportation for patients, indigent lab services, and health education programs that empower individuals to take control of their well-being.

PHSC’s commitment to excellence has earned it certification from the National Committee for Quality Assurance as a Patient-Centered Medical Home, a distinction that recognizes its holistic approach to care. At PHSC, patients and providers work hand in hand, creating personalized care plans that focus on wellness, prevention, and emotional support.
As Catherine reflects on the season, she acknowledges that while Christmas brings joy to many, it can also bring heartache. “The holidays can be difficult for those grieving loved ones or struggling financially,” she says. “That’s why our Behavioral Health program is so important; it’s here to support those who need someone to listen, to help them find light in dark times.” From grief counseling and domestic violence support to help with anxiety, depression, and substance abuse, PHSC’s behavioral health team ensures that no one faces the season or life’s challenges alone.
Walking through the PHSC campus during the holidays feels like stepping into a living testament of hope. The twinkling lights, the laughter of children, and the caring smiles of staff tell the story of a community united by compassion. For Catherine Tonore, Christmas at PHSC is more than a tradition; it’s a promise. A promise that joy can be rekindled, that healing can be found, and that the true magic of Christmas lies not in what we receive, but in what we give.
The following is a list of PHSC’s ever-growing locations for the local and surrounding communities: DeSiard Street Primary Clinic and Behavioral Health Clinic at 2913 DeSiard Street in Monroe, Dental Clinic and Pediatric & Women’s Health Clinic (Wellness Center) at 2915 Betin Avenue in Monroe, S.D. Hill Clinic at 850 South 2nd Street in Monroe, PHSC School-Based Health Center at Carroll Junior High in Monroe, PHSC School-Based Health Center at Wossman High School in Monroe, West Monroe Family Health at 301 McMillan Drive in West Monroe, Grambling Family Health Center at 7604 Highway 80 in Grambling, PHSC Pharmacy inside DeSiard Street Clinic in Monroe, Family Justice Center at 620 Riverside Drive in Monroe. For more information about PHSC’s locations and services, visit phsccenter.org.