Center for Rural Health Faculty & Staff

Dan Derksen, MD
Associate Vice President for Health Equity, Outreach & Interprofessional Activities
The University of Arizona Health Sciences
Acting Director, Arizona Area Health Education Center Program
Walter H. Pearce Endowed Chair & Director, Arizona Center for Rural Health
Professor of Public Health, Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health
Location: HSIB 976
Phone: 520-626-3085
Email: dderksen@arizona.edu

Paul Akmajian, MFA 
Manager, Marketing & Outreach
Email: pakmajian@arizona.edu

Mona Arora, PhD, MSPH
Program Manager, AHEAD AZ
Location: Drachman Hall A216 
Email: manand@arizona.edu

Agnes Attakai, MPA
Director, Health Disparities Outreach & Prevention Education
Location: Drachman Hall, 219E
Phone: 520-626-4272
Email: agnesa@arizona.edu

Leila Barraza, JD, MPH
Associate Professor
Director, Arizona Health Education Centers
Community, Environment & Policy Department
Phone: 520-626-0720
Email: lbarraza@arizona.edu

Jill B. Bullock
Associate Director
Arizona Rural Hospital Flexibility Program (Az-Flex)
Location: Drachman Hall, A219Z 
Phone: 520-626-3722
Email: bullock1@arizona.edu

Elena Cameron
Health Educator Assistant
Location: Drachman Hall, 219 LL-1 
Phone: 520-626-4706
Email: ercameron@arizona.edu

Dominic Clichee, DrPH(c), MPH
Program Management Assistant II, AzMAT Mentors Program
Email: dominicclichee@email.arizona.edu

Susan Coates, MBA
Principal Database Specialist
Location: Drachman Hall, A219U 
Phone: 520-626-3589
Email: scoates@arizona.edu

Charles Drake, MS, MA​
Data Architect III
Email: cdrake@arizona.edu

Joyce A. Hospodar, MBA, MPA
Senior Advisor, Rural Programs
Location: Drachman Hall, A219R 
Phone: 520-626-2432
Email: hospodar@arizona.edu

Libia Alexandra Keeme
Administrative Support Assistant II
Location: Drachman Hall, A219FF
libiakeeme@email.arizona.edu

Bryna Koch, MPH
Research Program Administrator​
brynak@arizona.edu

Maria Losoya 
Health Educator and Community Outreach Specialist 
Location: Santa Cruz County
Phone: 520-268-0162
Email: ​mlosoya@arizona.edu

Alyssa Padilla, MPH
Community Outreach Manager
Location: Drachman Hall, 219 LL-1
Phone: 520-626-4439
Email: alydilla@arizona.edu

Jennifer Peters
Manager, State Office of Rural Health Program
Program Advisor, AHEAD AZ
Location: Drachman Hall, 219 LL-2 
Phone: 520-626-2254
Email: petersjs@arizona.edu

Melissa Quezada
Senior Program Coordinator
Location: Drachman Hall, 219 W
Phone: 520-626-0721
Email: melissaquezada@arizona.edu

Rebecca Ruiz
Senior Program Coordinator
Arizona Rural Health Conference & Health Policy Forum
Location: Drachman Hall, A219FF
Phone: 520-626-2243
Email: raruiz@arizona.edu

Gabriela Sanchez
Health Educator and Promotion Professional
Certified Health Insurance Navigator
520-833-2312
Email: gabrielasanchez@arizona.edu

Laura Schweers, MSW
Program Management Assistant, AHEAD AZ
Location: Drachman Hall A219U
Email: schweers@arizona.edu

Maria Rocio Torres, MPH 
Program Management Assistant, AHEAD AZ
Location: Drachman Hall A219U
Email: Torresm1@arizona.edu

Marc Verhougstraete, PhD
Assistant Professor
Community, Environment & Policy Department
Location: Drachman Hall, A231
Phone: 520-621-0254
Email: mverhougstraete@arizona.edu

Margie Arnett
Academic Program Specialist
Center for Interprofessional Transformative Healthcare
Phone: 520-626-4027
Email: marnett@email.arizona.edu