Slideshow: 51st Arizona Rural Health Conference, June 3 and 4, 2025

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Dan Derksen and Amanda Aguirre

Left to Right: Will Humble, Dan Derksen, and Mona Arora

attendees of the 51st Annual Arizona Rural Health Conference, left to right, Evelia Jimenez, COM-P, Ana Montoya, WAHEC , Kevin Driesen, Regional Center for Border Health

Mariah Erhart and Jennifer Peters

Patrick Wightman and Nancy Johnson

Pam Parnes checks in an attendee

Nancy Johnson with U of A College of Health Sciences

Nancy Johnson with Judith Burrola and Ellie Valenzuela-Mendoza, U of A College of Health Sciences

Attendees and vendors of the 51st Annual Arizona Rural Health Conference, second from right: Sam Sabo, DrPH, MPH at NAU

Melissa Quezada with Mariah Erhart

Dr. Derksen opens the conference

Andy Shanks with Joyce Hospodar

Dr. Carlos Gonzales blesses the Conference

Carlos Gonzales blesses the conference

Alyssa Padilla and Josue Cruz, Comprehensive Center for Pain and Addiction

Tashina Machain, American Indian Health - AHEC and Lydia Parra, U of A College of Nursing

Dr Derksen opens the conference

Bridget Murphy with audience

Sheila Sjolander, Interim Director, Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS)

William A. (Bill) Kennard, Administrator of Healthcare Workforce Development, Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS)

Edith Di Santo, Arizona Health Care Workforce Initiatives & Programs, Arizona Department of Health Services

L to R: Jennifer Zúñiga, Katie Brite, MD, Lauren Erdelyi, DrPH

Center for Border Health talks with an attendee

Ana Montoya, Regional Center for Border Health, left, talks with an attendee

Imran Mithu and Shunrang Chin

L to R: Imran Mithu (student), Haritha Mogilisettli (Healthdox), Shunrang Chin (student), Naren Koka (President, Healthdox)

Kevin Lohenry talks with U of A College of Health Sciences

(left to right) Judith Burrola, Ellie Valenzuela-Mendoza, and Kevin Lohenry

Alyssa Padilla

L to R: Mona Arora, PhD, Naren Koka

Erin McMahon talks with Dan Derksen

U of A College of Nursing students talk with a vendor

L to R: Alex Bejarano, Amanda Aguirre, Regional Center for Border Health

L to R: Rocio Torres and Bianca Santa Maria presenting

Bryna Koch, Assistant Research Professor, Arizona Center for Rural Health, Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona

David Martinez III, Director, Vitalyst Health Foundation

Bill Kennard talks with an attendee

Amanda Aguirre (rt) talks with Leila Barraza

L to R: Tyler Wood, Sarah Hope, Inland Revenue Cycle Management

L to R: Lisa O’Neill, DBH, MPH, Dan Derksen, MD, Maria Losoya

Erin McMahon with Jill Bullock

L to R: Lizzie Garcia, Community Health Services, Georgia Weiss-Elliott, Center for Participatory Prevention, Evaluation and Action Research (PEAR) Nate Lothrop, PhD, MEZCOPH

Carrie Eutizi

Rachel Bus

U of A College of Nursing students

U of A College of Nursing students: Front row, L to R: Alexa Vasbibaso, Isabel Martinez, Janiya McKinney, Kelly Haven, Linda Perez, Nursing Faculty, Karina Vidal; Second row, L to R: Lyda Parra, Program Coordinator, ANCATS, Hailey Capitan, Dominique Zuniga, Christina Arneson; Back row, L to R; Taelynn Walker, Kristal Calistro, Jasmin Calderon, Yulissa Cardenas.

Lupe Campos with Jill Bullock

Leila Barraza

Dr. Christy Pacheco, Director of the the CON Rural Health Professions Program and DNP Student and Bridge Fellow Olivia Chavez share a moment.

DNP and Medical Students in the Bridge Fellowship Program with Dr. Christy Pacheco and Dr. Bryna Koch (L to R, Dr. Pacheco, Olivia Chavez, Stephanie O'Connor, Karina Vidal, Vivan Mendoza-Leon, Dr. Koch, Joanna Hilao, Naif Hebo). The Bridge Fellowship is a health policy fellowship supported by the Blue Cross® Blue Shield® of Arizona (AZ Blue) Medicaid segment: BCBSAZ Health Choice Arizona.

Georgia Weiss-Elliott

Dr. Alan Michels and Dr. Xiaoxu Kang presenting

Bryna Koch and Jennifer Peters

Nate Lothrop and Georgia Weiss-Elliott

Audience responds to question

Karen Lutrick, PhD, University of Arizona, College of Medicine-Tucson, Family & Community Medicine

attendees visit with vendors

Jeff Axtel (left) American Indian Health AHEC

Jennifer Barton talks with Dan Derksen

Melinda White RN, CEO Sage Memorial Hospital talks with Dr. Kenneth Anaeme, CMO, Sage Memorial Hospital. .

Jennifer smith talks with another attendee

Melinda White RN, CEO Sage Memorial Hospital talks with Dr. Kenneth Anaeme, CMO, Sage Memorial Hospital. .

Jill Bullock, Jennifer Barton, and Dan Derksen

Dhruv Joshi, MD, Global CEO, Cloudphysician AI

Shad Ritchie and Opal Greenway presenting

Carlos Gonzales, Katie Brite, Dan Derksen, Sharry Veres

L to R: Drs. Carlos Gonzales, Katie Brite, Sharry Veres, Dan Derksen.

Erin George

Mindy Fain

attendee and Niomi Tsingine, Medical Student, COM-P, view posters

Angel Avila Ortega and Georgia Weiss-Elliott discussing a poster

Georgia Weiss-Elliott presenting a poster to Dr. Derksen

L to R: Joseph Finkelstein MD, PhD, Erin McMahon, Elizabeth Kizer

Alyssa Padilla and Melissa Quezada

Center for Rural Health Faculty and Staff: front row L to R: Gabriela Sanchez, Joyce Hospodar, Bianca Santa Maria. second row L to R: Melissa Quezada, Brianna Rooney, DrPH, Mariah Erhart, Leila Barraza, JD, Rocio Torres, MPH. Third row L to R: Jennifer Peters, Susan Coates, Jill Bullock, Pam Barnes, Maria Losoya. 4th row L to R: Bryna Koch, DrPH, Patrick Wightman, Raymond Valenzuela, Dan Derksen, Charles Drake, Ann Garn.

(top to bottom) Jennifer Zuniga, Nicole Peredes, Marni Valenzuela, Leila Barraza

Nicole Paredes, Jennifer Zuniga, Marni Valenzuela

attendee, Edith Di Santo with Dan Derksen

AHEC: Dan Derksen, Jennifer Zuniga, Nicole Paredes, Marni Valenzuela, Leila Barraza

Nancy Johnson

OB simulation team: Elizabeth Kizer, Jill Bullock, Ashley Brock, Erin McMahon

Jennifer Barton with Jennifer Peters

attendees discuss poster presentations: L to R: , Charlie Alfero, Naren Koka

Nate Lothrop with Pam Barnes

Mona Arora addressing team

Nate Lothrop, Imgran Mithu, Mona Aora, Pam Barnes, Brianna Rooney, Virginia Wanjiru, Shunrang Chin, Georgia Weiss-Ellitott.

Virginia Wanjiru talks with Dr.Xiaoxu Kang

Mike Tilton, Chief Growth Officer, DecisionRX

Carrie Foote, BS, BA, Associate Director, Administration, ATP & Program Administrator, SWTRC, Arizona Telemedicine Program and Southwest Telehealth Resource Center

Will Humble, Executive Director, Arizona Public Health Association

Attendee talks with Vendor

L to R: Gila River Elev8 Initiative: Navaz Dolasa MD, Frances Antone, BS, MS, PAC

L to R: Rhonda Mason, COO / CNO, TeleNeph, Lori Green, CNO, Mt. Graham Regional Medical Center.

Mona Arora, PhD, MsPH, Director, Community Engagement Core, Southwest Center On Resilience for Climate Change and Health Assistant Research Professor, Environmental Health Science, Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona

Clement Quella, Gila River Health Care

Mariça Martinic, Colorado Plateau Center for Health Professions at North Country HealthCare

L to R: Makenna Thruinger, DrPH Student, Shunrang Chin, student

Audience discussion

Ellie Valenzuela-Mendoza participating in a session

Josue Cruz with audience

Audience listening

William A. (Bill) Kennard, Administrator of Healthcare Workforce Development, Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS)

Marni Valenzuela

Leila Barraza

Katie Brite

L to R: Carlos Gonzales MD and Eladio Pereira, MD, Mariposa

Navaz Dolasa, MD, Hu Hu Kam Memorial Hospital in Sacaton, AZ

Rocio Torres with Bianca Santa Maria presenting

Joyce Hospodar listens

Bryna Koch, Assistant Research Professor, Arizona Center for Rural Health, Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona

David Martinez III, Director, Vitalyst Health Foundation

Frances Antone, PA, Pediatrics, Gila River Health Care

Rocio Torres, MPH, Project Management Assistant III, University of Arizona Center for Rural Health

Sheila Sjolander, Edith Di Santo, and Erin McMahon

Verndors

Rachel Bus, Managing Attorney, Brelje & Bus Immigration Law PC

Haritha Mogilisetti, Director of Operations, HealthDox

audience

Angel Avila Ortega, Medical Student, ASU

L to R: Anthony Santiago, MD, CEO Gila River Health Care and Jonathan Cartsonis, MD

U of A College of Nursing Students

Linda Perez, U of A College of Nursing

U of A College of Nursing Students

Georgia Weiss-Elliott

Nate Lothrop

Audience discussion

Georgia Weiss-Elliott

Nathan Lothrop, PhD, MEZCOPH

L to R: Makenna Thuringer, DrPH student, Shunrang Chin, student, Mona Arora, PhD

Janiya McKinney, U of A College of Nursing Student

Karen Lutrick, PhD, University of Arizona, College of Medicine-Tucson, Family & Community Medicine

Mindy J. Fain, MD, Anne & Alden Hart Professor of Medicine, Chief, Division of General Internal Medicine, Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine, Co-Director, University of Arizona Center on Aging, Director, Arizona Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program (AZ-GWEP)