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

Dan Derksen and Amanda Aguirre

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

attendees of the 51st Annual Arizona Rural Health Conference

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

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

Katie Brite with Jennifer Zuniga

Regional Center for Border Health talks with an attendee

Imran Mithu and Shunrang Chin

MEZCOPH students Imran Mithu and Shunrang Chin talk with vendors

Kevin Lohenry talks with U of A College of Health Sciences

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

Alyssa Padilla

Mona Arora talks with vendors

Erin McMahon talks with Dan Derksen

U of A College of Nursing students talk with a vendor

Regional Center for Border Health

Bianca Santa Maria and Rocio Torres (left) presenting

Bryna Koch

David Martinez III, Director, Vitalyst Health Foundation

Bill Kennard talks with an attendee

Amanda Aguirre (rt) talks with Leila Barraza

Vendors

Maria Losoya walks the conference

Erin McMahon with Jill Bullock

Patricia Tarango talks with Georgia Weiss-Elliott

Carrie Eutizi

Rachel Bus

U of A College of Nursing students

Lupe Campos with Jill Bullock

Leila Barraza

Attendees share a moment

Blue Cross Blue Shield Bridge Fellows with sponsors

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

attendees chat

Jennifer smith talks with another attendee

attendees talk

Jill Bullock, Jennifer Barton, and Dan Derksen

Presenter

Shad Ritchie and Opal Greenway presenting

Carlos Gonzales, Katie Brite, Dan Derksen, Sharry Veres

Erin George

Mindy Fain

attendees view posters

Angel Avila Ortega and Georgia Weiss-Elliott discussing a poster

Georgia Weiss-Elliott presenting a poster to Dr. Derksen

Erin McMahon with Elizabeth Kizer

Alyssa Padilla and Melissa Quezada

Center for Rural Health Faculty and Staff

(left to right) 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

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

Elev8 presentation:

Rhonda Mason, COO / CNO, TeleNeph

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

Marica Martinic asks a question

students assist with presentation

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

Carlos Gonzales

Navaz Dolosa, MD

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

Jonathan Cartsonis (right) with Anthony Santiago, CEO, Gila River Health Care

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

Audience

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)