NACHC Leadership

Dr. Daniel Miller is a practicing Family Physician and Chief of Clinical Integration and Graduate Medical Education for Hudson River HealthCare, with 30 directly operated sites serving nearly 150,000 patients throughout an eleven-county region in New York’s Hudson Valley and Long Island. His clinical interests have long centered on the interplay between our physical health and our emotional, social, and spiritual lives. He has trained in body-centered approaches to psychotherapy and healing including Primary Emotional Energy Recovery (PEER) and Internal Family Systems (IFS). Dr. Miller serves on the NACHC Board, is Chair of its Committee on Service Integration for Behavioral Health and HIV and Vice Chair of its Clinical Practice Committee, and is an Assistant Professor of Family Medicine at New York Medical College.

Dr. Valbuena has been affiliated with CHASS Center for 29 years, initially as a social worker and resident of the community we serve, then as a family physician, Chief Medical Officer, and now as CEO. His role as a health center leader and safety-net provider bring him great joy and satisfaction. Together with the CHASS Team, he provides comprehensive patient-centered primary health and wellness care to the Southwest Community of Detroit. He is a tireless advocate for community health centers at the local, state, and national levels. Dr. Valbuena is also contracted as academic faculty in the Department of Family Medicine at Henry Ford Hospital, and serves as clinician representative to the NACHC Board of Directors.

As a health center patient and long-time board member of Community Health Service Agency, Inc. dba Carevide in Greenville, Texas, Stan has spent the last 25 years advocating for the health center movement. Stan is a retired Senior Manager for Customer Relations at Oncor, the largest electric utility distribution company in Texas. Stan is a proud graduate of Texas A&M University-Commerce where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Construction Engineering and a Master of Science in Industrial Engineering Technology. His career embodies serving others which mirrors the mission of health centers, and he continually works to engage board members from other health centers across the state and nation to ensure the strength and survival of health centers.

Deborah E. Woolford, LMSW, has served as the Board Chair for Park West Health Systems, Inc., in Baltimore, MD, since November 2021. Deborah, who joined the ranks of lifetime NACHC membership in 2021, has been a consumer board member since 2007 and in 2009 became an individual member. Deborah has been a member of the Consumer/Board Members Committe, Health Care for the Homeless, and the Committee on Service Integration for Behavioral Health & HIV. Deborah was elected to the position of the National Representative of Board Members in 2022. Deborah works as a therapist case manager for Health Care for the Homeless in Baltimore. She graduated from University of Maryland-Baltimore School of Social Work in 2019 and was named MACRO Student of the Year. Deborah served as the treasurer for the University Student Government Association (USGA) for the seven schools. Deborah is a national trainer for Mental Health First Aid for adults and youth.

Sue Joss has been CEO of Brockton Neighborhood Health Center since its inception in 1994.  BNHC serves 37,000 patients, providing 200,000 annual visits, with 730 staff. Sue led BNHC toward innovations, including a site attached to a Cape Verdean grocery store in a food desert, a substance use treatment program, integration of primary care and behavioral health, and development of a hepatitis program.  She served on a state task force to redesign primary care and behavioral health in the Medicaid program.

Sue is immediate past Board Chair of the Mass League, Secretary/Treasurer of Capital Link, on the Executive Board of C3, a health-center led Medicaid ACO; and on the Board of North Easton Savings Bank. She was Board Chair and remains on Executive Committee of the MetroSouth Chamber of Commerce. She serves on the NACHC Board, the Legislative Committee, Health Center Financing Sub-committee, LGBTQ Task Force, and Veterans interest group.

Merrill Thomas is President and CEO of Providence Community Health Centers, Rhode Island’s largest community health center with more than 85,000 patients, 650 employees, and 14 clinical sites including three public schools.

Since Merrill was appointed CEO in 2001, the organization has opened four new health centers and launched numerous programs with a goal of creating a healthier community. In March 2022, the organization opened its newest health center — PCHC Atwood — in Olneyville, one of the most underserved neighborhoods in Providence.

Merrill received his MBA with a focus on health care administration from Providence College, and his bachelor’s degree in economics from University of Washington. Merrill serves as a board member of several organizations including The Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island, Rhode Island Health Center Association, Commonwealth Advisory Board, Health Choice Network, and the National Association of Community Health Centers.

Dr. Alli has been the CEO of Henry J. Austin Health Center since 2015 where she previously served as CMO from 2008. She has been a pediatrician with Henry J. Austin for over 20 years, and obtained her medical degree from Rutgers University and completed her pediatric residency at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. Dr. Alli has led several primary care enhancement initiatives to reduce health disparities and improve patient health outcomes and access to care for the underserved. She is leading a transformative redesign of the health care delivery process at Henry J. Austin with a team of senior directors, implementing an integrated health care system including treatment for both substance use and behavioral health care illnesses in the primary care medical home. She sits on the NJ Department of Health’s Integrated Healthcare Advisory Panel helping shape regulations for integrated care and substance use treatment services.

Mary Zelazny has been the CEO of Finger Lakes Community Health since 2006. As CEO, she has led a major expansion effort to provide access to healthcare services throughout the Finger Lakes region of New York, including the development of enhanced programs and services designed to reach out to the many culturally diverse communities it serves. Under Mary’s tenure, Finger Lakes Community Health has grown from a single health center site to 8 comprehensive health center sites across 6 counties. Mary serves on the NACHC Rural Health Committee and is the Chair of the Agricultural Worker committee. Mary sits on the board of the Community Health Center Association of NYS (CHCANYS) and is Vice Chair of the board for the National Center for Farmworker Health. She holds a BA from the State University of New York at Brockport and an MBA in Health Informatics from New England College.

Dr. Bruton has served as the Chief Operating Officer for CCI Health & Wellness, Inc. since 2016. She has held leadership positions within the Health Center Movement since 1999, including supporting fiscal strength through Capital Link, launching CHC funding within Altarum Institute, and serving as the Executive Director of the NC Community Health Center Association. Dr. Bruton holds an undergraduate degree in Journalism, masters degrees in Public Administration and Clinical Psychology, and a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology. Her NIH-funded dissertation evaluated the impact of mental health disorders on health care utilization within the Sickle Cell Disease patient population, and her clinical training focused on integrated care and Neuropsychology. Dr. Bruton is a respected leader in the areas of organizational stability, growth, and transformation.

Dr Lingen is a 1989 graduate of The Chicago Medical School (now renamed The Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science) which she attended as a U.S. Navy Health Profession Scholar. As a commissioned U.S. Navy Medical Corps officer, she trained at the Naval Hospital in San Diego, California where she completed her internship and residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology in 1993. Her subsequent military assignments included being a staff physician at the U.S. Naval Hospital in Yokosuka, Japan and at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, MD. After working with the Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group (Kaiser) in suburban Washington, DC and in a private practice occupational/urgent care medical group in Virginia Beach, VA, she ultimately relocated to the Eastern Shore of Virginia in 2005. She provided women’s primary care services and served a Clinical Director for the Eastern Shore Rural Health System (ESRHS) for 16 years, prior to being promoted to Chief Medical Officer in August of 2021

Dr. Lingen’s clinical interests include the integration of telehealth services in the practice of clinical medicine, rural urgent care medicine, and military/veteran’s health issues.

She is a Fellow of the American College of OB/GYN and a member of several professional organizations, including: the American Association of Physician Leadership, the American Medical Association, the Medical Society of Virginia, the Virginia Telehealth Network, the College of Urgent Care Medicine, and Virginia Post 100 of the American Legion. In June of 2022, she was elected to serve as the American Legion Service Officer for Virginia District 1 which covers the Eastern Shore of Virginia.

Carla Belcher has served as CEO of Community Health Care Systems, a health center located in east -central Georgia, since 1998. In that time, CHCS has grown from a single office to 17 centers in 14 counties today. Carla is a member of the NACHC Board of Directors as a Region IV Representative and serves on the NACHC’s Rural Health Committee, Health Policy Committee and Legislative Committee.  She is currently a member of the NACHC Board of Directors as a Region IV Representative. Carla currently serves on the Board of the Georgia Primary Care Association including numerous state committees, the Georgia Rural Health Association (Treasurer), Washington County Regional Medical Center Hospital Authority ( Secretary/Treasurer and Exec. Committee)  and the Magnolia Coastlands AHEC (Secretary) and several others. Carla holds a BS in Industrial Management from The Georgia Institute of Technology and an MBA from the University of Alabama, Birmingham.

Steven Miracle is the CEO of Georgia Mountains Health Services, Inc., with offices in the Appalachian Mountains Region of rural north Georgia. As CEO, Steven has guided the growth of the organization through acquisitions and new access points and the launch an ER Diversion Demonstration Project with a hospital partner. Steven previously served in executive positions with a regional PPO and a multi-state medical practice. As an entrepreneur, he founded or co-founded several health care companies including a physician practice management company which was acquired by a publicly traded medical practice billing company. Early in his health care career, Steven served as Chief Financial Officer of a rural hospital. Steven has been recognized as the Elizabeth K. Cooke Advocacy MVP Award (NACHC), CEO of the Year (GPCA), Chamber of Commerce Member of the Year (Fannin County), Governors Leadership and the Henry C. Heinz Award (Kiwanis). He also earned the Eagle Scout award from the Boy Scouts of America.

David is a seasoned leader in the world of business planning. With a career spanning decades, he has assisted countless entrepreneurs creating a well-structured business plan. His expertise has not only saved entrepreneurs precious time but also financial resources.

Before venturing into the realm of business consultancy, speaking engagements, and training, David served as a Insurance Agent for 25-years. His commitment to sharing his wealth of experience as an insurance agency owner and entrepreneur. Additionally, he has devoted over 35 years to the Family Medical Center of MI board of directors and serving as the Board Chair for over 24 years endowing him with a treasure trove of knowledge to impart to those fortunate enough to collaborate with him.

David’s literary accomplishments have further solidified his position as a respected authority. He is a bestselling author with numerous books to his name, including The Secrets to Managing a High Performing Health Center, based on the success principles of Napoleon Hill. His influence extends beyond the printed page, as he has been featured on numerous podcast radio shows.

In addition to the business world, David is active in his local community. He currently serves as the Chair of the Monroe County Emergency Medical Authority. His leadership extends into the healthcare sector, where he is a highly sought-after speaker and consultant, collaborating with numerous health center boards.

David has earned recognition from both the NACHC and MPCA, reflecting his dedication to the betterment of healthcare services. His role as the first board member to be elected as Chair of the Michigan Primary Care Association underscores the trust and respect he commands in the industry.

David stands as an unwavering advocate for effective business planning, a luminary in the healthcare community, and a beacon of leadership in his community and beyond.

William Brent, III, CEO of SWLA Center for Health Services headquartered in Lake Charles, LA, has over 25 years of executive healthcare management experience. Before joining SWLA, he served as CFO at Iberia Comprehensive Community Health Center and spent 20 years as the CFO for Teche Action Board, Inc. He is currently serving as Regional Representative for Region VI of the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC), a member of NACHCs’ Subcommittee on Health Center Finance, NACHC’s Finance Committee, and the Rural Health Care Committee. He has served as Board President and Finance Committee Chairman of the Louisiana Primary Care Association (LPCA) and chair of the Louisiana Rural Health Association. William is currently a Board Member of the LPCA Accountable Care Organization and Louisiana Healthcare Connections. In addition to his involvement at the state level, he is actively engaged in strategic leadership at the national level. William holds an Accounting Degree from Southern University A&M College.

Brooke Lattimore has been the Chief Operating Officer of Health & Wellness Center, Inc. since 2007. Over time, the organization has grown to become the largest rural Community Health Center in the state of Oklahoma, serving over 30,000 patients and employing over 400 community members. Brooke has worked with various NACHC Workgroups and Committees, including HCCN, 340B, Rural Health, and HIV/BH Integration. Brooke serves as a Community Advisory Board Member for the Stephenson Cancer Center and is involved in many other healthcare improvement related organizations with a passion for service, community engagement, and team building; while sharing the vision of Health & Wellness Center with others, internally, locally, and on a state and national level. She is a 2014 graduate of the UCLA Health Care Executive Program, holds a BA from the University of Oklahoma, and an MBA from Northeastern State University.

Jeron Ravin is the president and CEO of Swope Health. He previously served as COO for the Community Health Center Association of Mississippi, working to strengthen the Mississippi community health centers. During this role, he was responsible for overseeing policies, marketing and branding, workforce development, clinical quality improvement, outreach and enrollment, as well as health information technology. He is a former political staffer with experience in policy-making and consensus building. Jeron is also a Fellow of the Latino Center for Leadership Development. He was selected for Ingram’s Magazine 40 under 40 because of his strong commitment to civic philanthropic activities and his huge COVID-19 testing and vaccine efforts in Kansas City. He has a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the Cathy Hughes School of Communications at Howard University and a law degree from Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University. Jeron is completing an executive master’s degree in healthcare administration at Brown University.

Aaron Todd has served as the CEO of the Iowa Primary Care Association, INConcertCare, and IowaHealth+ since 2019. Aaron leads a staff of 48 who are working to support the evolution of a statewide, community-health-focused system of care that envisions health equity for all, including the 252,000+ Iowans who receive care at Iowa’s community health centers annually. Previously, Aaron worked for the Iowa Legislature, leading research and negotiations on health and human services policy and budget decisions on behalf of the Senate Majority. Prior to his work in healthcare policy, Aaron’s career focused on economic and community development, a passion of his that he now pursues through service with nonprofit organizations and government commissions. Aaron earned a Master of Health Care Delivery Science from Dartmouth College, Master in Public Policy from Rutgers University, and a Bachelor of Science from Iowa State University.

Dr. Horwood has been at Community Health Centers (CHC) in Salt Lake City since 1989 and the Medical Director from 1996 to 2011. He is currently Associate Medical Director and Director for CHC. He teaches medical students, PA students, FM and OB residents in the outpatient and inpatient settings. He is active in local and regional CHC networks, and has been on the Clinical Practice, Policy, and other committees within NACHC, including a 2-year term as Clinical Representative on the NACHC Board. He received his MD from University of Washington, Seattle, and did his Family Medicine residency at University of Utah. He spent a year in Manzini, Eswatini, at the Raleigh Fitkin Memorial Hospital in 1987- 8 and a year in private practice in Salt Lake City before joining CHC. He has completed the Intermountain Health Care Advanced Training Program for Medical Quality Improvement (Brent James, MD).

Dr. Loomis has worked as a family physician at Denver Health and Denver Community Health Services (DCHS) for nearly 40 years, including 25 years as director of Family Medicine, during which time she tripled the size of the department. She was founding director of the Denver Health Track of the University of Colorado Family Medicine residency, which has successfully placed graduates in Community Health Centers and other underserved settings for over 20 years. Since 2019, Lucy has been the Region VIII representative to the NACHC board and has served on many NACHC committees and task forces. She has been active with CCHN (Colorado Community Health Network) for 20 years. A graduate of Yale University and Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, she completed her residency at the University of Connecticut and earned a MSPH from the University of Colorado. She currently has a faculty appointment as a Professor of Clinical Practice of Family Medicine at CU School of Medicine and continues a part-time practice and residency teaching.

Warren J. Brodine joined Eisner Health as CEO in 2017. Prior to this, he was the CEO of Chicago Family Health Center, a Federally Qualified Health Center on the south side of Chicago and then launched his own firm in 2014 to assist health centers nationwide. Previously, he served on the board of the National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association, and on the board and executive committee of Advocate-Illinois Masonic Hospital in Chicago. Currently, Warren serves as a board member for Healthcare LA IPA, Southside Coalition of Community Health Centers, and Plunum Health. Warren graduated from Indiana University, Bloomington, and has also completed coursework at Université Laval, Québec, Canada.

Dr. Doug Spegman has held the position of Chief Clinical Officer for El Rio Health, Tucson, AZ, since 2014. Previously, he was the Chief of Staff at Carondelet St. Mary’s Hospital, Tucson. In 2011, he was recognized as Leader of the Year by the Arizona Chapter of the American College of Physicians. Doug has served on multiple NACHC committees and the NACHC QI advisory board. Doug received his BA from Colgate University, MPH from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and his medical degree from the Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine. He underwent internship and residency training in Internal Medicine at the Johns Hopkins Hospital and subsequently served as Chief Resident/Assistant Chief of Service in the Department of Medicine at the Johns Hopkins Hospital. He served in the Peace Corps in Ecuador and the National Health Service Corps with El Rio Community Health Center.

Heidi Hart is the CEO of Terry Reilly Health Services (TRHS), a health center headquartered in Nampa, Idaho. Heidi began her career with TRHS in 1993 as a therapist providing specialized outpatient counseling and treatment services to sexual abuse victims and treatment for adult sexual offenders. In 2001, Heidi transitioned into leadership as the Behavioral Health Director and advanced into her current position as CEO in 2012. Heidi is a member of the NACHC Rural Health Committee and Co-Chair for the NACHC Behavioral Health and HIV Committees. Heidi is the Board Chair for the Idaho Primary Care Association and member of the Board of Directors for the Northwest Regional Primary Care Association, Your Health Idaho, and the Treasure Valley YMCA. She holds a BA in Psychology from Whitman College, a Master’s in Counseling from the College of Idaho, and an MBA from OHSU.

Dr. Jennifer Kreidler-Moss has served as the CEO for Peninsula Community Health Services (PCHS) since 2015. Jennifer began her career at PCHS as a pharmacist in 2003, later serving as Pharmacy Director and Chief Operating Officer (COO). As PCHS’s first Clinical Pharmacist, Jennifer oversaw huge growth in the pharmacy program and was named the 2012 Innovative Pharmacist of the Year by the Washington State Pharmacy Association. She has also received two Summit Awards from the Northwest Regional Primary Care Association for Leadership. Jennifer serves on NACHC’s Subcommittee on Pharmacy Policy and Operations, Clinical Practice Committee, Committee on Service Integration for Behavioral Health and HIV. She is Board President of the Washington Association for Community Health Centers. Jennifer received her Doctorate of Pharmacy from the University of Washington School of Pharmacy, Seattle, WA, and MBA from Washington State University, Pullman.