Tuesday, February 17, 2026
When
Photos by Ann Garn | agarn@arizona.edu
Rural and Public Health Policy Forum Agenda
Daniel Derksen, MD, Director, Arizona Center for Rural Health
University of Arizona Health Sciences Associate Vice President for Rural Health Workforce Development Initiatives. He is a tenured Professor of Public Health in the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health with joint appointments in the College of Medicine and the College of Nursing. His current service, education and research activities include informing legislative, regulatory and program policy to improve access to health care and health insurance coverage; narrowing health disparities; developing, implementing and evaluating interprofessional service-learning sites; and working to assure a well-trained and distributed health workforce to meet the health needs of all Arizonans.
Meaghan Kramer, Health Policy Advisor, Office of Gov. Katie Hobbs
Meaghan is a Senior Policy Advisor to Governor Katie Hobbs, where she helps develop Arizona's healthcare strategy. Meaghan advises on healthcare quality and program integrity, public healthcare financing and budgeting, and public health.
Meaghan previously served as Senior Counsel in the Office of the General Counsel for Governor Hobbs, was Special Counsel to AHCCCS, served as the Healthcare Managing Attorney at Disability Rights Arizona, and spent more than ten years as an attorney in private practice, focusing on labor and employment law, healthcare, and civil rights. Meaghan studied Public Administration and Law at the University of Arizona.
A long-time healthcare advocate, Meaghan has served on the boards for a large Tempe-based DD provider, the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners, and the Greater Phoenix Ryan White HIV Services Planning Council. She is the Vice Chair of the Phoenix Mayor’s Commission on Disability Issues.
James G. Hodge, Jr., JD, LLM, Professor, ASU Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law
James G. Hodge, Jr., JD, LLM, is the Peter Kiewit Foundation Professor of Law and Director of the nationally-ranked Center for Public Health Law & Policy at the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, Arizona State University. Through scholarship, teaching, and projects, he delves into multiple areas of health law, public health law, global health law, ethics, and human rights. Professor Hodge has published more than 300 articles in journals of law, medicine, public health and bioethics; 2 books in public health law; 25+ book chapters; dozens of reports; and guest edited 4 symposium issues. He is listed among the Top 20 Most-Cited Health Law Scholars in Web of Science (2013-2017) and is ranked above the top 1% of all downloaded authors internationally in the Social Science Research Network (SSRN).
Leila Barraza, JD, MPH, Director, Arizona Area Health Education Centers Program, Professor, Public Health Practice & Translational Research, Interim Department Chair, Public Health Practice & Translational Research, Mel and Enid Zuckerman
Leila Barraza is Professor at Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona. She is the Director of the Arizona Area Health Education Centers program (AzAHEC). She also serves as a Senior Consultant with the Network for Public Health Law – Western Region Office. Her research interests include studying the impact of laws and regulations on population health. Barraza received a Master in Public Health from the Zuckerman College of Public Health at the University of Arizona in 2004. She worked for the Center for Rural Health (formerly Rural Health Office) at the Zuckerman College of Public Health following the completion of her master’s degree. Barraza provided assistance to rural and tribal hospitals and clinics regarding new medical designation opportunities, health practitioner recruitment, emergency medical services, and funding opportunities. She received her J.D. with a Certificate in Law, Science, and Technology from the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, Arizona State University, in 2008. Following her graduation from law school, Barraza served as a law clerk for the Arizona Court of Appeals, Division One from 2009-2012. Prior to joining the Zuckerman College of Public Health as an Assistant Professor in 2014, Barraza served as Deputy Director of the Network for Public Health Law – Western Region Office, and a Fellow and Adjunct Professor in the Public Health Law and Policy Program at the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law. Barraza has been published in several scholarly journals, including JAMA, AJPH, Public Health Reports, Jurimetrics Journal, Annals of Health Law, and Journal for Law, Medicine, and Ethics. Barraza has also provided numerous presentations at national and local conferences on a variety of critical public health law issues. She instructs a public health law course for public health and law students and has given special lectures in health law and public health law courses.
Room: Auditorium
Medicaid Updates
Marcus Johnson, Deputy Director, Community Engagement & Regulatory Affairs, Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS)
As Deputy Director of Community Engagement and Regulatory Affairs at AHCCCS, Marcus Johnson oversees teams responsible for federal and tribal relations, state legislation, communications, strategic planning, and program integrity. He comes to AHCCCS by way of health philanthropy, public health, and health care. Prior to AHCCCS, Marcus served as Director of State Health Policy and Advocacy for Vitalyst Health Foundation, where he oversaw the organization’s public policy agenda and strategies to support integration of the physical, mental, and social determinants of health. He has contributed to numerous policy changes across Arizona and is committed to advancing systems that are designed to improve community health. Marcus earned his Master’s degree in Public Health and a B.S. in Physiology from the University of Arizona. Outside of work, Marcus enjoys exploring Arizona with his family, trying to keep pace with two small children, and remaining a stubbornly optimistic fan of the Dallas Cowboys.
Room: 2206
Policy Implications for Seasonal Farmworkers
Emma Torres, MSW, Executive Director of Campesinos Sin Fronteras
Emma Torres is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Campesinos Sin Fronteras, a grassroots organization serving farmworkers and families in Yuma County, Arizona, since 1999. Ms. Torres, a former farmworker, holds a Master’s in Social Work and is a graduate of the UCLA Johnson & Johnson Health Executive Program. Since 1986, she has been a pioneer of the Community Health Worker/Promotora model, training hundreds of promotoras and advancing health equity for Hispanic and migrant farmworker families. Over her 38 years of service, Ms. Torres has led efforts to reduce health disparities and socioeconomic barriers, guiding programs that empower agricultural families toward self-sufficiency. She has received numerous awards, including the OHTLI Award (2007), recognition as one of Arizona’s 48 Most Influential Women (2022), and induction into the Arizona Women’s Hall of Fame (2023). A former U.S.-Mexico Border Health Commissioner, she continues to champion farmworker health. Ms. Torres has been married to Rogelio Torres for 39 years, has three children, and is the proud grandmother of three grandchildren: Elias, Lucas, and Amelia. Revised
Liliana Cruz, BFA, Raíces de Bienestar Project Director, Campesinos Sin Fronteras
Five years of experience working with vulnerable populations in the U.S. border communities. As an AmeriCorps & Peace Corps Fellow for 3 years, I gained experience working with homeless and youth populations in the rural, isolated communities of La Paz County, AZ, and Chichicastenango, Guatemala. Through that work, I engaged with vulnerable populations (Mayan families and youth) to help build capacity and self-sustainability. Collaborated with rural extension agents and community Promotores in Guatemala to identify indigenous community needs and challenges. Supported indigenous groups, identified needs and challenges, and led participatory design and implementation of a project that supported social and behavioral change, through the planning, organizing, and managing of the above activities. During the past two years of the COVID-19 Pandemic, I helped develop and implement a community survey to understand the obstacles to COVID-19 vaccination among Latinos, new immigrants, and farmworker families. Currently, I continue to address social and health issues, as well as their secondary impacts, while managing multiple farmworker service programs at Campesinos Sin Fronteras.
Room: 2208
Extreme Heat Impacts
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
Dr. Mona Arora is an Assistant Research Professor at the University of Arizona, College of Public Health and Co-PI for the Southwest Center on Resilience for Climate and Health (SCORCH). She has over ten years of experience in disaster preparedness and resilience. Her research focuses building community resilience to global “wicked problems,” including pandemics, disasters, and climate. She works collaboratively across sectors and with community partners to understand current challenges in addressing heat risk and vulnerability. Her current projects include developing rural heat resilience across Arizona communities and understanding the impacts of medications on heat-related risks. She is passionate about integrating arts and parks to improve health outcomes and working with youth and community partners such as libraries to build community-centered solutions to society’s pressing challenges.
Marisol Penuelas, RCBH/SLWIC Operation Clinic Director.
Marisol Penuelas is a senior healthcare operations and quality executive with over 13 years of progressive leadership experience at San Luis Walk-In Clinic, Inc. and its affiliated entities. She oversees system-wide clinic operations, facility licensing, regulatory compliance, quality improvement, health information management, and value-based care initiatives across rural and underserved communities. Marisol is a National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) Patient-Centered Medical Home Certified Content Expert (PCMH CCE) and is currently the only individual in Arizona to hold this designation. She is completing her Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration in 2026 and plans to pursue a master's degree thereafter. Her expertise includes accreditation, state and federal compliance, integrated care models, and federally funded programs.
Lupe Campos, President, Arizona Rural Health Association (AzRHA)
Lupe Campos is the President of the Arizona Rural Health Association (AzRHA). She joined the Board of Directors in 2023 and was elected President in 2025. In her role, Lupe supports statewide advocacy efforts to advance rural health priorities and strengthen policies that improve access to quality healthcare and health outcomes for rural communities across Arizona.
Lupe is dedicated to promoting health equity for underserved groups, including low income, rural, veteran, and tribal communities. She currently serves as the Community Outreach Manager at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona Health Choice, where she drives community engagement and addresses the social drivers of health services. With over 25 years of experience, Lupe possesses extensive expertise in public programs. Her background includes working with the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS), where she helped members and community partners navigate complex health systems. She is passionate about and committed to making impactful and sustainable improvements in the communities she serves.
Carrie Foote, AzRHA President-Elect & Foote Forward Health Strategies, Healthcare Strategy Consultant
Carrie Foote serves as the President-Elect of the Arizona Rural Health Association. She joined the Board of Directors in January 2024 as Secretary and was elected to her current role in July 2025. In her work with AzRHA, Carrie supports statewide efforts to strengthen partnerships, education, and policy initiatives that improve the health of Arizona’s rural communities. She focuses on advancing practical, sustainable solutions that help rural communities thrive.
Carrie is a healthcare strategy consultant with more than a decade of experience designing and optimizing telehealth programs. She strengthens telehealth access in rural communities and supports organizations in launching and expanding telehealth service lines through comprehensive program planning, design, and implementation. Carrie partners with health systems, clinics, clinicians, and public agencies across the country to build effective and resilient virtual care strategies. She is the co-founder and principal consultant of Foote Forward Health Strategies.
Doug Campos-Outcalt, MD, Director, MD/MPH Dual Degree Program, University of Arizona College of Medicine–Phoenix
Dr. Campos-Outcalt received his medical degree from the University of Arizona and completed residencies in Family Medicine at the University of California, Davis and Preventive Medicine/Public Health at the University of Arizona. He also received a Master of Public Administration from Arizona State University. He is board certified in both Family Medicine and Preventive Medicine/Public Health.
His public health and medical administrative experience has included:
- Deputy Director of the Arizona Department of Health Services
- Medical Director of the Maricopa County Department of Public Health
- Interim Health Officer of the Maricopa County Department of Public Health
- Public health consultant for two years to the country of Papua New Guinea
Dr. Campos-Outcalt is an active researcher and has published over 100 articles in scientific journals and has edited a textbook in preventive medicine, published by McGraw-Hill. He has been selected for several fellowships including the Public Health Service Primary Care Fellowship, the Kellogg Foundation Leadership Program and the Robert Wood Johnson Health Policy Fellowship. He has served on the National Advisory Councils of the Agency for Health Care Research and Quality, and the National Health Service Corps. He served as a member of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the CDC and as a liaison to the United States Preventive Services Task Force, representing the American Academy of Family Physicians. He currently serves as a member of the EGAPP (Evaluation of Genomic Applications in Practice and Prevention) and the Community Preventive Services Task Force, both sponsored by the CDC.
Diana Gomez, President, Arizona Local Health Officers Association
Chief Health Officer, Yuma County Public Health Services District
Diana Gomez is the Chief Health Officer for the Yuma County Public Health Services District. Diana has worked in public health for 30 years and has served on various local, state, and national committees and workgroups to build and sustain collaborative partnerships that promote safe, healthy, and resilient communities. Diana is a President of the Arizona Local Health Officers Association, National Association of County and City Health Officials board member, and Vice-Chair of the Arizona Department of Homeland Security South Regional Advisory Council. She is a Flinn-Brown Fellow, Project Centrl Alum, Co- President of the Binational Health and Environmental Council and was recognized by the Kresge Foundation as an Emerging Leader in Public Health.
Melissa Palmer, MAdm, BS, MCHES®, CPM, Health Director, Mohave County Department of Public Health
Melissa Palmer is the Health Director for Mohave County, Arizona, where she leads the county’s Public Health Department and oversees programs that deliver essential health services across a large and diverse rural region. With extensive experience in public health leadership, Melissa focuses on policy development, program sustainability, and improving access to care in underserved communities. She is a strong advocate for equitable healthcare and works to build partnerships that strengthen public health systems and influence policy for better health outcomes.
Will Humble, Executive Director, Arizona Public Health Association
Will Humble is a long-time public health enthusiast and is currently the Executive Director for the Arizona Public Health Association (AzPHA). His 40 years in public health include more than 2 decades at the Arizona Department of Health Services, where he served in various roles including as the Director from 2009 to 2015. He continues to be involved in health policy in his role as the Executive Director for the AZPHA. Will is a believer in using evidence-based health policy to improve health outcomes and in leading and managing with emotional intelligence. Follow him on Twitter @willhumble_az
Kim Russell, Policy Advisor, NHF - Sage Memorial Hospital, Inc.
Kim Russell is of the Bitter Water People, born for the Tangle People. Her maternal grandfathers are of the Coyote Pass Clan and her paternal grandfathers are of the Bitter Water People. Ms. Russell is from Chinle, Arizona and a citizen of the Navajo Nation. Ms. Russell is the Policy Advisor for Navajo Health Foundation - Sage Memorial Hospital, a tribally led critical access hospital located in Ganado, AZ on the Navajo Nation. Prior to being at Sage Memorial Hospital, Ms. Russell served as the Executive Director of the Navajo Department of Health and the Director for the Arizona Advisory Council on Indian Health Care. Kim has worked with Tribes, Tribal Organizations, the Indian Health Service, and Urban Indian Health Programs to advance their health agendas and priorities her entire career. Ms. Russell received her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and a Master of Health Administration. Kim enjoys spending time with family, her puppy nephews, nieces and traveling.
Melinda White, MSN, RN, Chief Executive Officer at Sage Memorial Hospital
Melinda White is a community member of Ganado, Arizona. She graduated from Northern Arizona University with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2004. Melinda continued with her education and graduated from University of Phoenix with a Master of Health Administration in 2010 and Master of Nursing in 2019; and from University of Tulsa with a Master of Jurisprudence in Indian Law in December 2017. She has over 15 years of healthcare leadership experience working in Quality Management as Director of Quality Management/Risk Manager and Chief Quality and Compliance Officer. Melinda is particularly passionate about patient centered care, delivering excellent patient experience, providing optimum quality of care, and ensuring patient safety is a priority. She is known for her ability to problem solve with peer executives and hospital leaders and being innovative and creative when tackling the challenges. Much of Melinda’s healthcare experience is working with tribally operated healthcare facilities that contracted or compacted under P.L. 93-638, the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act.
Melinda is a committee member of the Care Improvement Committee with Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association and served on the APC committee reviewing policies and procedures for Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System – AHCCCS. Melinda also was selected to serve as a member of the Institute Review Board – IRB for the San Carlos Apache Tribe
In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by the Arizona Center for Rural Health and the Western Region Public Health Training Center (WRPHTC). The WRPHTC is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team through November 2029.
This activity was planned by and for the healthcare team, learners will receive 7 Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE) credits for learning and change, 7 Credits Nursing, and/or 7 Credits AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity).
There are no conflict of interest disclosures or financial incentives to report.
