Allison Abayasekara, MA
Director, Training & Technical Assistance
Association of Clinicians for the Underserved
Allison is the Director of Training and Technical Assistance at the Association of Clinicians for the Underserved. In this capacity, she oversees ACU’s training curriculum and directs the Solutions, Training, and Assistance for Recruitment and Retention (STAR²) Center. ACU’s mission is to improve the health of America’s underserved populations and to enhance the development and support of the health care clinicians serving these populations. ACU was founded by alumni of the National Health Service Corps and ACU’s commitment to that program continues today.
Allison joined ACU in 2014 after having worked with community health centers for five years, first building a statewide workforce program at the Pennsylvania Association of Community Health Centers and then serving as the program manager for the Primary Care Association and Health Center Controlled Network department at the National Association of Community Health Centers. She received her Master of Arts from the University of Maryland, College Park, and has a Bachelor of Arts from Lebanon Valley College in Annville, Pennsylvania. Allison currently lives in Washington, D.C.
Allison joined ACU in 2014 after having worked with community health centers for five years, first building a statewide workforce program at the Pennsylvania Association of Community Health Centers and then serving as the program manager for the Primary Care Association and Health Center Controlled Network department at the National Association of Community Health Centers. She received her Master of Arts from the University of Maryland, College Park, and has a Bachelor of Arts from Lebanon Valley College in Annville, Pennsylvania. Allison currently lives in Washington, D.C.
Carrie Galbraith, FASPR
Director of Recruitment
Illinois Critical Access Hospital Network (ICAHN)
Carrie Galbraith is the Director of Recruitment for the Illinois Critical Access Hospital Network (ICAHN). Carrie is employed by the network to provide medical provider recruitment support to the 52 critical access hospital members as well as other rural facilities in Illinois. The ICAHN Rural Recruitment program was a concept developed by a committee of critical access hospital CEOs and partner organizations including the Illinois Center for Rural Health, RMed, and Southern Illinois University School of Medicine. Carrie was tasked with organizing the recruitment program for the network, and has been directing the program since its inception in August 2007. ICAHN Rural Recruitment’s goal is to provide quality; low cost, in-house recruitment marketing and technical support utilizing similar resources as an in-house recruiter at a large health system. Carrie provides technical support to members on subjects including health professional shortage areas, J-1, loans, recruitment trends, contracts, and salary information.
Prior to joining ICAHN, Carrie was the in-house recruiter for a nonprofit hospital and health system in rural central Illinois. She has fourteen years’ experience in rural physician recruitment. Her experience prior to recruiting includes two years of pharmaceutical sales. Carrie holds a Bachelor of Science in Business and Marketing from the University of Arkansas. She is a certified “in-house” recruiter by the Association of Staff Physician Recruiters (ASPR). Carrie is the President of Illinois Staff Physician Recruiters (ISPR).
Carrie was born and raised in a rural community in southern Illinois. She is a Village Board Trustee, PTO past President, Secretary of the Community Civics Center board, and a Mentor for Elementary School. In her spare time Carrie is a mother to a ten year old boy and seven year old twins. She enjoys working out and spending time with family.
Prior to joining ICAHN, Carrie was the in-house recruiter for a nonprofit hospital and health system in rural central Illinois. She has fourteen years’ experience in rural physician recruitment. Her experience prior to recruiting includes two years of pharmaceutical sales. Carrie holds a Bachelor of Science in Business and Marketing from the University of Arkansas. She is a certified “in-house” recruiter by the Association of Staff Physician Recruiters (ASPR). Carrie is the President of Illinois Staff Physician Recruiters (ISPR).
Carrie was born and raised in a rural community in southern Illinois. She is a Village Board Trustee, PTO past President, Secretary of the Community Civics Center board, and a Mentor for Elementary School. In her spare time Carrie is a mother to a ten year old boy and seven year old twins. She enjoys working out and spending time with family.
Debbie Gleason, FASPR, CMSR-FMSD
Director of Physician Recruitment
The University of Kansas Health System
Debbie Gleason serves as the Director of Physician Recruitment at The University of Kansas Health System, a not-for-profit organization and teaching hospital affiliated with Kansas University Medical Center in Kansas City.
Prior to joining KUMed, she was the Physician Development Administrator at The Nebraska Medical Center. Her experience in the healthcare industry includes physician recruiting, development, retention and mentoring, collaborating in a medical center setting with both academic and private practice physicians along with rural hospital recruiting and consulting. Her entrepreneurial adventures in the past include practice management along with providing consulting & operations services to private medical offices.
Debbie has been an active member of the Association of Staff Physician Recruiters (ASPR) since 2000 having served as President of the Board from 2013 to 2015. She has achieved designation as Fellow of the Association of Staff Physician Recruiters (FASPR). She has served as a Co-Chair of the Benchmarking Committee for several years and currently serves as a member of the Fellowship and Education Committees. As a charter member of Academic In-House Recruiters (AIR-a chapter of ASPR) she formerly served as Vice President. Debbie is an active charter member of the Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas Recruiting and Retention Network (MINK-MidwestMD) where she has served in a variety of roles including President, Secretary, and Legislative Committee Chair. As a member of the American Academy of Medical Management (AAMM) she has obtained Re-Certified Medical Staff Recruiter (CMSR/RMSR) and Fellow of Medical Staff Development (FMSD) certifications. She has held memberships in other healthcare professional associations over the years and has served on the Board of Directors for a critical access hospital in Missouri during which time she obtained her Excellence in Governance Certificate.
Debbie holds a bachelor’s degree with a major in Psychology and a minor in Economics from Wichita State University.
Prior to joining KUMed, she was the Physician Development Administrator at The Nebraska Medical Center. Her experience in the healthcare industry includes physician recruiting, development, retention and mentoring, collaborating in a medical center setting with both academic and private practice physicians along with rural hospital recruiting and consulting. Her entrepreneurial adventures in the past include practice management along with providing consulting & operations services to private medical offices.
Debbie has been an active member of the Association of Staff Physician Recruiters (ASPR) since 2000 having served as President of the Board from 2013 to 2015. She has achieved designation as Fellow of the Association of Staff Physician Recruiters (FASPR). She has served as a Co-Chair of the Benchmarking Committee for several years and currently serves as a member of the Fellowship and Education Committees. As a charter member of Academic In-House Recruiters (AIR-a chapter of ASPR) she formerly served as Vice President. Debbie is an active charter member of the Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas Recruiting and Retention Network (MINK-MidwestMD) where she has served in a variety of roles including President, Secretary, and Legislative Committee Chair. As a member of the American Academy of Medical Management (AAMM) she has obtained Re-Certified Medical Staff Recruiter (CMSR/RMSR) and Fellow of Medical Staff Development (FMSD) certifications. She has held memberships in other healthcare professional associations over the years and has served on the Board of Directors for a critical access hospital in Missouri during which time she obtained her Excellence in Governance Certificate.
Debbie holds a bachelor’s degree with a major in Psychology and a minor in Economics from Wichita State University.
Gary Hlady
Regional Supervisor
Health Resources and Services Administration, Bureau of Clinician Recruitment and Service
Dr. Hlady is the San Francisco based Regional Supervisor for the Health Resources and Services Administration, Bureau of Clinician Recruitment and Service, and regional lead for the National Health Service Corps. He is board certified in Public Health and General Preventive Medicine, and is a commissioned officer in the US Public Health Service.
Dr. Hlady was medical director of a rural health clinic in Tennessee for six years before beginning his career in public health over 30 years ago with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). He has extensive domestic and overseas experience in public health, with over 50 scientific publications in the fields of infectious disease epidemiology, maternal and child health, and disaster response. His current focus is on health workforce development.
Dr. Hlady was medical director of a rural health clinic in Tennessee for six years before beginning his career in public health over 30 years ago with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). He has extensive domestic and overseas experience in public health, with over 50 scientific publications in the fields of infectious disease epidemiology, maternal and child health, and disaster response. His current focus is on health workforce development.
Renee Fullerton
J-1 Visa Waiver Program Manager
Washington State Department of Health
Renee is the lead contact in the Primary Care Office at the Washington State Department of Health for the National Health Service Corps programs and advises the Washington State Health Professional Loan Repayment Program. She also manages the J-1 visa waiver program for foreign-trained physicians. She provides workforce assistance to rural and urban-underserved healthcare facilities throughout Washington.
Mike Shimmens
Executive Director
3RNet
Mike Shimmens joined the 3RNet (National Rural Recruitment and Retention Network) as Executive Director on August 1, 2012. In this role he works with a nine member Board of Directors to assist 53 non-profit member organizations in the recruitment and retention of quality health care professionals in rural and underserved areas of our country.
Prior to coming to this position, he worked for 6 years at the Missouri Primary Care Association as Director of Recruitment and Workforce Development and nine years as Director of Medical Staff Development at St. Mary's Health Center in Jefferson City, MO. Mike has a Bachelor’s degree from Missouri State University, a Master’s degree from Western Illinois University and he continues to live in Jefferson City, Missouri with his wife Mary Ellen and daughter Maura.
Prior to coming to this position, he worked for 6 years at the Missouri Primary Care Association as Director of Recruitment and Workforce Development and nine years as Director of Medical Staff Development at St. Mary's Health Center in Jefferson City, MO. Mike has a Bachelor’s degree from Missouri State University, a Master’s degree from Western Illinois University and he continues to live in Jefferson City, Missouri with his wife Mary Ellen and daughter Maura.
Joyce Grayson
Director
University of Kansas Medical Center, Rural Health Education and Services
Joyce Grayson, MBA, Director, Rural Health Education and Services, has 20 years of experience in both the profit and not-for-profit sector of recruitment. Joyce has worked to enhance the quality and quantity of health care professionals in rural Kansas through the efforts of the Kansas Recruitment and Retention Center and the Kansas Bridging Plan. As director of Rural Health Education and Services, Joyce is responsible for program development and implementing strategies to strengthen Kansas’ health care workforce. Joyce has focused her education on health care administration and utilizes her education and background to address the need for health care in rural Kansas. In addition, Joyce shares her expertise as a consultant to other states who are looking to implement similar workforce programs.
Robert D. Aronson
Attorney, Immigration
Fredrikson & Byron, P.A.
Robert Aronson is a partner, shareholder and member of the leadership team of the Immigration Group at Fredrikson & Byron. Mr. Aronson focuses largely on immigration matters for IMG’s and their employers. Mr. Aronson is a prolific author and engaging speaker on immigration matters, having authored over 70 articles and spoken at innumerable national and regional meetings, workshops and conferences. He has a national reputation as a leader in his professional field as evidenced by various major professional accomplishments, including: Fulbright Fellow at the law schools of Harvard and Moscow State University; Editor-in-Chief of The Physician Immigration Book (ILW: 2011-2012 Edition), legal advisor on the advisory body to the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services in its study on appropriate immigration policy for international physicians; founder and first chair of the International Medical Graduate (IMG) Taskforce, which is comprised of professionals in the law seeking more favorable policies and programs to address the country’s physician shortage situation; recipient of the 2012 Distinguished Service Award of the Indiana University School of Law; and the inaugural recipient of the 2015 Roberta Freedman Lifetime Achievement Award.
Ana Roscetti
Workforce Section Manager
Bureau of Health Systems Development, Arizona Department of Health Services
Ana Roscetti is the Workforce Section Manager for the Arizona Department of Health Services, Bureau of Health Systems Development (HSD). HSD is Arizona’s Primary Care Office engaged in the State’s efforts in improving access to care to Arizona residents. Ana provides oversight to 7 programs that aim to increase the number of health care professionals working in medically underserved areas of Arizona. Those programs include the National Health Service Corps, State Loan Repayment, Nurse Corps, J1 Visa and the National Interest Waiver Programs. Ana received her Master of Public Health in Community Medicine from the University of Washington in 2004.
David Schmitz, MD, FAAFP
Chief Rural Officer and Director of RTTs
The Family Medicine Residency of Idaho
David Schmitz, MD, FAAFP is the Chief Rural Officer and Director of RTTs at the Family Medicine Residency of Idaho. He completed his residency at the Family Medicine Residency of Idaho in 1999. While practicing in rural Idaho and prior to returning to medical education in 2005, he served as chief of staff of a critical access hospital and co-founded the St. Maries Volunteer Community Clinic. Dr. Schmitz is President-elect of the National Rural Health Association and is a past-president of the Idaho Rural Health Association. His faculty activities include clinical patient care and teaching, rural community outreach, research, and publications concentrating on rural workforce issues. National projects include the Community Apgar Program, Research and Development for the RTT Collaborative, and Project Advisor for the Rural Training Track Technical Assistance Program.
Mark Barclay, MS, FASPR
Director of Member Services
3RNet
Mark Barclay is the Director of Member Services for 3RNet, the National Rural Recruitment and Retention Network. In this role, Mark serves as the primary support contact for 53 3RNet members, and the over 5,000 rural and underserved facilities across the country that utilize 3RNet. Prior to working for 3RNet, Barclay recruited for 36 Critical Access Hospitals and 4 FQHCs as the Workforce Specialist at the Center for Rural Health at the University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences. Barclay also helped establish TruServe, a web-based tracking system used by State Offices of Rural Health and Primary Care Offices nationwide. In 2013, Barclay gained certification as a Fellow of the Association of Staff Physician Recruiters, their highest recognition. Mark has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree from the University of North Dakota.
Jerry Harrison, Ph.D.
Executive Director
New Mexico Health Resources
Jerry N. Harrison, Ph.D., is the Executive Director of New Mexico Health Resources, Inc. (NMHR). NMHR is a private non-profit health professional recruitment, technical assistance, health policy research, and health professional workforce research organization
A Michigan native, Dr. Harrison has an undergraduate degree in sociology from Wayne State University, Detroit, MI; a master’s degree from the University of Chicago in social science, and a doctorate from The University of Tennessee in sociology. Additionally he has post-graduate education at New York University.
Prior to employment at NMHR, Dr. Harrison was the Administrative Director of the Menninger Clinic program located at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix, AZ; the Administrator of Pinon Hills Hospital in Santa Fe, NM; the Administrator of the University of New Mexico Mental Health Center and of the Children’s Psychiatric Hospital in Albuquerque, NM; and Associate Director of Southwest Community Mental Health Center in Las Cruces, NM.
Dr. Harrison also has taught and written continuously throughout his career, including sociology courses at Lehman College and Queens College of the City University of New York, The University of Tennessee, New Mexico State University, the University of New Mexico, and Central New Mexico Community College in Albuquerque.
He is a past Chair of the New Mexico Health Policy Commission and a Past President of the National Rural Recruitment and Retention Network Board of Directors. He serves actively on a variety of health professional workforce committees.
A Michigan native, Dr. Harrison has an undergraduate degree in sociology from Wayne State University, Detroit, MI; a master’s degree from the University of Chicago in social science, and a doctorate from The University of Tennessee in sociology. Additionally he has post-graduate education at New York University.
Prior to employment at NMHR, Dr. Harrison was the Administrative Director of the Menninger Clinic program located at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix, AZ; the Administrator of Pinon Hills Hospital in Santa Fe, NM; the Administrator of the University of New Mexico Mental Health Center and of the Children’s Psychiatric Hospital in Albuquerque, NM; and Associate Director of Southwest Community Mental Health Center in Las Cruces, NM.
Dr. Harrison also has taught and written continuously throughout his career, including sociology courses at Lehman College and Queens College of the City University of New York, The University of Tennessee, New Mexico State University, the University of New Mexico, and Central New Mexico Community College in Albuquerque.
He is a past Chair of the New Mexico Health Policy Commission and a Past President of the National Rural Recruitment and Retention Network Board of Directors. He serves actively on a variety of health professional workforce committees.
Michelle Varcho
Director of Education Outreach
3RNet
Michelle Varcho is the Director of Education Outreach for the National Rural Recruitment and Retention Network (3RNet). In this role, Michelle coordinates education-related activities for 3RNet members and rural facilities across the country including trainings using 3RNet’s educational tools such as the Recruiting for Retention manual, a rural-focused plan and guidebook focused on finding and keeping providers in rural areas.
Prior to joining 3RNet, Michelle was a Human Resources Director for a Federally Qualified Health Center in Jefferson City, Missouri, where she help them grow from five employees in one location to one hundred and ten employees in four locations, serving over 13 counties. The services provided included Family Medicine, Pediatrics, Obstetrics, Pain Management, Behavioral Health, Dental and Nutrition counseling. In this role she created and implemented strategies and best practices to overcome the unique barriers to recruiting and retaining providers in the rural health care arena.
Michelle has over twenty years of experience in health-care related human resources both at the local and national level. She has an MBA from Williams Woods University and a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Columbia College. She holds a Sr. Professional Human Resources certification since 2003.
Prior to joining 3RNet, Michelle was a Human Resources Director for a Federally Qualified Health Center in Jefferson City, Missouri, where she help them grow from five employees in one location to one hundred and ten employees in four locations, serving over 13 counties. The services provided included Family Medicine, Pediatrics, Obstetrics, Pain Management, Behavioral Health, Dental and Nutrition counseling. In this role she created and implemented strategies and best practices to overcome the unique barriers to recruiting and retaining providers in the rural health care arena.
Michelle has over twenty years of experience in health-care related human resources both at the local and national level. She has an MBA from Williams Woods University and a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Columbia College. She holds a Sr. Professional Human Resources certification since 2003.
Jamie Groy
Manager, Physician Recruitment
Saint Alphonsus Medical Group
Jamie Groy, FASPR, is the Manager of Physician Recruitment at Saint Alphonsus Health System, a Catholic non-profit hospital, based in Boise, Idaho. Jamie and her team are responsible for full-cycle recruitment of all Physicians and Advanced Practice Providers across the 4 hospital system.
Jamie received her Bachelor's degree from the University of Montana and also has her FASPR certification through ASPR where she is an active member.
Prior to her employment at Saint Alphonsus she worked for both the Montana AHEC and Colorado Rural Health Center which are both the state 3RNet members. Jamie is glad to continue relationships with the organization and supporting rural medicine.
Jamie received her Bachelor's degree from the University of Montana and also has her FASPR certification through ASPR where she is an active member.
Prior to her employment at Saint Alphonsus she worked for both the Montana AHEC and Colorado Rural Health Center which are both the state 3RNet members. Jamie is glad to continue relationships with the organization and supporting rural medicine.
Judd Mellinger-Blouch
Director
Pennsylvania Primary Care Career Center
Judd Mellinger-Blouch is the Director of the Pennsylvania Primary Care Career Center, which is part of the Pennsylvania Association of Community Health Centers. The Career Center helps community health centers, rural health clinics and other healthcare organizations recruit and retain physicians, dentists, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and other primary care providers. Judd has been working in healthcare since 1986, predominantly in areas of public relations ,marketing, communications, provider relations, and recruitment. Prior to joining the Career Center in March 2014, Mr. Mellinger-Blouch was Director of Marketing Communications at the Pennsylvania Medical Society. Mr. Mellinger-Blouch holds two degrees from Pennsylvania State University :a Bachelors of Arts in Journalism (1982); and a Masters of Public Administration with a healthcare emphasis (1998). He lives in Hershey with his wife Ellen, a behavioral health social worker employed by Holy Spirit Hospital. They have two children.
Stacy Kusler
Workforce Specialist
UND Center for Rural Health
Stacy Kusler is the Workforce Specialist at the Center for Rural Health (CRH) at the University of North Dakota (UND) School of Medicine and Health Sciences (SMHS) in Grand Forks. Stacy is responsible for connecting rural healthcare facilities within North Dakota with healthcare professionals seeking employment in a rural setting. She works with health professions graduates across the United States to inform them of career opportunities in rural North Dakota. Through her work, Stacy is addressing the healthcare workforce shortages throughout the state. Prior to joining the Center for Rural Health, Stacy worked as a Marketing Specialist for independent medical facilities in Grand Forks, North Dakota. She is originally from Pierz, Minnesota; she has a bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication with a minor in Sociology from the University of North Dakota. Stacy is active in the community of Grand Forks, where she has lived since 2001. She is married to Will, a fellow University of North Dakota alum, and they have two sons.
Sarah Arendt-Beyer
Director of Marketing and Operations
AVS Group
Sarah Arendt-Beyer, the Director of Marketing and Operations for AVS Group, a full-service marketing agency based in La Crosse WI, will provide actionable tips for improving your web presence. In this 20 minute session, she'll discuss search engine optimization, writing for the web, how to easily produce videos for YouTube, how to create and share 360 photos on Facebook, and will provide an introduction to an easy-to-use graphics program that can be used to create engaging, professional looking graphics for your website and social media. And, we'll be sure to save time for Q&A!
Sarah Arendt-Beyer earned her Bachelor's degree in public relations from the University of Wisconsin La Crosse, and has an MBA. She has been helping support the 3RNet marketing efforts since 2010.
Sarah Arendt-Beyer earned her Bachelor's degree in public relations from the University of Wisconsin La Crosse, and has an MBA. She has been helping support the 3RNet marketing efforts since 2010.
Kristine Morin
Director of Communications and Marketing
3RNet
Kristine Morin is the Director of Communication and Marketing for 3RNet, the National Rural Recruitment and Retention Network. Kristine leads the development and production of all organizational communications, coordinates and implements all marketing efforts in collaboration with her 3RNet colleagues and members, and oversees the activities of the 3RNet Marketing Committee.
Prior to joining 3RNet, Kristine worked for a public relations firm in Las Vegas, Nevada where she coordinated marketing efforts for clients varying from local firefighters to international artists. She also worked as the Communication Coordinator for the North Dakota Center for Rural Health, where she led the communication efforts for many grant programs.
Kristine has master’s and bachelor’s degrees in communication, both from the University of North Dakota. She works from her home in Henderson, Nevada, and was born and raised in rural North Dakota.
Prior to joining 3RNet, Kristine worked for a public relations firm in Las Vegas, Nevada where she coordinated marketing efforts for clients varying from local firefighters to international artists. She also worked as the Communication Coordinator for the North Dakota Center for Rural Health, where she led the communication efforts for many grant programs.
Kristine has master’s and bachelor’s degrees in communication, both from the University of North Dakota. She works from her home in Henderson, Nevada, and was born and raised in rural North Dakota.