Mike Shimmens, MA, CPRP
Executive Director
3RNET
Mike Shimmens is the Executive Director for 3RNET, the nation’s most trusted resource for health professionals seeking careers in rural and underserved communities. Mike has led 3RNET since 2012. Mike works with a nine-member Board of Directors, leads a staff of five, and empowers the National Rural Recruitment and Retention Network of 54 organizational members to further 3RNET’s mission to improve rural and underserved communities’ access to quality health care through the recruitment and retention of quality health care professionals.
Mike has over 20 years of experience in the recruitment of health care professionals. Prior to leading 3RNET Mike worked for six years at the Missouri Primary Care Association as Director of Recruitment and Workforce Development. There he assisted 21 Community Health Centers and other Missouri hospitals and clinics in their health professional recruitment efforts through the Missouri Health Professional Placement Service.
Mike's first recruitment position in health care was as Director of Medical Staff Development at St. Mary's Health Center in Jefferson City, Missouri. He served in this role for nine years and recruited for all physician specialties and advanced practice nurses at this 167-bed hospital and affiliated clinics.
Mike has been a member of the Association for Advancing Physician and Provider Recruitment (AAPPR) since 1997 and maintains their certification of Certified Physician/Provider Recruitment Professional (CPRP).
Mike has a Bachelor’s degree from Missouri State University and a Master’s degree from Western Illinois University.
Mike has over 20 years of experience in the recruitment of health care professionals. Prior to leading 3RNET Mike worked for six years at the Missouri Primary Care Association as Director of Recruitment and Workforce Development. There he assisted 21 Community Health Centers and other Missouri hospitals and clinics in their health professional recruitment efforts through the Missouri Health Professional Placement Service.
Mike's first recruitment position in health care was as Director of Medical Staff Development at St. Mary's Health Center in Jefferson City, Missouri. He served in this role for nine years and recruited for all physician specialties and advanced practice nurses at this 167-bed hospital and affiliated clinics.
Mike has been a member of the Association for Advancing Physician and Provider Recruitment (AAPPR) since 1997 and maintains their certification of Certified Physician/Provider Recruitment Professional (CPRP).
Mike has a Bachelor’s degree from Missouri State University and a Master’s degree from Western Illinois University.
Mandi Gingras
Director of Education
3RNET
Mandi Gingras is the Director of Education for the 3RNET, the National Rural Recruitment and Retention Network. 3RNET is a non-profit organization and trusted resource for health professionals seeking careers in rural and underserved communities. Mandi provides recruitment and retention educational support to 3RNET members and safety net facilities across the nation.
Mandi’s experience includes 14 years as the primary care and oral health recruiter and workforce consultant for the New Hampshire-Vermont Recruitment Center, a non-profit organization and service of BiState Primary Care Association (PCA). In her role at the PCA, Mandi provided recruitment assistance (sourcing, screening and referring physicians, dentists and APPs), consulted on recruitment and retention best practices, and provided J1 visa waiver and loan repayment program support to safety net facilities in New Hampshire and Vermont.
Mandi’s career path included a move to Michigan during the pandemic where she worked for almost two years as a physician recruiter with McLaren Healthcare System and Karmanos Cancer Institute, a large non-profit integrated health delivery system made up of 14 hospitals across Michigan and Ohio. Mandi’s work there involved recruitment of surgical specialties for the 14 hospitals, affiliated practices and cancer centers. She managed the recruitment cycle from developing job posts and marketing strategies, sourcing and interviewing candidates, to coordinating site visits and contract negotiations.
Mandi grew up in a small rural town in the Midwest and understands the unique challenges and benefits that rural communities offer. She is an AAPPR member and a RACR-certified recruiter through the HealthcareSource and Lean Human Capital training curriculum. Throughout her career, Mandi has been passionate about developing strategies to attract and retain providers that will thrive in rural and underserved communities. She strives to continue learning new and innovative ways to recruit healthcare professionals and is excited to share these best practices and her experiences along with the 3RNET guiding principles to help others remain competitive and be successful in their recruitment efforts.
In her personal time, Mandi enjoys spending time with her koi pond and gardens, crafting, and taking in lake-living at her new home in Michigan.
Mandi’s experience includes 14 years as the primary care and oral health recruiter and workforce consultant for the New Hampshire-Vermont Recruitment Center, a non-profit organization and service of BiState Primary Care Association (PCA). In her role at the PCA, Mandi provided recruitment assistance (sourcing, screening and referring physicians, dentists and APPs), consulted on recruitment and retention best practices, and provided J1 visa waiver and loan repayment program support to safety net facilities in New Hampshire and Vermont.
Mandi’s career path included a move to Michigan during the pandemic where she worked for almost two years as a physician recruiter with McLaren Healthcare System and Karmanos Cancer Institute, a large non-profit integrated health delivery system made up of 14 hospitals across Michigan and Ohio. Mandi’s work there involved recruitment of surgical specialties for the 14 hospitals, affiliated practices and cancer centers. She managed the recruitment cycle from developing job posts and marketing strategies, sourcing and interviewing candidates, to coordinating site visits and contract negotiations.
Mandi grew up in a small rural town in the Midwest and understands the unique challenges and benefits that rural communities offer. She is an AAPPR member and a RACR-certified recruiter through the HealthcareSource and Lean Human Capital training curriculum. Throughout her career, Mandi has been passionate about developing strategies to attract and retain providers that will thrive in rural and underserved communities. She strives to continue learning new and innovative ways to recruit healthcare professionals and is excited to share these best practices and her experiences along with the 3RNET guiding principles to help others remain competitive and be successful in their recruitment efforts.
In her personal time, Mandi enjoys spending time with her koi pond and gardens, crafting, and taking in lake-living at her new home in Michigan.
Mark Barclay, MS, CPRP
Director of Member Services
3RNET
Mark Barclay is the Director of Member Services for 3RNET, the nation’s most trusted resource for health professionals seeking careers in rural and underserved communities. Mark serves as the primary support contact for 54 3RNET members, as well as the 5,000+ rural and underserved employers across the country that use 3RNET to improve their recruitment and retention efforts.
Prior to working for 3RNET, Mark recruited for 36 Critical Access Hospitals and four FQHCs as the Workforce Specialist at the Center for Rural Health at the University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences. Mark also helped establish TruServe, a web-based tracking system used by State Offices of Rural Health and Primary Care Offices nationwide.
Mark has maintained his Certified Physician/Provider Recruitment Professional (CPRP) certification from the Association for Advancing Physician and Provider Recruitment (AAPPR) since 2013. Mark has both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree from the University of North Dakota.
Prior to working for 3RNET, Mark recruited for 36 Critical Access Hospitals and four FQHCs as the Workforce Specialist at the Center for Rural Health at the University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences. Mark also helped establish TruServe, a web-based tracking system used by State Offices of Rural Health and Primary Care Offices nationwide.
Mark has maintained his Certified Physician/Provider Recruitment Professional (CPRP) certification from the Association for Advancing Physician and Provider Recruitment (AAPPR) since 2013. Mark has both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree from the University of North Dakota.
Christy Bray, MS
Chief Customer Officer
PracticeLink
Christy Bray serves as the Chief Customer Officer at PracticeLink.com, a leading platform in healthcare recruitment. PracticeLink’s mission is to connect healthcare professionals with opportunities that best match their skills and aspirations while empowering healthcare organizations to find the talent they need to deliver exceptional patient care.
Christy has extensive experience in the healthcare industry, having served in various leadership roles and as an in-house recruiter. She is skilled in provider relations, team building, process improvement, and staffing solutions. Christy previously served in several committee roles for the Association for Advancing Physician and Provider Recruitment (AAPPR).
Christy received her bachelor’s degree in health and sport sciences from the University of Oklahoma while working as a student athletic trainer. She completed her master’s degree in healthcare administration and management at Colorado State University. Christy enjoys living in Spring Hill, Tennessee, and stays busy with her sons, Orsen Allen, age 15, Walter Aaron, age 12, and niece Aurabella Sue, age 15, and her Sheepadoodle, Brinkley.
Christy has extensive experience in the healthcare industry, having served in various leadership roles and as an in-house recruiter. She is skilled in provider relations, team building, process improvement, and staffing solutions. Christy previously served in several committee roles for the Association for Advancing Physician and Provider Recruitment (AAPPR).
Christy received her bachelor’s degree in health and sport sciences from the University of Oklahoma while working as a student athletic trainer. She completed her master’s degree in healthcare administration and management at Colorado State University. Christy enjoys living in Spring Hill, Tennessee, and stays busy with her sons, Orsen Allen, age 15, Walter Aaron, age 12, and niece Aurabella Sue, age 15, and her Sheepadoodle, Brinkley.
Drew Terry
Vice President, Marketing & Communications
PracticeLink
Drew Terry is Vice President of Marketing and Communications at PracticeLink, where he leads strategy, creative, and communications initiatives that connect physicians with their best career opportunities. With more than 15 years of leadership experience, Drew began his career as a journalist and content creator before moving into marketing, where he has built multichannel campaigns that drive engagement and growth.
A passionate storyteller and team leader, Drew brings expertise in marketing, strategy and brand development. Outside of work, he enjoys playing music, cooking and exploring the outdoors with family and friends.
A passionate storyteller and team leader, Drew brings expertise in marketing, strategy and brand development. Outside of work, he enjoys playing music, cooking and exploring the outdoors with family and friends.
Natalie Uy
PRISM Data Analyst
3RNET
Natalie Uy is the Provider Retention and Information System Management (PRISM) Data Analyst for 3RNET, the nation’s most trusted resource for health professionals seeking careers in rural and underserved communities. Natalie serves as the primary support contact for all PRISM participating states: providing technical assistance and training for the PRISM project and ensuring successful coordination and collaboration of project activities between participating states and the Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research at UNC Chapel Hill.
Natalie has been working in rural health data since 2021. Her professional background began as an elementary special education teacher in rural Arizona. She pursued a career change in 2020 earning a Graduate Certificate in Advanced Analytics for Higher Education in early 2021 from Arizona State University. From there, she worked as a Data Analyst for the Alaska Area Health Education Center Program Office where she managed data for Alaska’s state loan repayment program. Natalie also managed the data for the Alaska CACHE, an online learning management platform for healthcare workers to complete their continuing education units.
Natalie has been learning to speak Spanish in her free time and is fluent in American Sign Language. She currently lives in southern Arizona where she was born and raised in a suburb of Tucson.
Natalie has been working in rural health data since 2021. Her professional background began as an elementary special education teacher in rural Arizona. She pursued a career change in 2020 earning a Graduate Certificate in Advanced Analytics for Higher Education in early 2021 from Arizona State University. From there, she worked as a Data Analyst for the Alaska Area Health Education Center Program Office where she managed data for Alaska’s state loan repayment program. Natalie also managed the data for the Alaska CACHE, an online learning management platform for healthcare workers to complete their continuing education units.
Natalie has been learning to speak Spanish in her free time and is fluent in American Sign Language. She currently lives in southern Arizona where she was born and raised in a suburb of Tucson.