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Rural Health Professional Staff

Kristina Sparks

Overall direction of Rural Health

Liaison to Area Health Education Centers

Liaison to the Statewide Office of Rural Health

Referrals to rural and underserved programs both at the state and national level.

State and national policy
Telephone: 360-236-2805  Email: kris.sparks@doh.wa.gov

Natalie Gonzαlez, Recruitment Specialist

Recruiting and retaining quality primary health care practitioners

Helping candidates define where they want to practice and live

Helping communities to develop recruitment strategies and tools

Connecting with national recruitment assistance programs(There is no fee associated with this servic
Telephone: 360-236-2815  Email: natalie.gonzalez@doh.wa.gov

John Hanson, Rural Health Specialist

Health Systems Resource Grant program

State Office of Rural Health Program Manager

Statewide Office of Rural Health Coordinator

Loan Repayment Program Site Evaluation Manager

Federal Outreach and Network grants/applications

Consultant to Rural Health Clinics
Telephone: 360-236-2819  Email: john.hanson@doh.wa.gov

Susan Kelly, RN MN, Nurse Consultant, Rural Health Clinics

Provides consulting to clinics on preparation for initial RHC survey

Conducts initial RHC survey in conjunction with Facilities & Services Licensing
Telephone: 425-736-1115  Email: susan.kelly@doh.wa.gov

Rochelle Wambach, Program Administrator, Health Professional Scholarship and Loan Repayment

Rules and regulations that govern the state Loan Repayment and Scholarship Program

How to recruit providers through the loan repayment or scholarship programs

Shortage designations for scholarship program

Loan repayment program transfers

Project H.O.P.E. (Health Occupations Preparatory Experiences)

Telephone: 360-236-2816  Email: rochellew@hecb.wa.gov

Jennell Prentice, J1 Visa Waiver Program Manager, Direct Recruitment

National Health Service Corps (NHSC)

J-1 Visa Program

Information on how to recruit and retain a foreign physician through the J-1 Visa Program

Volunteer Retired Provider Program
Telephone: 360-236-2814  Email: jennell.prentice@doh.wa.gov

Robin Walker, Contracts/Grant Manager

Coordinator for Rural Health Resources Live:  A Video Conference For You 

Billing questions on our grants

Telephone: 360-236-2810  Email: robin.walker@doh.wa.gov

Chris Wilkins, Program Coordinator, Health Professional Scholarship and Loan Repayment

Request Applications for state Loan Repayment or Scholarship program

Questions relating to applications for either program

Questions relating to disbursements from either program

Telephone: 360-236-2817 Email: chris.wilkins@doh.wa.gov

Mary Roberts, Administrative Assistant

Provides administrative support to the section manager and staff

Schedules meetings with office staff

CAH Grant Applications

State Loan Repayment site applications

Processes payment for Volunteer Retired Provider

Human Resource Consultant for the office

Telephone: 360-236-2804  Email: mary.roberts@doh.wa.gov

Mike Lee, Critical Access Hospital Program Manager

Information on eligibility and reimbursement for Critical Access Hospitals

State and federal resources available to Critical Access Hospitals

Priorities for the Rural Hospital Flexibility Grant Program

Development of Washington Rural Health Plan

Critical Access Hospital relocation requirements
Telephone: 360-236-2807  Email: mike.lee@doh.wa.gov

Laura Olexa, Health Care Access Analyst

Finding out if you are in an area that qualifies for:
    –  Federal Health Professional Shortage Area
    –  Medically Underserved Area
    –  Medically Underserved Population designation

Applying for Rural Health Clinic Status and assistance through the process
Telephone: 360-236-2811  Email: laura.olexa@doh.wa.gov

Zeynep Shorter, Health Services Research Investigator

Questions relating to reports and on-going research projects within the Office of Community and Rural Health

Information on rural-urban definitions

Questions relating to how to use Rural-Urban Commuting Area (RUCA) codes
Telephone: 360-236-2806  Email: zeynep.shorter@doh.wa.gov 
 

Phi V. Ly, Research Analyst

Loan Repayment Program Site Scoring Methodology

Research lead in Needs Assessment Data

Survey Coordinator for statewide primary, dental and mental health care providers

Assist with data analysis for other research projects within the Office of Rural Health
Telephone: 360-236-2825  Email: phi.ly@doh.wa.gov 

Sam Watson-Alvan, Primary Care Office Manager

Community Health Clinics and Federally Qualified Health Centers

Eligibility information for the National Health Service Corps federal loan repayment and scholarship program

Finding out who in the state is involved in advocacy and policy work on behalf of the underserved and uninsured population

Information on Public Health Improvement Access standards
Telephone: 360-236-2812 

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