Board & Staff
Utah AHEC Statewide Advisory Board

Senator Steve Urquhart, JD
Senator Steve Urquhart, JD
Chair Elect, Utah AHEC Statewide Advisory Board , Past Utah Representative and Senator, Global Ambassador, University of Utahn.
Senator Stephen H. Urquhart, JD, is Global Ambassador for the University of Utah. Steve was a member of the Utah House of Representatives from 2001 to 2008, serving as Majority Whip and Rules Chair. In 2009, he joined the Utah Senate, serving as Senate chair of the Higher Education Sub-Appropriations Committee until 2016. Steve was born and raised in Houston, Texas. He received his education at Williams College (biology) and BYU Law School (law review, honors). Steve is a founder of the Partnering Institute of Africa and director for Red Butte Garden, Equality Utah, and the Salt Lake Area Restaurant Association. For successfully championing difficult causes, Steve has been honored by the ACLU (Torch of Freedom), Equality Utah (Abraham Lincoln Award), and the Utah Pride Festival (Pete Suazo Political Action Award). He is married to Sara Stanley, and together they have four children.

David N. Sundwall, MD
David N. Sundwall, MD
Chair, Utah AHEC Statewide Advisory Board, Past Administrator, Health Resources and Services Administration, Past Executive Director, Utah Department of Health, Professor, University of Utah Division of Public Health
David N. Sundwall, MD, is a board-certified physician in Internal Medicine and Family Practice. He received his medical degree from the University of Utah – School of Medicine and further training in the Harvard Family Medicine Residency Program. Dr. Sundwall has considerable experience in health policy and administration at both the state and national level. He has served as Administrator in the Health Resources and Services Administration, Vice President and Medical Director of American Healthcare Systems, Assistant Surgeon General in the Commissioned Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service, and Executive Director of the Utah Department of Health. In addition to his extensive government service, Dr. Sundwall has always maintained his medical license and volunteered in public health clinics, providing primary care to medically underserved populations. He currently serves as a Professor in the University of Utah Division of Public Health.

Kolawole Okuyemi, MD, MPH
Kolawole Okuyemi, MD, MPH
Chair, University of Utah Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, Senior Director, Diversity and Inclusion at the Huntsman Cancer Center
Kolawole S. Okuyemi, MD, MPH, is Professor and Chair for the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine at the University of Utah School of Medicine. He also serves as the Senior Director for Diversity and Inclusion at the Huntsman Cancer Institute as well as the Associate Director for Mentorship Development for the Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences (CCTS).
Prior to coming to Utah, he was Professor and the inaugural Endowed Chair for Health Equity Research in the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health at the University of Minnesota Medical School Twin Cities. In Minnesota he served as the Director for the Program in Health Disparities Research and Director of Cancer Health Disparities for the Masonic Cancer Center.
He received his medical degree from University of Ilorin, Nigeria, completed a family medicine residency and Master of Public Health at the University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, and a public health research fellowship at the Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia.
Dr. Okuyemi’s career in the last 20 years focused on research and training programs to improve the health of underserved populations and to eliminate health disparities/inequities using pharmacological and culturally tailored behavioral interventions as well as community-engaged research approaches. He is one of the Principal Investigators for the National Research Mentoring Network (NRMN) and serves as PI/Director of NRMN’s Professional Development Core. Dr. Okuyemi has a passion for mentoring. He has mentored faculty, trainees, and students, many of whom have established their own independent academic, research, or other health professional careers.

Jose Rodiguez, MD
Jose Rodriguez, MD, FAAFP
Associate Vice President for Health Equity and Inclusion, University of Utah Health
José E. Rodríguez, MD, FAAFP currently serves as interim Associate Vice President for Health Equity and Inclusion, is a professor in the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, and a Family Medicine practitioner at the Redwood Health Center. While at the University of Utah, Dr. Rodríguez has taken a strong role in advancing the institutional goals for health equity and inclusion. Within his department, he has served on the diversity committee, as well as various recruitment committees supporting focused recruitment of underrepresented ethnic and racial minority (URM) faculty and residents. He has represented the university presenting at national conferences on our work and his research on diversity initiatives. Prior to his appointment at the University of Utah, Dr. Rodríguez served as the co-chair of the Council on Diversity and Inclusion and the co-director for the Center for Underrepresented Minorities in Academic Medicine at Florida State University College of Medicine. His academic achievements include publishing several articles on the importance of URMs in academic medicine.

Eli Bermudez, MS, PhD
Eli Bermudez, MS, PhD
Dean, Dixie State University College of Health Sciences
Dr. Bermudez was born and raised in Puerto Rico. He earned a B.S. in Biology from the University of Puerto Rico, M.S. in Environmental Sciences from the School of Public Health at the University of Puerto Rico, and his PhD in Environmental Health Sciences from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). He served for 22 years as a tenured faculty member, Department Chair of Applied Health Sciences, and Interim Dean of the College of Health and Human Services at Indiana State University. At Indiana State University, he taught a variety of courses in environmental health and served as a committee member for numerous master’s theses and dissertations. His scholarship includes 18 peer-reviewed publications in scientific journals, 85 professional presentations, and 29 grants awarded, all in the disciplines of environmental health, and public health. He is currently the dean of the College of Health Sciences at Dixie State University in Saint George, Utah.

Matt McCullough, PhD
Matt McCullough, PhD
Associate Director of the Utah Education and Telehealth Network
McCullough is the Associate Director of the Utah Education and Telehealth Network, where he is responsible for telehealth services, operations, strategic planning, and development of new services and sites. He is also the Principal Investigator of the Northwest Regional Telehealth Resource Center (NRTRC).

Mike Farrell, DO, MBA
Mike Farrell, DO, MBA
Geriatrics, University of Utah
Dr. Farrell is a geriatric physician currently practicing at the University of Utah’s Redstone Clinic. He works in diverse areas to address the unique needs of an aging population. He has also served as the Senior Medical Director at Rocky Mountain Care, and Assistant Clinical Professor at the University of Utah School of Medicine

Jennifer Dailey-Provost, MBA
Jennifer Dailey-Provost, MBA
Legislator in House of Representatives
Jennifer L. Dailey-Provost, MBA, currently serves in the Utah House of Representatives, serving the constituents of District 24 in downtown Salt Lake City. She is also the former Executive Director of the Utah Academy of Family Physicians, where she focused on advocating for healthcare reform, particularly related to public health and primary care. Jennifer is passionate about improving health for all Utahans through working with health professionals to achieve the Quadruple Aim. In addition to holding B.S. in Business from the University of Utah and her M.B.A. from Westminster College, she is currently pursuing her PhD in Public Health at the University of Utah. This exciting endeavor gives her the opportunity to work on research focused on transforming how health care (particularly primary care) is delivered in the health system.

Jenifer Lloyd, JD, DVM, MSPH
Jenifer Lloyd, JD, DVM, MSPH
Deputy Director, Association for Utah Community Health
Jenifer has worked for the Association for Utah Community Health since August 2010 and has served as the Deputy Director since August 2011. Her primary role at AUCH is assisting Utah’s community health centers with best practices in regulatory and compliance issues and board development. She came to AUCH with a background in law and public health. Jenifer earned her J.D. from the University of Utah; her areas of interest are health law and disability law. Prior to law school, Jenifer worked for the Utah Department of Health and served in the Epidemic Intelligence Service at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Jenifer earned her D.V.M. from Colorado State University and her M.S.P.H. from the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center.

Martell Teasley, PhD
Martell Teasley, PhD
Dean, College of Social Work, University of Utah
University of Utah’s interim Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and dean of the University of Utah College of Social Work, president of the National Association of Deans and Directors of Schools of Social Work, and former editor-in-chief of the journal Children & Schools. His research primarily focuses on social work in school settings, particularly the vital role that social work can play in advancing educational equity. He is well known as an innovative and talented leader, having previously served as the chair of the Department of Social Work in the University of Texas at San Antonio College of Public Policy. Dr. Teasley’s experience also includes employment as a substance use disorder counselor, time as a licensed practical nurse, and a decade of service with the U.S. Army. He earned his Ph.D. in social work from Howard University, where his scholarship focused on African American adolescent development. He also holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Fayetteville State University and Virginia Commonwealth University, respectively.

Richard Campbell, MS
Richard Campbell, MS
Executive Director, Utah Medical Education Council
Ric Campbell is the Executive Director of the Utah Medical Education Council. The Council has the mission to conduct health care workforce research, to advise on Utah’s health care training needs, and to influence graduate medical education (GME) financing policies. UMEC also serves as the Nursing Workforce Information Center for the state and facilitates rural residency training opportunities. Before joining UMEC, Ric served two terms on the Utah Public Service Commission regulating public utilities. Early in Ric’s public service in state government he led health care reform efforts for Governor Michael Leavitt and was the Executive Director of the Utah Health Policy Commission.

Steven Lacey, Ph.D., CIH, CSP
Steven Lacey, Ph.D., CIH, CSP
Professor & Chief, Division of Public Health, University of Utah School of Medicine
Dr. Steven Lacey serves as Professor and Chief of the Division of Public Health at the University of Utah School of Medicine. Dr. Lacey earned an MS in Industrial Hygiene from Texas A&M University, a PhD in Industrial Hygiene from the University of Illinois at Chicago and was a postdoctoral fellow at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Prior to Utah, he was Chair of the Department of Environmental Health Science at the Indiana University Fairbanks School of Public Health in Indianapolis, and Director of the Product Stewardship program.

Lisa Gren, PhD
Lisa Gren, PhD
Associate Professor in the Division of Public Health at the University of Utah, Director for the University of Utah Primary Care Research Network, Director for the Center for Research on Migration and Refugee Immigration.
Lisa Gren, PhD, MSPH, is an Associate Professor in the Division of Public Health at the University of Utah. Dr. Gren has earned a BS degree in microbiology, MSPH in Public Health, and PhD in Public Health. She teaches Introduction to Biostatistics (PBHLT 6100) and Public Health Systems and Services (PBHLT 6500). Dr. Gren is the Director for the University of Utah Primary Care Research Network, and Associate Director for the Center for Research on Migration and Refugee Immigration.

Jennifer Bolay Honda, OTD, MEd, OTR/L, IBCLC, SWC, NTMTC
Jennifer Bolay Honda, OTD, MEd, OTR/L, IBCLC, SWC, NTMTC
Assistant Professor Occupational Therapy, Utah Tech University
Dr. Honda recently moved to St. George, UT from Southern California. She is currently an Assistant Professor and Interim Program Director of the developing Occupational Therapy Doctoral program at Utah Tech University. Her background is in neonatal OT and lactation with an emphasis on feeding and swallowing. Her research interests are in international OT practice, primarily in rural areas of East Africa, and include perinatal/postnatal health education, care of the premature infant in the neonatal intensive care unit, and training for individuals caring for children with disabilities.

Larry Curtis Garrett, PhD, MPH, RN
Larry Curtis Garrett, PhD, MPH, RN
Assistant Professor, University of Utah, College of Nursing.
Larry Garrett, Ph.D., RN is an Assistant Professor at the University of Utah, College of Nursing. He earned his doctorate in Interdisciplinary Health Science from Western Michigan University. He was the first Health Informatics Fellow with the National Foundation for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and a former Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Prior to working at the University of Utah, he was a partner in a public health software and consulting company where he provided consulting services to state and local health departments across the county. Later, Dr Garrett was employed at Comagine Health, on a variety of healthcare quality improvement initiatives. He is currently working on a project to improve primary care by creating opportunities for registered nurses to work at the top of their licensure. He has twenty-seven years of experience in health care consulting and teaching.

Juliana Simonetti, MD
Juliana Simonetti, MD
Assistant Professor, Director of Obesity Medicine, Co-Director of Comprehensive Weight Management Program, Co-Director of PROMIS2U (Pre-matriculation Readiness for Ongoing Medical Student Success at the U) Program
Dr. Simonetti serves as the Director of the Obesity Medicine Program and co-director of the Comprehensive Weight Management Program at the University of Utah. She received her medical degree from the University of Utah School of Medicine and completed her residency in Internal Medicine at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, followed by a fellowship in Obesity Medicine and Clinical Nutrition at Boston University Medical Center. Dr. Simonetti holds board certification in both Internal Medicine and Obesity Medicine. With over a decade of experience in the field of obesity medicine, she has contributed to multiple peer-reviewed journals and authored book chapters on various topics concerning obesity treatment.
In addition, Dr. Simonetti serves as the co-director of the PROMIS2U (Pre-matriculation Readiness for Ongoing Medical Student Success at the U) program at the University of Utah. During her teenage years, Dr. Simonetti immigrated to the United States and faced a multitude of obstacles to achieve her medical degree. Having worked in underserved areas and being a member of a minoritized community, Dr. Simonetti has first-hand experience with the inequities within the healthcare system. She is passionate about diversifying the healthcare workforce and providing exceptional patient care.

Yasmeen Simonian, PhD, MLS(ASCP)CM, FASAHP
Yasmeen Simonian, PhD, MLS(ASCP)CM, FASAHP
Bio comming soon.

Robert Petite, PhD, FACSM, ATC, CSCS
Robert Petite, PhD, FACSM, ATC, CSCS
Dean, School of Health Sciences
Salt Lake Community College, Jordan Campus
Bob Pettitt is Dean for the School of Health Sciences at Salt Lake Community College. He has consulted national and international sports programs along with law enforcement and military groups. He attained the rank of full professor at two different universities, is a former department chair, and a former director of research & sponsored projects. His research has been funded by organizations such as Force Science®, MOXY Monitors, and the NIKE Sport Research Lab. He holds a PhD in Exercise and Sports Science from the University of Utah, is Fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine, and a certified member of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association and the National Strength & Conditioning Association. He has published over 90 peer-review articles, given over 100 presentations, and is author of two books: Exercise Physiology Laboratories (2009) and Critical Speed (2023).

Dr. Yas Simonian
PhD, MLS(ASCP)CM, FASAHP
Yasmen Simonian, PhD, MLS(ASCP)CM, FASAHP
Dean and Brady Presidential Distinguished Professor, Dr. Ezekiel R. Dumke College of Health Professions, Weber State University
Dr. Simonian has more than 40 years changing lives as a teacher and administrator at Weber State University, she has built a legacy that has impacted both the WSU community and the field of medicine. Simonian, the Dr. Ezekiel R. Dumke College of Health Professions dean, has always valued learning and stewardship passion that is evident in decades of achievement. Dr. Simonian began her life far from the Wasatch Mountains; she was born and raised in Tehran, Iran. Early on, her parents knew they wanted to give her and her younger brother a different life. When Simonian’s brother was born, her mother applied for immigration to the United States, making monthly trips to the American embassy to check on their application status. After 12 years of waiting, her family was finally able to leave Iran. With the help of an uncle, who had emigrated years before and then graduated from Utah State University, her family came to the U.S. and settled in Utah. Simonian was just 15 years old at the time. Only five days after arriving, she began 10th grade at West High School in Salt Lake City. Knowing almost no English, American high school was daunting. But Simonian was no ordinary young woman. Already a high-achieving student, she quickly found clever ways to overcome any obstacle. She took up Spanish as a way to improve her English grammar and language skills.
After high school, Simonian pursued higher education at the University of Utah. The first in her family to attend college, she threw herself into her studies with a passion that is still present in her work today. While in college, she found a love for medicine specifically, hematology oncology, the study of cancer in the blood. Her interest in cancer research began years earlier when her grandmother was diagnosed with terminal colon cancer. At just 8 years old, Simonian made the brave promise that she would come to the U.S. and study to find a cure for cancer one day. When the time came, she changed her major to focus on cancer research a path that would eventually apply to her own life more personally.
“I know we immigrated for education,” Simonian said during a 2020 Weber State Stewart Library oral history project interview. “We immigrated to the United States, so we could have a better life, so we could be free, so we can advance. I felt like I owed it to my family, everyone around me, to do the best I could do. To be the best I could be.” Her tenacity and determination meant Simonian excelled in college, even while working multiple jobs to help pay for her education. Her hard work paid off when she earned three degrees from the University of Utah: a bachelor’s and master’s in medical laboratory sciences (MLS), followed in 1998 by her doctoral degree in patient education and counseling. “If you are educated, it affects everything; you can make sound choices,” she said. “You can educate your kids, you can educate anyone around, you can find employment and improve your lives. You know, it’s powerful.”
Simonian’s achievements are almost innumerable, but they would not be complete without the crown jewel: her students. Simonian’s dedication has created a network of capable, confident and compassionate healthcare professionals that reaches far beyond Weber State. “She is an amazing teacher,” Pulido said. “She taught me about medicine, but she also helped me see the value of being genuine in everything I do. I'm where I am today because of Yas and her influential power and endless encouragement.” Her enthusiastic and caring approach to learning has helped thousands of students like Pulido, all while nurturing bonds that have lasted beyond the classroom. Many former students are still in touch with Simonian as colleagues, practitioners, physicians, clinicians, faculty and friends. Their constant contributions to healthcare locally, nationally and globally validate the value of their Weber State education and demonstrate the differences they continue to make in the communities they serve. As both an educator and administrator, she has served up a passion for education.
“Teaching what I know, the best way I know how, and getting the students interested, giving them appetizers so they can go for the full course, that’s what I like. I like helping the students be lifetime learners,” Simonian said.
Utah AHEC STAFF

Director, Utah AHEC
Ivette Lopez, PhD, MPH
Ivette Lopez, PhD, MPH
Director, Utah AHEC
Ivette Amelia López, Ph.D., MPH is a Professor of Public Health, Core Educator in Community-Engaged Learning Lead, and Director of the Utah Area Health Education Centers. A native of Puerto Rico, her work centers on the pursuit of health equity for Latinos and other disadvantaged populations through community engagement, education, and research. She concentrates on the improved education of all Latinos and the professionals who help them; as well as community-based research that combines the social-ecological determinants of health, including the community in the search for sustainable solutions. Her work and research have included HIV, STIs, diabetes, heart disease, physical activity, Alzheimer’s, obesity, medical education inequities, public health pedagogy, and the food environment.

Associate Director, Utah AHEC
Tatiana Allen-Webb, BS, CCRP
Tatiana Allen-Webb, BS, CCRP
Program Manager, Utah AHEC
Tatiana Allen-Webb, BS, CCRP, is the Program Manager for the Utah Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) Program. She coordinates the design, development, and delivery of statewide programs for the Utah AHEC – including ongoing program assessment and improvement. Tatiana has over 19 years of experience facilitating collaborations between community organizations and researchers with a main focus on health education and research.
Her career has focused on projects that aim at decreasing barriers, building bridges between communities, and increasing timely access to healthcare for the underprivileged. She is excited to bring this experience to her role with Utah AHEC.

Director, Southern Utah AHEC
Rita Osborn, MBA
Rita Osborn, MBA
Director, Southern Utah AHEC
Rita Osborn, MBA, has been part of the Utah AHEC team for over 10 years. She served as the Center Director of Southern Utah AHEC (SUAHEC) and the Director of the Utah Center for Rural Health since 2015. In these roles, Ms. Osborn has developed a network of community partners by engaging local collaborators in SUAHEC programs and serving on local boards that complement the SUAHEC mission. She is passionate about addressing the health workforce challenges facing rural areas in Utah. Her master’s thesis addresses the health care shortages in Southern Utah, and she appreciates the opportunity to continue to work with students and community partners to achieve better health for Southern Utah communities.

Director, Crossroads Utah AHEC
Mindy Bateman
Mindy Bateman
Director, Crossroads Utah AHEC
Mindy Bateman has worked with Utah AHEC for nearly 20 years, and has served as the Crossroads Utah AHEC (CRAHEC) Center Director since 2009. In this role, Ms. Bateman has come to develop a unique skillset to help students with much to gain enter into a health professions training program. Under her leadership, the CRAHEC works directly with individuals spanning the health professions pipeline – from future professionals to current professionals – in all five counties of the CRAHEC region: Salt Lake, Utah, Tooele, Wasatch and Summit. Ms. Bateman recognizes that the field of health care is filled with career pathways that offer both financial stability and rewarding opportunities for personal growth. She finds great satisfaction and excitement in assisting students broaden their understanding of career opportunities in the healthcare discipline.

Director, Northern Utah AHEC
Frederick Henderson
Frederick Henderson
Director, Northern Utah AHEC
Frederick Henderson, MHA, is honored to represent the Utah AHEC Program as the Center Director of the Northern Utah AHEC (NUAHEC). Mr. Henderson brings over ten years of experience in federal and foundation grant writing and grant management, fourteen years of experience instructing higher education health sciences courses, and a Master of Health Administration Degree to this position. Before joining the Utah AHEC in 2017, Mr. Henderson served as the Emergency Services Director for the American Red Cross. He has a deep understanding of the northern Utah community and the needs of the population. The relationships and knowledge he has developed through collaborative efforts with multiple State of Utah and local governmental agencies, the United Way of Northern Utah, the Salvation Army, Utah Departments of Health, and other church and community safety net organizations bring important value and perspective to his current and continued service to the Utah AHEC Program.

Administrative Manager
Maisa Gomez, BS
Maisa Gomez
Administrative Manager
Maisa is the Administrative Manager for the Utah Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) Program. She is an administrative leader with more than twenty years of experience in implementation and management of health organizations, social programs and private companies. She has successfully managed private business, and effectively worked in socially driven organizations and in academic institutions. Maisa is passionate about creating equitable opportunities for disadvantage individuals in education and health.

Program Assistant, Utah AHEC
Sidnee Myers, BS
Sidnee Myers
Program Assistant, Utah AHEC
Sidnee Myers is the program assistant for the Utah Area Health Education Center (Utah AHEC) Program Office. She assists and supports scholars with their studies during their time in the AHEC program.
She is currently completing an undergraduate degree at the University of Utah Honor’s College studying International Studies with the Pre-med track with a Health Integrated minor. She plans to graduate in Spring 2023 and will prepare to attend medical school focusing on underserved populations.