We had a chance to sit down with Dustin to talk about his goals for Mountain Family, our patients, and our community, and learn more about our new CEO.
How can the unique cooperation among Colorado CHCs, the support from the philanthropic community, and strategic partnerships with organizations like Mountain Family and community partners contribute to the effectiveness and intentional service delivery for the communities we serve?
In Colorado, I’ve seen incredible levels of support from the organizations involved in the community health center movement. I’ve received words of encouragement and offers of support from fellow FQHC CEO’s and from the member associations that serve safety net clinics. This interconnectedness and willingness to collaborate is an invaluable asset to Colorado.
I’m also eager to engage the tremendous community partners that serve the Roaring Fork, Eagle, and Colorado River Valleys. I know how lucky we are as a community to have such a dedicated and effective non-profit infrastructure and I look forward to partnering with these groups.
Finally, I know much of our work would not be possible without the generous and ongoing support of foundations and individual donors. I am excited to reconnect with these groups as I assume the CEO role and explore creative ways Mountain Family can utilize philanthropic support to ensure access to high-quality care for generations to come.
Drawing from your 15 years of healthcare experience, how do you envision leveraging your background in policy, advocacy, and philanthropy to address the unique healthcare challenges faced by the rural communities served by Mountain Family?
One of the things I am most excited for as the CEO of Mountain Family Health Centers is the opportunity to utilize the diverse set of experiences I have gathered throughout my professional career. In having worked for two Medicaid agencies, a large private foundation that provides funding in the primary care space, and an organization focused on increasing the transparency of cost, access, of the health care system I have developed a unique vantage point to understand and leverage the changing dynamics Mountain Family must navigate.
Can you elaborate on your experience as a patient and board member of Mountain Family? How has this unique perspective shaped your understanding of the organization’s mission and its impact on the communities we serve? What are you most excited about in this new role?
I first came to know Mountain Family Health Centers when I was on staff at the Colorado Health Foundation (CHF). In my role with CHF, I worked closely with Mountain Family leadership to better understand the opportunities and challenges they were facing and worked to connect the organization to CHF funding opportunities. Through this experience I was able to see the high-quality and innovative care being provided through a team-based and patient centered approach and after moving to Glenwood Springs, I knew I would make MFHC my medical home. When I stepped away from CHF, I was thrilled to join Mountain Family’s Board of Directors. Through my role on the board, I have gained a deeper understanding of the organization’s operations, finances, and culture and have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the talented staff and board members.
How do you plan to enhance the organization’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, both in terms of patient care and within the internal operations of the health center?
Advancing equity is a core value of mine and I feel extremely fortunate to have worked with organizations that have existed to eliminate inequities. I am excited to bring these experiences to Mountain Family, which I know has centered this priority for years. In many ways that the goal of ensuring that one’s community, race and ethnicity, income, and other demographics do not reduce health care access, health care quality, and health outcomes is the most pressing responsibility of Mountain Family Health Centers and the broader community health center movement. To do this, I am committed to learning from the individuals and communities most impacted by health inequities, ensuring our organization is reflective of the community we are serving, and using our position and influence to center this experience and actively work to mitigate the root causes of inequity.
Data analysis is a key component of your expertise. How do you intend to leverage data-driven insights to enhance decision-making, improve patient outcomes, and optimize resource allocation within the organization?
Health care data, both clinical and claims, as well as other sources of data which can include Social Drivers of Health, can provide a more comprehensive picture of how individuals, families and communities engage with the health care system. This data and resulting analyses can provide powerful and nuanced insights which organizations can use to drive decisions on clinical care, SDOH interventions, resource allocation, and strategic direction. I am excited to utilize available data sources and explore new ones with Mountain Family to ensure we are meeting the needs of our communities and strengthening the foundation of our organization.
How long have you lived in Glenwood Springs and Colorado? What do you like most about living in the mountains? What do you like to do in your spare time?
I moved to Denver from Kansas in 2011 for graduate school and feel extremely fortunate to continue making a career and raising a family in my adopted state. My family and I moved to Glenwood Springs in July 2021 after my wife, Amy, took a job with the Colorado River District. It has been a great move for us as we both love the outdoors and spend much of our free time running, biking, fishing, and skiing. One of the things I enjoy most about living in Glenwood Springs is the opportunity to expose our sons, Miles and Isaac, to all of the outdoor opportunities living in a mountain community provides.