- Need Technical Assistance? tech@vfairs.com
Amir Atabeygi, MD, MHA is Medical Director of two Rural Health Clinics at Summit Pacific Medical Center in Elma, Washington: Summit Pacific Urgent Care and Summit Pacific Health Clinic. He focuses on improving access, quality, and staff engagement by strengthening clinic operations and stabilizing service lines in resource-constrained rural environments. He has also supported the organization’s transition to, and optimization of, a new electronic health record.
Dr. Atabeygi previously practiced in primary care and urgent care and developed a strong interest in the operational systems that shape clinician and patient experience. His leadership work has emphasized the power of aligned physician-operations dyads; and the predictable failure states when alignment breaks down. He also serves as adjunct faculty for Summit Pacific’s rural health track family medicine residency and teaches residents while maintaining an active clinical practice.
Nathan Baugh is the Executive Director of the National Association of Rural Health Clinics (NARHC). Prior to becoming the Executive Director in July of 2022, Nathan was the Director of Government Affairs for NARHC and in this role he was instrumental in the passage of the Rural Health Clinic Medicare payment reforms signed into law as a part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021. This legislation was the most significant overhaul to the rural health clinic program in the last twenty-five years. As Executive Director, Nathan provides strategic direction for NARHC and is still involved in RHC advocacy priorities from telehealth to Medicare Advantage.
Senior Compliance Consultant – HIPAA Privacy and Security Officer – IT Manager
Senior Compliance Consultant – HIPAA Privacy and Security Officer – IT Manager
Brian L Tuttle is a Certified Professional in Health IT (CPHIT), Certified HIPAA Professional (CHP), Certified HIPAA Administrator (CHA), Certified Business Resilience Auditor (CBRA), and Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) with over 22 years’ experience in Health IT and Compliance Consulting.
With vast experience in health IT systems (i.e. practice management, EHR systems, imaging, transcription, medical messaging, etc.) as well as over 22 years’ experience in standard Health IT with multiple certifications and hands-on knowledge, Brian serves as compliance consultant and has conducted onsite and remote risk assessments for over 1000 medical practices, hospitals, health departments, insurance plans, and business associates throughout the United States.
In addition, Mr. Tuttle has served in multiple litigated court cases, serving as an expert witness offering input related to best practices and requirements for securing and providing patient access to protected health information. Mr. Tuttle has also worked directly with the Office of Civil Rights (OCR), both in defending covered entities and business associates, as well as being asked by the Federal government to audit covered entities and business associates on behalf of the OCR.
Almost all of Brian’s clients are earned by referral with little or no advertising.
Brian is well known and highly regarded in medical circles throughout the United States for his quality work and down-home southern charm
Mr. Tuttle has a Master’s Degree in Health Sciences (Georgia State University), a Master’s in the Study of Law (University of Georgia), and works nationally out of Swainsboro, GA.
Charles is President and CEO of North American Healthcare Management Services, which has provided RHC, RCM, and EHR services for RHC and FQHCs since 1992.
Charles is the Executive Director of The Rural Advantage ACO, approved for Medicare Shared Savings Track A. The Rural Advantage is designed specifically for RHCs and FQHCs.
North American currently provides comprehensive RCM, EHR Hosting, RHC/FQHC compliance, RHC/FQHC Billing, 340B Management/Audit, Provider Enrollment and many other services to physicians, hospitals, RHCs, and FQHCs across the country.
Charles is the immediate past-president of the National Association of Rural Health Clinics, Past-President of the Illinois Rural Health Association. Charles represents the Illinois Rural Health Association annually at the National Rural Health Association Policy Institute in Washington, D.C. Charles served on the National Association of Rural Health Clinics board for 15 years, two of those years were as President.
Charles provides educational sessions and webinars on billing and compliance to state and private organizations across the United States.
Christina Mitchell is the Clinic Manager for two Rural Health Clinic in Elma, WA; Summit Pacific Health Clinic and Urgent Care Clinic. With over 30 years of experience in behavioral health and program implementation, Christina is experienced expanding access to care in rural communities.
She is a driving force behind Summit Pacific’s innovative low-barrier clinic model, which integrates primary care, behavioral health, and MAT services to meet the complex needs of individuals with substance use disorders. Her work has significantly improved access to treatment for vulnerable populations across Grays Harbor County.
Prior to her current role, Christina served as Chief Program Officer at CHOICE Regional Health Network and Cascade Pacific Action Alliance, one of nine Accountable Communities of Health administering Washington State’s 1115 Medicaid Transformation Waiver. In that role, she led 14 staff in the implementation and oversight of six large-scale programs, managing operations, performance, and strategic alignment across the region.
Christina also served 23 years in the U.S. Army, where she specialized in behavioral health and substance use disorder (SUD) services. Her military service further strengthened her leadership, crisis response, and clinical program development expertise.
Dr. Denise Schentrup is a clinical associate professor at University of Florida College of Nursing and the clinic director of Archer Family Health Care, a certified rural health clinic. She is responsible for administrative oversight of the College’s Faculty Practice Association and Archer Family Health Care. She supervises the clinical staff and provides oversight of the day to day operations of the practice and leads quality improvement initiatives to improve clinical outcomes. She provides leadership in clinical documentation within the electronic health record. She is a practicing family nurse practitioner and preceptor to graduate nursing students. She holds the position of secretary/treasurer on the board of the National Association of Rural Health Clinics.
Shawn Ellis helps leaders and teams get unstuck during times of change—so they can regain clarity, confidence, and momentum.
He is a keynote speaker and author, and the creator of the Choose Your Ending™ Method and the 5 C’s of Radical Adaptability, frameworks that help leaders let go of what’s no longer working and lead forward with intention.
With more than 20 years of experience, Shawn has worked with organizations including Lockheed Martin, Freddie Mac, and Miami-Dade County, and has spoken to audiences of 50 to more than 5,000 at global events such as Toastmasters International’s 100th Annual Convention.
After navigating significant personal and professional setbacks, Shawn discovered a core truth that defines his work today: real growth doesn’t begin with change—it begins with an ending.
Relatable, practical, and grounded, Shawn’s keynotes don’t just inspire—they create
momentum.
VP of Research and Development
VP of Research and Development
Gary Lucas, MSHI, serves as VP of Research and Development for ARCHPRO Coding & Consulting (Association for Rural and Community Health Professional Coding) and has provided more than 2,200 courses on documentation, coding, and billing in 49 states for 31+ years, with a current focus Rural Health Clinics and Federally Qualified Health Centers. Gary designs and maintains the nation's only training curriculum for revenue cycle staff to become certified as a Rural/Community Health - Coding and Billing Specialist (RH-/CH-CBS).
His career experiences include work with Booz Allen Hamilton providing change management services to the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and has performed CONUS/OCONUS medical record's reviews for the Department of Defense. Gary earned a Business Administration degree from the University of Georgia and a Master of Science in Health Informatics from the University of Illinois-Chicago.
Meghan is a Certified Rural Health Clinic Professional working as Administrator in a large independent Rural Health Clinic in central Illinois. She oversees the day-to-day operations, as well as handling contract negotiations, HR, marketing, acting as HIPAA Privacy officer, and as government Liaison, in addition to many other roles. Meghan is the president-elect for the Illinois Rural Health Association and serves on her local Economic Development Commission and the town Chamber Board. In her free time, Meghan loves to spend time with her husband and two boys; they are currently in thick of their sports era!
Jonathan Pantenburg is an accomplished, results-driven senior executive with more than 15 years of progressively responsible experience advising profit, non-profit, and governmental entities through complex issues including cost reduction, acquisitions, contracts, financial analysis, and operations. Prior to consulting, Jonathan served as chief financial officer and chief operating officer of a 21-bed non-profit critical access hospital.
Kristen Ogden serves as the Director of Quality Improvement at The Compliance Team, bringing a wealth of experience and dedication to advancing rural healthcare. Previously, she held the role of Director of Clinic Quality and Accreditation, overseeing 12 Rural Health Clinics across Southwest Missouri.
Raised in a small rural community, Kristen has a personal connection to the challenges these areas face in accessing healthcare. Her passion for improving rural health drives her efforts to enhance care quality and expand access to underserved communities nationwide.
As a nurse leader, Kristen combines her clinical expertise with a commitment to improving patient outcomes. She is an active member of the Missouri Association of Rural Health Clinics, advocating for meaningful change in rural healthcare policy and practice.
Kristen earned her nursing degree from Lester E. Cox College of Nursing in Springfield, Missouri.
Lisa Bennett is the Director of Physician Clinics at Cody Regional Health in Cody, Wyoming, where she provides strategic and operational leadership across multiple physician clinic service lines, including Rural Health Clinics. Since April 2023, she has focused on improving clinic performance through standardized workflows, operational discipline, and formal process improvement methodologies tailored to rural healthcare environments.
Previously, Lisa served as Program Director of the Wound Care Center at Cody Regional Health in partnership with Healogics, where she was accountable for all operational functions, including financial performance, regulatory compliance, and team development. Her background also includes senior practice management roles with Banner Medical Group, overseeing multi-site specialty practices and leading significant improvements in staff engagement, patient experience, and clinic efficiency.
Lisa holds a Master of Business Administration in Health Systems Administration and brings more than two decades of healthcare experience spanning acute care, ambulatory services, and rural health settings. She is passionate about helping rural clinics implement practical, sustainable workflow improvements using structured process improvement frameworks that support both caregivers and patients.
Outside of healthcare leadership, Lisa is actively involved in her family farming operation and volunteers with the Clark Volunteer Fire Department.
Laney McDougal, MS-HSM joined the ACGME in April 2020 as the Director of Rural and Underserved Graduate Medical Education (GME), in the Department of Accreditation, Recognition, and Field Activities. She leads the ACGME’s efforts to advance GME that addresses health and healthcare in rural and underserved areas and oversees the programmatic unit of the ACGME that coordinates these efforts.
Ms. McDougal received her MS degree in Health Systems Management from Rush University, and her BA in Intercultural Studies from University of Northwestern-St. Paul. In her prior role as Director of Accreditation and Improvement in the Office of Integrated Medical Education at Rush University Medical Center, she implemented oversight structures to monitor compliance with ACGME requirements and served as an Institutional Coordinator and accreditation resource. Ms. McDougal has nine years of experience in GME administration and has worked in both dermatology and internal medicine residency programs and led several GME process improvement initiatives.
Practice Administrator
Practice Administrator
Brooke McDowell, Practice Administrator of The Medical Center of Elberton, LLP. Brooke has been with The Medical Center of Elberton since 1998. She earned her Bachelors Degree in Law from Emmanuel College and her Masters of Business Administration with a focus in Health Care Management from Piedmont College. A long time advocate for Rural Health Clinics, Brooke served on the Policy Committee for NARHC and participated in advocacy events in Washington, DC. She is currently serving a 3 term for the Georgia Medical Group Management Association board. In her free time she enjoys traveling across the world!
Public Health Analyst
Public Health Analyst
Lindsey Nienstedt serves as a Public Health Analyst for the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) in the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Lindsey serves as a subject matter expert for the Policy Research Division on issues related to Rural Health Clinics, Federally Qualified Health Centers, Medicaid, private insurance, behavioral health, and substance use disorders. Lindsey has a Master’s in Public Health and a Master’s in Social Work from Washington University in St. Louis and an undergraduate degree in Political Science and Women’s Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Lori Rodefeld serves as the Deputy Director of the Sheps GME Technical Assistance Centers at the Cecil G Sheps Center for Health Services Research at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. In this role she works with three federally funded programs supporting the growth of over 180 new GME programs in rural hospitals, clinics, and health centers across the nation. She also serves as Director of GME Development at the Wisconsin Collaborative for Rural Graduate Medical Education where she engages with stakeholders statewide to expand rural residency training and support the 30 rural residency programs in her state. Prior to working in GME development, she spent over 10 years at the SSM Monroe Hospital where she lead efforts to develop three new GME programs, including a the first AOA accredited rural track program in the country.
She serves as a member of the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM) UME-GME Task Force, Treasurer and GME Consultant for the Rural Medical Training Collaborative, Board President of GME Transformation, Member of the NRHA Government Affairs Committee, and as Board Member of the WiNC GME Consortium. Her research interests include state GME funding models, GME in critical access hospitals, strategies to grow residencies in high need specialties including psychiatry, surgery, and OB/GYN, as well as state and federal GME policy development.
Shannon assists private physician offices who desire to convert to RHC status & provides technical assistance to RHCs in maintaining compliance with the SC Department of Public Health. Shannon also provides technical assistance in billing & coding, EHR implementation, & practice management for all RHCs. Prior to joining the SC Office of Rural Health, Shannon worked in multiple physician practices. She has experience in Family Practice, Internal Medicine, Orthopedics, Urology, Peds, & many other specialties. Shannon has been a certified professional coder with the AAPC since 2006. She is also a Notary Public for the State of South Carolina since 2001. Shannon was a key player in the creation of NARHC’s RHC Clinic Manager Certification and serves at NARHCs president.
Quality & Accreditation Manager & Surveyor
Quality & Accreditation Manager & Surveyor
Tawnya Brock, RN, BSN, BPH, CRHCP, HACP, is a seasoned professional with a rich background in clinical and administrative healthcare, particularly in rural settings. With 40 years of experience, Tawnya has honed her expertise in both direct patient care and healthcare management with a passion for rural communities. Her commitment to rural health is evident through her role as a surveyor for the Kentucky Office of the Inspector General and Quad A, where she ensures rural healthcare standards are met with the highest level of integrity, while demonstrating compassion and understanding of the challenges rural healthcare providers face.
As a Certified Rural Health Clinic Professional (CRHCP) and CMS Certified Surveyor (SMQT), Tawnya's qualifications are a testament to her dedication to excellence in healthcare accreditation. Her proficiency is further recognized with her Healthcare Accreditation Certified Professional (HACP-CMS) credential, highlighting her knowledge in compliance and regulatory standards.
Tawnya's leadership extends to her active participation as a member of the NARHC Board. In addition, she is the secretary and board member of the KY MGMA, where she contributes to the strategic direction of medical group management. Her influence also reaches the legislative arena, where she serves on the Legislative Committee of the Kentucky Rural Health Association, advocating for policies that support rural healthcare providers and communities.
In addition to her professional endeavors, Tawnya is a member of The Rural Health Association of Tennessee, where she collaborates with peers to promote health and wellness in rural areas. Her current role at AdventHealth Manchester involves managing the quality and accreditation process for seven rural health clinics, showcasing her ability to oversee complex healthcare systems and ensure compliance across multiple facilities.
Tawnya's passion for healthcare is matched by her love for reading and travel, which she enjoys in her leisure time, between football games with her grandsons. Her compassionate nature is also evident in her volunteer work with the American Red Cross and the joy she finds in caring for her beloved beagle baby.
Tina Haynes serves as the CEO of Claiborne Memorial Medical Center and has over 20 years of healthcare leadership experience including serving as the Chief Operating Officer and previously in Health Information Management. She led efforts to establish a Rural Track Program in Family Medicine at her 47-bed hospital and rural health clinic. Her expertise spans administration, health information management, coding, billing, revenue cycle, and more. Mrs. Haynes also serves on the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) Medically Underserved Areas/Populations (MUA/P) Advisory Group. She was awarded a Champion of Rural Medicine Award from the Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM) for her efforts in growing medical education in her region.