Kate Hartzell MA, MAT, MPH, Executive Director

As Executive Director of SWCAHEC, Kate is committed to the development and support of health professionals who meet the unique health needs of Southwestern Colorado. Kate has an extensive wealth of knowledge in anthropology, education, and public health. Her career has focused across the public health spectrum including women’s reproductive health, maternal & child mortality, the creation of public health education programs, the creation & dissemination of public health information, and instructional strategies for diverse student populations. Kate, most recently taught courses in Public Health at Diné College, the tribal college of the Navajo Nation, and created the new Bachelor’s in Science degree program in Public Health. [email protected]

Imo Succo, MSW, Programs Manager / RHC

Imo is a member of the Navajo Nation tribe, born and raised on the Navajo reservation. She currently resides in southwest Colorado. She is the Programs Manager for the Indigenous Peer Recovery Program. The program is based on the Wellbriety model and implemented by the Indigenous Peer Recovery Program.

Her role as an RHC is to assist healthcare agencies in accessing training programs, educational materials, and sharing grant information that fills the needs in gaps of services in southwestern Colorado. She actively networks within the community while creating linkages for healthcare and community resource programs to support capacity building and agency relationships.

With Imo’s Navajo cultural upbringing, and her experience as a former public safety dispatcher, she educates the community on the topic of Native American Cultural Awareness, Substance Use and healthcare access through her lens. Imo finds this important throughout her journey in life and career. For more information about Imo’s work, please contact: [email protected]

Chelsie Begoody, Community Programs Associate

Chelsie Begoody, Community Programs Associate is from Burnside, AZ, a small community on the Navajo Nation and her clans are Sleepy Rock, Honeycomb Rock, Salt, and Edge Water. She is currently majoring in Public Health at Fort Lewis College with minors in Nutrition and Environmental Policy and plans on graduating in the fall. With her passion for nutrition, and her experience in metropolitan healthcare settings and rural communities, she is a great asset to our team. [email protected]

Dyllon Mills, Community Health Programs Associate

Dyllon Mills, Community Health Programs Associate, has recently joined the SWCAHEC team and we are excited to have him on board. Dyllon graduated from Fort Lewis College and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Health. He hails from the lands of Ute Mountain Utes of Colorado and is the Vice-Chair of the Board for Kwiyagat Community Academy where he continues to assist with educational efforts from the startup phase to its second academic year serving the residents of the SW community. Dyllon has a passion for educational policies, equity programs, and will be a strong asset in building SWCAHEC’s healthcare capacity programs. [email protected].

Tilton Dennison, Healthcare Pipeline Associate

Tilton Dennison is a member of the Diné (Navajo) Nation. He hails from Chíí Deezáhí, located just 5 and 1/2 miles northeast of Aneth, Utah.

He recently graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Diné College. Tilton works with TRIO Talent Search as an Academic Advisor and works with SWCAHEC as a Healthcare Pipeline Associate.

When Tilton is not working, he enjoys doing artwork (feather work/bead work), hiking, and traveling with his wife Caitlyn and his two beautiful girls. [email protected]

April Chavez, Public Health Training Associate

Hello, my name is April Chavez. I am from the Navajo Nation Tribe. I am originally from Sawmill, Arizona but I have resided in Southwest Colorado for nine years. I graduated with a BA of public health from Fort Lewis College in 2018. My passion is helping the community with their health needs, providing health education, and promoting healthy lifestyles. My hobbies includes weight lifting, crafting, hiking, and baking. I am excited to be part of the team.