Our board is made up of rural hospital leaders and primary care physicians who share the same vision for keeping care local and affordable in their communities.
Our Board
Led by Hospital Leaders & Physicians
Community Care Alliance Board
Chair
Chris Thomas, President & CEO
Community Hospital
Meet Chris
Alyssa Franklin, PharmD, COO
Aspen Valley Health
Meet Alyssa
Angelina Salazar, CEO
Western Healthcare Alliance
Meet Angelina
Antonio Gurule, Clinic Administrator
San Luis Valley Health
Meet Antonio
Arlene Harms, CEO
Rio Grande Hospital
Meet Arlene
Gary Knaus, MD, Medical Director
Valley Health Alliance
Meet Gary
Jim Coombs, CEO
Grand River Health
Meet Jim
Kevin Borchard, MD, Orthopedic Surgeon
Pioneers Medical Center
Meet Kevin
Kyle Miller, PharmD, COO
Memorial Regional Health
Meet Kyle
Robert Nelson, PA-C, BC-ADM
Chief of Quality & Patient Safety
Valley View Hospital
Meet Robert
Angelina Salazar
Chief Executive Officer, Western Healthcare Alliance
Angelina serves as Chief Executive Officer of Western Healthcare Alliance and its affiliated companies, where she partners with the Board of Directors, key stakeholders, and the executive management team to develop strategic initiatives that strengthen rural healthcare across Colorado, eastern Utah, and Michigan’s Thumb Region. Since joining WHA in May 2016 as a marketing and communications leader, she has demonstrated exceptional growth, advancing to interim CEO in July 2018 and being named permanent CEO in January 2019.
Her healthcare leadership journey began after a successful career in education, where she rapidly progressed from Outreach Coordinator to Regional Development Director for a national nonprofit, developing innovative programming and support systems. Transitioning to healthcare, Angelina quickly distinguished herself at a Critical Access Hospital in western Colorado, advancing from marketing roles to Director of Customer Service, Marketing, Community Relations, and Development, and ultimately to Vice President of Business Development. In this executive capacity, she orchestrated comprehensive communications strategies, managed physician services, and identified critical business development opportunities while establishing robust infrastructure supported by state and federal grants, fundraising initiatives, and foundation development.
Angelina’s commitment to rural healthcare extends beyond her executive role through her extensive board leadership, including serving as Board President of the Colorado Health Institute and Co-Chair of Club 20 Healthcare Policy. She also contributes her expertise to the National Cooperative of Health Networks Board, National Rural Health Association Rural Health Policy Congress, Ariel Clinical Services Board, and the National Rural Health Innovations Board. Through these roles, she has significantly enhanced visibility, impact, and financial stability for rural healthcare initiatives.
Her educational foundation includes a Bachelor of Arts in English with a Spanish minor and dual Master of Arts degrees in Language Acquisition and Psychology. She holds professional certifications in mediation, conflict resolution, facilitation, Reality-based Leadership instruction, and executive coaching, bringing a unique combination of communication expertise, psychological insight, and leadership acumen to her role in transforming rural healthcare delivery.
Alyssa Franklin, PharmD
Chief Operating Officer, Aspen Valley Health
Alyssa Franklin, PharmD, became Aspen Valley Health’s Chief Operating Officer in 2024. She is responsible for clinical operations of outpatient and ancillary services, which include the pharmacy, lab, diagnostic imaging, rehab services and nutrition services. She also oversees operations at Primary Care and Whitcomb Terrace. Alyssa joined the executive team after four years working as the Director of Outpatient Clinics, a position that allowed her to work closely with the Primary Care team in its shift to a value-based care system. Alyssa earned a Doctor of Pharmacy and a Masters of Business Administration from Drake University. She began her career at Aspen Valley Health in 2008 as a clinical pharmacist and was promoted in 2012 to Director of Pharmacy, where she helped develop evidence-based procedures to better serve patients. Her experience as both a manager and frontline healthcare worker has allowed her to support patients and lead employees through the changing landscape of healthcare. Alyssa entered healthcare to help people receive safe, excellent patient care and to improve their experiences interacting with the healthcare system. A good day at work is whenever she can help a patient feel at ease and answer their questions. As COO, she continues to impact patients and employees by supporting the teams she leads in providing high-quality care and service. Alyssa grew up in Iowa and became fascinated with the mountains as a child visiting family in Colorado. She moved to Aspen for the job and the mountains, learned to ski at the age of 24, and now spends much of her free time outside with her husband and son. Her favorite outdoor adventures include hiking over West Maroon Pass to Crested Butte and taking hut trips.
Antonio Gurule
Clinic Administrator, San Luis Valley Health
Antonio Gurule began serving SLV Health in 2010 as the Physician Integration Administrator. Prior to his tenure at SLVH, he worked in community health in executive-level roles. In 2015, the veteran health care administrator joined the Senior Team with a clear aim to support the ongoing development of a system of care between SLVH’s clinics, inpatient facilities, ancillary services, and other community partners. A native of the SLV, Gurule brings a solid commitment to serve the community in a manner that improves the local landscape.
Arlene Harms
Chief Executive Officer, Rio Grande Hospital
Arlene Harms is the CEO of Rio Grande Hospital in Del Norte Colorado, where she has worked for 15 years. Prior, she was CEO of Melissa Memorial Hospital in Holyoke, Colorado for 10 years.
Arlene is passionate about rural healthcare in Colorado and has intentionally spent her career working in Critical Access Hospitals. She has been a Colorado Hospital Association board member for nine years and has also been a member of the Regional Policy Board 8 with American Hospital Association. During her tenure at Rio Grande Hospital, the organization has been listed in the top 100 CAHs in the country in 2019 by Ivantage; and in the top 20 CAHs in 2020.
Arlene is married and has two adult children and four grandchildren. She spends her time outside of work, gardening, canning, and spending time with her grandchildren.
Chris Thomas
President and Chief Executive Officer, Community Hospital
Chris Thomas, FACHE was named president and CEO of Colorado West Healthcare System dba Community Hospital in 2008. Prior to joining Community Hospital, Chris was the executive director and chief administrative officer of ILS Resource Management. He has worked as a healthcare executive for over 35 years and holds a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA. He is a Fellow with the American College of Healthcare Executives.
Chris has been married for more than 31 years and he and his wife have three daughters and a son. They joke that they have a child who graduated in the class of 2013 and one who will graduate in the class of 2031. In his spare time, he and his family enjoy traveling. Most trips are centered on triathlons in different and exciting locations. Competing with his daughters in different locations from Mallorca, Spain to Costa Rica with a couple of finishes at the Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii. In total, he and his daughters have completed over 30 Ironman and Ironman 70.3s.
While at Community Hospital, Chris has helped move the organization out of extreme OIG sanctions to a strong and active part of the western Colorado healthcare community. Revenue has grown 5-fold during his tenure and Community Hospital has grown from 400 employees to almost 1,200, now the 3rd largest employer in the Grand Valley. In addition, Community Hospital opened a brand new four-story, 142,000 square foot, state-of-the-art hospital in March 2016 and ground breaking for a new 130,000 sq/ft. Grand Valley Oncology and Medical Office building should begin this summer. Under Chris’s leadership, Community Hospital was chosen as the Grand Junction Chamber Business of the Year in 2015 and Daily Sentinel readers selected Community Hospital as the “Best of the West” for medical facilities for four consecutive years from 2016-2019 and the have received the prestigious 5-Star recognition from CMS for two consecutive years.
Gary Knaus
MD, Medical Director, Valley Health Alliance
Dr. Gary Knaus is a retired Family Physician in Carbondale, Colorado. He previously worked at the Roaring Fork Family Practice at Valley View Hospital. He continues to be involved with various Health Policy initiatives and assists Valley View Hospital with their REACH participation. He serves on the Community Care Alliance and Valley Health Alliance (VHA) Boards. He is the Medical Director of the VHA and helps direct quality and system improvements for the Clinically Integrated Network.
Jim Coombs
Chief Executive Officer, Grand River Health
Grand River Health has 6 locations in Western Colorado and employs over 550 people. As Grand River’s CEO, Jim’s emphasis has been on creating a culture of unsurpassed quality within the organization. Prior to becoming the CEO, Jim served as Grand River’s Chief Financial Officer from 2006-2011. He received his master’s in accountancy from BYU and worked in public accounting and retail, but then found his calling of being a part of helping people in health care. Before arriving at Grand River, Jim worked for Exempla Healthcare in Denver and Presbyterian Healthcare Services in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Jim is an active member of the Colorado Hospital Association, the Western Healthcare Alliance. He lives in Rifle, Colorado with his wife Kris, and his six children.
Robert Nelson, PA-C, BC-ADM
Chief of Quality & Patient Safety
For Robert Nelson, PA-C, BC-ADM, it’s an honor to provide a broad spectrum of care to the community where he grew up. After earning a bachelor’s degree in biology and chemistry, Robert completed the Physician Assistant program at the University of Colorado School of Medicine in Denver. In addition to seeing patients for primary care and wellness visits, his clinical focus is caring for people with diabetes. Robert is board certified in Advanced Diabetes Management and provides a variety of solutions, including insulin pump management and continuous glucose monitoring. He also functions as Valley View’s Chief of Quality and Patient Safety and is committed to providing care that is truly patient-centered. Outside of work, his family is his first priority. Robert enjoys the many outdoor activities Colorado has to offer.
Kevin Borchard, MD
Orthopedic Surgeon, Pioneers Medical Center
Kevin Borchard, MD is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon with a fellowship in total joints. He attended University of Colorado School of Medicine in Denver, Colorado after which he did his residency at the Wilford Hall of Medicine at the Lackland Air force Base in Texas. Dr. Borchard then completed a fellowship in joint reconstruction at the New England Baptist Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts. In addition to total joint replacements and revisions, he also performs rotator cuff and shoulder labrum repairs. Dr. Borchard practices at Pioneers Medical Center in Meeker, CO.
Kyle Miller
Chief Operating Officer, Memorial Regional Health
Kyle is the Chief Operating Officer for Memorial Regional Health in Craig, CO. Before filling the COO role, he served as the Chief Clinical Officer since 2018. Kyle has over 35 years of healthcare experience and has served 23 of those years at MRH. By trade, Kyle is a licensed pharmacist of 25 years and previously served as the Pharmacy Director with MRH through a pharmacy management agreement with Cardinal Health. Kyle’s healthcare leadership is quality and operations driven. Throughout his tenure at MRH, he has been responsible for implementing numerous clinical service lines, but most notable are two retail pharmacies, an Infusion Clinic, an Anti-coagulation clinic, and the 340B program.
Kyle holds a doctorate degree (PharmD) in Pharmaceutical Sciences from North Dakota State University and a post graduate, PGY-1 Residency from American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) in hospital acute care. Additionally, Kyle is a managing partner of Providence Recovery Services, a new, independent business venture that specializes in substance use treatment for Moffat County.
In his spare time, Kyle enjoys all the outdoor activities Colorado has to offer with his wife and two children. Those activities include golf, snowmobiling, boating, fishing, hiking, camping and hunting.