2026 Colorado AHEC’s Advisor’s Day
Virtual from CU Anschutz Medical Campus
Thursday, June 11, 2026
9:00 am – 3:00 pm
AGENDA
9:00 -9:15 AM Welcome
Tony Salazar - Vice President for Outreach & Engagement, Office of Outreach and Engagement, University of Colorado
Dr. Josina Romero-O'Connell, MD - Director, Colorado Area Health Education Center (COAHEC)
9:15-10:45 AM Q&A Round 1
We will randomly assign participants to breakout rooms and rotate every 15 minutes.
Modern Human Anatomy Program
Jennifer Thurston - Academic Services Program Director, Modern Human Anatomy Program
Physician Assistant Program
Michele Martinez- Admissions and Finance Coordinator
School of Dental Medicine
Kristen Brodie - Manager of Admissions and Student Engagement
Althea Reutzel - Manager of Student Wellbeing
School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
Amanda Ryder, MBA, Director of Admissions and Recruitment
Colorado Area Health Education Program Office
MariaFrancisca Zabalaga-Haberman, M.S. – Programs Manager and Education Specialist
Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP)
Dr. Traci Lyons, PhD - Chair, MSTP Admissions Committee
Chris Sienza, MS - Program Manager - Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP)
10:45-11:00 AM Break
11:00 AM - 1:00 PM Q&A Round 2
We will randomly assign participants to breakout rooms and rotate every 15 minutes.
Anesthesiologist Assistant Program
Amy Hebbert, BA- Academic Services Program Manager
CU School of Medicine
Lamar Cherry - Sr. Admissions Specialist
College of Nursing
Bianca Sanchez - Recruitment Program Manager
Physical Therapy Program
Natalie Palmer - Academic Services Professional
School of Public Health
Laura Hager, Director of Admissions & Student Affairs
CU School of Medicine Rural Program
Roberto Silva, MD - Assistant Director, CU SOM Rural program
Office For Educational Outreach and Pathway Initiatives
James Speed - Director, Office for Educational Outreach and Pathway Initiative
1:00 -1:15 PM Break
1:15-2:30 PM Student Panel: Main Room
Moderated by Dr. Josina Romero O'Connell, MD
Student Panelists
Sophia Hubartt-Gundelach – Colorado School of Public Health
Lauren Verhulst – Modern Human Anatomy Program
2:30 PM Closing
Dr. Josina Romero O’Connell, MD - Director, Colorado Area Health Education Center (COAHEC)
2026 Student Panelists
Sophia Hubartt-Gundelach (She/Her/Ella)
MPH Candidate | Community and Behavioral Health – Global Health – Biostatistics, Colorado School of Public Health
Sophia is beginning her third year as a dual Master of Public Health candidate in Community & Behavioral Health and Applied Biostatistics with the Global Emphasis. She also serves as the president of the ColoradoSPH Student Council, ASPPH This Is Public Health (TIPH) ambassador, and peer mentor with the ColoradoSPH PALS program. In the future, she hopes to obtain a DrPH to further empower our global community through positive health practices and data analytics.