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220K
Annual Encounters
52K
Annual
Patients
136
Languages Spoken
34
Years of
Service
12
Clinic Locations
1
Mission
Executive
Team.
Organizational Mission Statement: STRIDE partners with the community to provide excellent, culturally-sensitive health services to meet the needs of each individual.
Organizational Statement of Inclusion: STRIDE is committed to providing a safe, inclusive and affirmative environment for all staff and patients. Through advocacy, education, and self-reflection, we work to support our staff in providing culturally responsive, compassionate, and comprehensive healthcare to the communities we serve.
Governance: STRIDE is governed by a Board of Directors comprised of 51% current patients. Meet the STRIDE Board and learn more about their impact and ways you can get involved and serve our community, here.
Santos Vera,
President and CEO
Santos Vera is a healthcare executive with over 25 years of experience leading safety-net healthcare organizations such as federally qualified health centers (FQHC) and academic medical groups. He has achieved success through collaboration, innovation, and operational excellence to assist FQHCs in maximizing services for the marginalized and uninsured patients we serve. He is known for creating an organizational culture that thrives on humility, transparency, and authenticity. Mr. Vera’s servant leadership and inclusive style allow him to engage frequently with internal and external stakeholders.
Mr. Vera’s career includes roles as Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer, Senior Vice President and Administrator/Executive Director at organizations dedicated to a variety of healthcare causes including social justice and public policy.
As a strategy and operations leader, he blends his passion for social impact with out-of-the-box thinking combined with his expertise to help healthcare organizations provide improved quality of care. Most recently, Mr. Vera was named as one of the Top 10 Healthcare Leaders of 2022. His other achievements have included FQHC merger and acquisitions, the development of hospital and FQHC divergent programs, specialty care service line, Ryan White and dental program expansion, FoodRx program, and the planning and development of de-novo health centers.
Mr. Vera serves as a Board member of a non-for-profit healthcare organization focused on caring for women with breast and cervical cancer. He is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives and is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Southern California teaching a graduate program. He serves on several committees on Leadership that is centered on mentoring and coaching young leaders. Mr. Vera graduated from Charles R. Drew University School of Medicine. He went on to complete a Fellowship with Martin Luther King, Jr. Medical Center – Los Angeles County. Additionally, he attended the University of Southern California where he received a Master’s degree in Healthcare Administration with an emphasis on Leadership and Finance. He is currently completing his Ph.D. in Healthcare Strategy.
Santos Vera is a healthcare executive with over 25 years of experience leading safety-net healthcare organizations such as federally qualified health centers (FQHC) and academic medical groups. He has achieved success through collaboration, innovation, and operational excellence to assist FQHCs in maximizing services for the marginalized and uninsured patients we serve. He is known for creating an organizational culture that thrives on humility, transparency, and authenticity. Mr. Vera’s servant leadership and inclusive style allow him to engage frequently with internal and external stakeholders.
Mr. Vera’s career includes roles as Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer, Senior Vice President and Administrator/Executive Director at organizations dedicated to a variety of healthcare causes including social justice and public policy.
As a strategy and operations leader, he blends his passion for social impact with out-of-the-box thinking combined with his expertise to help healthcare organizations provide improved quality of care. Most recently, Mr. Vera was named as one of the Top 10 Healthcare Leaders of 2022. His other achievements have included FQHC merger and acquisitions, the development of hospital and FQHC divergent programs, specialty care service line, Ryan White and dental program expansion, FoodRx program, and the planning and development of de-novo health centers.
Mr. Vera serves as a Board member of a non-for-profit healthcare organization focused on caring for women with breast and cervical cancer. He is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives and is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Southern California teaching a graduate program. He serves on several committees on Leadership that is centered on mentoring and coaching young leaders. Mr. Vera graduated from Charles R. Drew University School of Medicine. He went on to complete a Fellowship with Martin Luther King, Jr. Medical Center – Los Angeles County. Additionally, he attended the University of Southern California where he received a Master’s degree in Healthcare Administration with an emphasis on Leadership and Finance. He is currently completing his Ph.D. in Healthcare Strategy.
April Peer,
Chief Financial Officer
April Peer is a proven industry expert in finance and operations management within healthcare. She is a dedicated professional who has aligned her career visions to achieve set goals across multiple organizations over the years. As a senior accounting and financial management executive, April possesses a vast knowledge cutting across multiple facets of finance, helping her streamline business operations that drive growth and increase efficiency and bottom-line profit. Her expertise cuts across the fields of Accounting and Financial oversight, business planning and analysis, financial forecasting, grant management, revenue generation, budget management, relationship building, amongst others.
April’s expertise has been harnessed by numerous health facilities over the years, holding pivotal leadership, administrative, and managerial positions. She has worked as a Director of Physician Operations and Financial Manager for the Helena Regional Medical Center, and a Chief Financial Officer for Lee County Cooperative Clinic and the Executive Vice President of Finance at the Avenue 360 Health and Wellness. At every point of her career, she focuses her goals to suit the needs of organizations and its esteemed customers. She has over 10 years of experience in working in non-profit specifically in Federally Qualified Health Centers.
Tapping into her educational background, she holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and a Master of Science degree in Public Administration from the Arkansas State University. To further broaden her horizons, she has participated in training sessions as related to her work in the healthcare field. Her industry insight, combined with her passion for working with people, equips her with a refined approach to better deliver results. April is a highly spirited team player who delights in establishing positive relationships. She finds her contributions to the healthcare field to be the most rewarding part of her career and will make a valuable asset to any organization. In her, spare time she loves spending time with her son Andre Jacob (AJ) and her dog Cash.
April Peer is a proven industry expert in finance and operations management within healthcare. She is a dedicated professional who has aligned her career visions to achieve set goals across multiple organizations over the years. As a senior accounting and financial management executive, April possesses a vast knowledge cutting across multiple facets of finance, helping her streamline business operations that drive growth and increase efficiency and bottom-line profit. Her expertise cuts across the fields of Accounting and Financial oversight, business planning and analysis, financial forecasting, grant management, revenue generation, budget management, relationship building, amongst others.
April’s expertise has been harnessed by numerous health facilities over the years, holding pivotal leadership, administrative, and managerial positions. She has worked as a Director of Physician Operations and Financial Manager for the Helena Regional Medical Center, and a Chief Financial Officer for Lee County Cooperative Clinic and the Executive Vice President of Finance at the Avenue 360 Health and Wellness. At every point of her career, she focuses her goals to suit the needs of organizations and its esteemed customers. She has over 10 years of experience in working in non-profit specifically in Federally Qualified Health Centers.
Tapping into her educational background, she holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and a Master of Science degree in Public Administration from the Arkansas State University. To further broaden her horizons, she has participated in training sessions as related to her work in the healthcare field. Her industry insight, combined with her passion for working with people, equips her with a refined approach to better deliver results. April is a highly spirited team player who delights in establishing positive relationships. She finds her contributions to the healthcare field to be the most rewarding part of her career and will make a valuable asset to any organization. In her, spare time she loves spending time with her son Andre Jacob (AJ) and her dog Cash.
Dr. TJ Staff,
Chief Medical Officer
Dr. Thomas J. Staff, MD, MPH, is an accomplished physician leader who has been practicing in the Denver area since 2012.
He brings over 25 years of experience working with academic safety-net health care organizations to address health disparities for the most vulnerable and marginalized patients populations.
He comes to us from Denver Health where he served as the Associate Program Director for the University of Colorado Family Medicine Residency program and practiced full scope family medicine at the Lowry Family Health Center. Prior to that he was medical director for a clinic in the Austin neighborhood on Chicago’s west side.
Dr. Staff attributes his knowledge of medicine and social justice to his time at Georgetown University, where he completed his undergrad and medical training. Before relocating to Denver, Dr. Staff completed his family medicine training at PCC Community Wellness Center and West Suburban Medical Center in Oak Park, Illinois. Additionally, he completed a two-year fellowship in Maternal & Child Health and Public Health at UIC.
Dr. Thomas J. Staff, MD, MPH, is an accomplished physician leader who has been practicing in the Denver area since 2012.
He brings over 25 years of experience working with academic safety-net health care organizations to address health disparities for the most vulnerable and marginalized patients populations.
He comes to us from Denver Health where he served as the Associate Program Director for the University of Colorado Family Medicine Residency program and practiced full scope family medicine at the Lowry Family Health Center. Prior to that he was medical director for a clinic in the Austin neighborhood on Chicago’s west side.
Dr. Staff attributes his knowledge of medicine and social justice to his time at Georgetown University, where he completed his undergrad and medical training. Before relocating to Denver, Dr. Staff completed his family medicine training at PCC Community Wellness Center and West Suburban Medical Center in Oak Park, Illinois. Additionally, he completed a two-year fellowship in Maternal & Child Health and Public Health at UIC.
Christi Garriott,
Deputy Director of Operations
Christi joined STRIDE in 2022, and acts as the Deputy Director of Operations. Christi was a patient of a Federally Qualified Health Center, for many years as a child, and has lived personal experience that mirrors many of the families served by STRIDE every day. With more than two decades of experience in Colorado Federally Qualified Health Centers, Christi’s focus at STRIDE is positively contributing to the patient experience through operational efficiencies that are focused on creating and maintaining a healing environment for the patients who trust our organization with their health care. Christi is an Executive Fellow in Community Health, as designated by the Department of Health Care Policy and Finance at the University of Kansas, with significant experience in Revenue Cycle, Information Technology, Analytics and Health Center Operations.
Christi joined STRIDE in 2022, and acts as the Deputy Director of Operations. Christi was a patient of a Federally Qualified Health Center, for many years as a child, and has lived personal experience that mirrors many of the families served by STRIDE every day. With more than two decades of experience in Colorado Federally Qualified Health Centers, Christi’s focus at STRIDE is positively contributing to the patient experience through operational efficiencies that are focused on creating and maintaining a healing environment for the patients who trust our organization with their health care. Christi is an Executive Fellow in Community Health, as designated by the Department of Health Care Policy and Finance at the University of Kansas, with significant experience in Revenue Cycle, Information Technology, Analytics and Health Center Operations.
Alan Ray Reed
Deputy Director of Nursing.
Alan Ray Reed (he/him) is STRIDE’s Nursing/Clinical Operations Executive and a practicing Advanced Practice Registered Nurse/Nurse Practitioner. Mr. Reed has 7 years of advanced practice experience in community health/primary care. His clinical passions include primary community health care, refugee health, substance use, HIV, Hepatitis B and C, and integrated behavioral health. Mr. Reed brings both the provider and nurse perspective to his leadership work and strives to build a high performing team of clinical support aimed at improving the lives of STRIDE patients and staff while delivering high-quality, cost-effective care to our most vulnerable communities. Outside of work, Mr. Reed enjoys hiking, cycling, motorcycling, and spending time with friends.
Alan Ray Reed (he/him) is STRIDE’s Nursing/Clinical Operations Executive and a practicing Advanced Practice Registered Nurse/Nurse Practitioner. Mr. Reed has 7 years of advanced practice experience in community health/primary care. His clinical passions include primary community health care, refugee health, substance use, HIV, Hepatitis B and C, and integrated behavioral health. Mr. Reed brings both the provider and nurse perspective to his leadership work and strives to build a high performing team of clinical support aimed at improving the lives of STRIDE patients and staff while delivering high-quality, cost-effective care to our most vulnerable communities. Outside of work, Mr. Reed enjoys hiking, cycling, motorcycling, and spending time with friends.
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