Patients & Families

Mr. Corbett is senior vice president of community health and values integration at Centura Health, a multi-state integrated health system and Colorado’s largest health care provider. He is a fellow at Harvard Medical School, Division of Medical Ethics. Mr. Corbett was appointed a four year term to the National Institutes of Health’s National Advisory Council for Nursing Research by Health and Human Services Secretary, Kathleen Sebellius. Mr. Corbett’s research interests are at the intersection of health, law, and bioethics with a focus on health finance and the influence of large institutions on patient care and population health. Over the course of his career, Mr. Corbett has worked in four different health systems providing strategic and operational leadership for community health, behavioral health, ethics, spiritual care, diversity, mission and global health. In these roles, he established innovative programs using community health advocates, behavioral health navigators, and hospital housing partnerships to improve health care outcomes and reduce health care costs. Mr. Corbett has lectured at Harvard in Clinical Bioethics Courses and at the Maine School of Law and has been published in numerous books and journals. Mr. Corbett received his B.S. in International Relations from Syracuse University, a Juris Doctor from St. Johns University and a Master of Divinity from Duke University.

Cristen Bates is a dedicated public health executive with 15 years of experience serving the community with expertise in stakeholder engagement, maternal and child health, senior services, healthcare quality, information technology, and communications. Ms. Bates started her career in community mental health as a crisis case manager prior to joining the Peace Corps where she served in Niger as a community health advocate. After relocating to Washington DC, Ms. Bates wrote and edited professional manuals for the American Psychological Association in the HIV/AIDS department, implemented a health passport system for families in transitional housing for Community of Hope, designed evaluations for the Department of Health, and doubled the number of screenings for the Hepatitis B Initiatives by developing relationships with recently immigrated African community members. She worked for three years for the National Partnership for Women & Families as a technical assistance provider for Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's Aligning Forces for Quality initiative, where she trained hundreds of community health workers on patient engagement. With Booz Allen Hamilton, Ms. Bates designed and implemented national campaigns for the Department of Health and Human Services (Center for Disease Control, Office of the National Coordinator, and Center for Medicaid and Medicare Services), the Department of Defense, the Department for Veterans Affairs, and the Gates Foundation. As the Executive Director of Health SET and Centura Health LINKS, Ms. Bates leads an incredible team of community health workers in assisting over vulnerable populations achieve wellness through 24 free mobile wellness clinics and application and enrollment services. Ms. Bates holds Bachelors in Psychology from the University of Kansas and a Master’s in Public Health and Graduate Certificate in Health Information Technology from George Washington University.

Dave Moore has spent 40 years in Radio Broadcasting. Over the last five years he also worked as the Patient Representative (Advocate) at St. Mary-Corwin Medical Center in Pueblo. Dave moved to Denver in October 2015 to take the position of Manager of Volunteer Services for LINKS and HealthSET. Dave recruits volunteers for the LINKS program. These volunteers go through training to be Certified SHIP counselors. These counselors take phone calls from the public, answering questions concerning Medicare and Medicaid benefits. The job they do is invaluable to the clients they serve. Dave and his wife Brandi, have two children; Carly, 23, and Brady, 20. And a Bichon Frise named Max, 13.

Ron is a Data Project Analyst. He provides system support, data grant reporting and analysis. Ron comes to Centura Health LINKS from Healthtrans, a Pharmacy Benefit Management company in the DTC area acquired by Catamaran Healthcare Solutions based out of Illinois, formerly known as SXC (System Xellence). Ron title was Lead Customer Service Specialist and Reporting Technician. Ron trained and supported new hires on customer service protocol for pharmacy benefit claims. Ron also ran daily/monthly reports on call volume trends and analysis. Ron comes with a wealth of knowledge in the Customer Service field, having managed a pharmacy Call Center for the second largest tax agency in America, Jackson Hewitt, Supervised a Call Center for Satellite Commercial TV, and Supervised Technician Dispatchers. Previously, Ron worked at CSG Systems as a Data Analyst, where he monitored and generated reports of productivity trends to level management as well as to upper management directors and CEO of the company. Ron enjoys being able to analyze and report on daily and monthly activity conducted by Centura Health LINKS counselors in which they support and help disabled persons and senior citizens understand the complexities of healthcare benefit eligibility at a no cost.

Jean Anhalt is a Benefits Counselor in senior services with Centura Health LINKS. Previously, she worked for LINKS as a Health Coverage Guide navigating clients through the Connect for Health Colorado system, and was a volunteer in the SHIP (Medicare counseling) program. Before coming to LINKS, Jean was a research associate with a Denver based public policy research firm evaluating child custody and visitation practices, and also worked as a therapist for Mental Health Center of Denver. Born in Normal, Illinois, Jean lived for many years in the southern and midwestern regions of the country before settling in Colorado 20 years ago.

Ms. Basler joined the Centura Health LINKS team as a Benefits Counselor in 2010, after a year of volunteering as a Medicare SHIP counselor and Health Passport Reconnect Coach. She sought employment with LINKS after completing patient navigation courses at the University of Colorado. She is passionate about helping community members with chronic illness to find solutions. April likes to break down complex programs, such as helping families get their loved ones into long term care, into less complicated processes. She is a certified Medicare counselor and community health coach, connecting people to adult Medicaid, public assistance, prescription assistance and patient assistance programs. She utilizes strong client servicing experience with over 14 years in unemployment compensation program management coupled with an additional 10+ years in customer service. Her background includes formal and informal public speaking, training and marketing. April holds a Master’s degree in Training and Adult Development with an emphasis on Instructional Design and Human Resource Management. She is a Healthier Living Colorado leader presenting chronic disease management workshops to community members. She truly enjoys working with people, engaging in training opportunities and initiating new professional relationships with community partners. Her dedication to enhancing her communication and collaboration skills shine in her work, as she consistently seeks to exceed customer expectations.

Wendy Purcell is a Benefits Counselor with Centura Health LINKS. She has provided application assistance for client who are in need of public assistance such as Medicare Savings Programs (MSP), Medicaid, HCBS/LTC Old Age Pension, SNAP and LEAP. Wendy also works with clients to screen them for further assistance or other benefits programs that can help to lower their medical expenses each month. Wendy has been assisting seniors since 1990 with their health care needs. Prior to working for Centura Health, Wendy worked in the home health industry for 13 years and has been working with medical offices for over 15 years. She gives each senior the attention they need to locate possible benefits to assist them and to improve their quality of life. Her passion to help seniors is the reason she is at Centura Health LINKS.

Jijettia is one of the Benefits counselors for Centura Health LINKS. She serves as a liaison between the client, physician, community agency, hospital, and governmental agencies; and is actively involved in all areas of benefit navigation and application. Jijettia has worked in the health care field for over 15 years and brings a point of view as a health service provider and a clinician. Jijettia comes to LINKS from Kaiser Permanente where she served as a financial counselor both in the clinic and the call center.

Melissa is the Benefits Counselor in our Pueblo office located in the Pueblo Step Up office at 1925 E Orman, 6th floor. She provides confidential, no cost and unbiased assistance understanding and enrolling in healthcare benefits and other programs such as food assistance, LEAP, Medicaid, pharmaceutical assistance, and more. Melissa comes from a 20 year career in long term care. She has experience as a Nursing Home Administrator, Director of Admissions and Marketing and Director of Medical Records. She has been a volunteer SHIP counselor in Pueblo for almost 20 years. SHIP counselors provide free, impartial health insurance information to Medicare beneficiaries and their caregivers. SHIP counselors educate, advocate, counsel and empower people to make informed healthcare benefit decisions. Melissa joined Centura Health 3 years ago to offer her expertise and assistance to people enrolling in the Connect for Health Colorado plans and has since transitioned to focus on Medicare and senior programs.

Rachal M. Velasquez is a Benefits Counselor. She provides direct services to clients including Medicaid, Medicare, private insurance, Colorado Indigent Care Program, and other programs such as Bridge and DACA. She is a graduate of Adams State College where she received her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. She worked in a small clinic doing revenue and assisting with the front desk. She spent five years with a pilot program with Jefferson County School Medicaid and has an extensive background working in revenue for large hospital systems and in medical clinics. Rachal also helped build a Medical Assistance Program for Servicios De La Raza before coming to Centura Health Links. Rachal made the move to Centura Health when she noticed the growing trend of Spanish speaking clients in need of assistance with Medicare. In her current role, Rachal most enjoys giving presentations in small group settings for Medicare and Medicaid to senior clients. Rachal is a 5th generation Native of Southern Colorado’s, San Luis Valley and loves to discuss her history. She enjoys hiking, biking, camping any time she can get to the mountains.

Sharon Carvalho is one of three Business Support Specialists with Century Health LINKS. She provides assistance to callers by directing them to the appropriate departments for help understanding Medicare enrollment as well as the Medicare Savings Programs, Old Age Pension, LEAP and food assistance. Sharon also assists with data entry in the LINKS database for reporting to our LINKS funders and community partners. Sharon has been with Centura Health for over 16 years beginning as an administrative assistant in the Centura Health sponsored ASK-A-NURSE program in July 1999. After changes were made to the AAN program in 2011, Sharon left Centura Health for about a year, but returned to work at Porter Place Independent and Assisted Living. She formed many lasting relationships with residents at Porter Place; but desired to work full-time. Knowing she wanted to continue to work with people in her generation, she came to the LINKS program in September 2015.

Bonnie has worked for Centura Health for eight years. The first 6 were with Centura Health At Home, in Medical Records and Operations. The 10 years prior to working for Centura Health, Bonnie was doing private duty Homemaker Companion for seniors, many of them diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Bonnie answers the intake phone line for LINKS and conducts screenings and intakes for new clients and schedules an appointment with a Benefits Counselor. In addition, she is able to let the client know of other available resources.

Patsy Hill came to Centura Health LINKS in January 2016 and currently works as a Business Support Specialist. Patsy is responsible for the LINKS intake line, conducting screenings for all new clients and scheduling appointments for them with one of our Benefits Counselors. During the screening and intake process, she interviews the client to understand if they need Medicare or Medicaid assistance. Patsy also assists with data entry for the team. Before working at Centura Health, Patsy worked for the State of Colorado as a CDLE Administrative II in appeals.