Building a Health Home for Life El Rio Health 55
By Loni Nannini
For 55 years, El Rio Health has been blazing trails in Tucson’s well-being and building a “health home for life” where care meets community.
“Having your health home at El Rio Health is a patient-centered, teambased model of care that supports individuals through every stage of life,” said Clinton Kuntz, DBH, CEO of El Rio Health.
“It is not just about having a health center to visit − it’s about having a trusted care team that knows your history, understands your needs, and helps
With urging from Barrio residents, El Rio is founded with the help of Dr. Herbert Abrams of the UA College of Medicine.
you navigate the healthcare system with care and compassion.”
That distinctive philosophy has catapulted what began as a small clinic for underserved patients west of downtown Tucson into a thriving community health center serving 130,000 patients at 14 Pima County locations, with another slated to open in 2026.
With over 1,900 employees, El Rio’s state-of-the-art facilities offer onestop access to primary and preventive care in medical, dental and behavioral health. Services extend to women’s
Thanks to federal and county funds, El Rio opens the first site at the Mother Higgins Building. Although designed to serve 20,000 patients, demand exceeds capacity. Staff = 50. Budget = $500,000.
Demand increases, requiring the first permanent building to be constructed on Congress Street, just West of Downtown. This site becomes El Rio’s flagship location.
health − prenatal care, OB/GYNs and midwives − and imaging services as well as cancer screenings.
El Rio also integrates a range of wellness programs − yoga, Tai Chi and more − and an ever-expanding list of comprehensive care including chiropractic, physical therapy, pharmacy and lab services and much more.
“We offer a multitude of services for all ages all under one roof,” Kuntz said. “Our ‘whole-person’ care model makes us unique, and it is open to everyone. The entire model of community health centers is to get people into care.”
In an at tempt to make care more accessible to patients, El Rio starts its own health care plan, a financial risk that does not pay off.
Board decides to file for bankruptcy and reorganize. With newly hired executive director Robert Gomez, they turn the organization around.
El Rio is committed to serving patients regardless of ability to pay, including those who are uninsured. It also welcomes a growing base of patients with private insurance.
The model is distinctive in the rapidly growing sector of non-profit community health centers that contributed more than $85 billion in U.S. economic output in 2021 (according to Matrix Global Advisors) and served a record 33.9 million patients nationwide in 2024.
El Rio receives funding from Angel Charity for Children to help with adding additional space at the Congress location for pediatrics and dental services.
“El Rio Health is increasingly recognized as a national model for community health centers due to our innovative, patient-centered approach, our commitment to underserved populations, and our demonstrated excellence in care delivery and operational efficiency,” said Kuntz, citing accolades such as the American Medical Association Joy in Medicine Gold Award and the Health Information and Management Systems Society Davies Award. El Rio has also received certification from the National Committee for Quality Assur-
El Rio develops a strong partnership with the Pascua Yaqui Tribe that includes opening a site on the reservation.
El Rio Foundation hires its first executive director & assembles a Foundation Board charged with raising philanthropic support and public awareness.
ance Patient-Centered Medical Home and numerous accreditations from the Joint Commission.
“We are building a scalable, data-driven, quality-based model that we love to share with other health centers in order to expand access, improve outcomes, and lower total cost of care for all patients and communities,” said Kuntz.
Strategy for A Quality Continuum of Care
The El Rio model is based on a transformational 2025 Strategic Plan that continued on page 102 >>>
El Rio acquires El Pueblo Health Center. Begins process of transitioning to electronic medical records across the organization.
In continuing the quest towards improving quality and patient safety, El Rio receives first National Center for Quality Assurance (NCQA) accreditation. In 2010, Joint Commission accreditation was added. Both accreditations are maintained to date.
continued on page 102 >>>
PHOTOS
“I am proud of the growth because that means we are reaching more people in the various areas and bringing good healthcare to as many as possible.”
– Francisco Muñoz Board Chair El Rio Health
Administrative staff members, totaling over 300, move Administrative Headquarters to the Historic Manning House in downtown Tucson.
El Rio and TMC Health develop Joint Venture, HealthOn Tucson.
What began as a year to celebrate El Rio’s 50th anniversary turned into El Rio employees stepping up in big ways to support the Tucson community during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
El Rio receives first ever Gold level recognition from the American Medical Association (AMA) as a Joy in Medicine™ health organization. This prestigious distinction is granted to organizations that meet rigorous criteria and prioritize efforts to enhance well-being and professional fulfillment of physicians.
El Rio is the 20th largest Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) in the country, serving over 129,000 Tucsonans with an annual budget of over $300 million and over 1,900 employees.
Francisco Muñoz
Clinton Kuntz, DBH
Brenda Goldsmith
that in real time,” he said.
Muñoz is grateful to the “visionaries” and healthcare providers who have supported El Rio’s growth, including its bold $40 million expansion with the largest facility yet at El Rio Stone Health Center opening in 2026.
“I am proud of the growth because that means we are reaching more people in the various areas and bringing good healthcare to as many as possible. We all deserve that much,” Muñoz said.
Connecting Clinic & Community
Medical and non-medical community collaborations are central components of the initiatives that are shaping national conversations around El Rio Health outcomes.
Partnerships with municipalities, social service agencies and nonprofits address socioeconomic, environmental and community-based barriers to health. Partners include the City of Tucson, the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona, Old Pueblo Community Services, Interfaith Community Services, Emerge Center Against Domestic Abuse and countless other organizations.
“Our approach includes proactive screening for Social Determinants of Health and partnership with community organizations and services tailored to individual needs,” said Dr. Sonia Reidy, senior medical director at El Rio. “We have a robust team of community health advisors who help connect patients to our community partners for legal needs, housing needs, resources for
El Rio Health Numbers*
El Rio is now the 20th largest health center in the country by total number of patients served.
Patient Numbers: Total Patients Served –129,045 served
65+ 18,556 14% Annual Patient Visits – 558,579
Patient Characteristics:
or below 200% of poverty 93%
or below 100% of poverty 68% Patient by Insurance Status (2024)
our Nurse Practitioner Residency Program to train the workforce of tomorrow.”
Collaborations are further facilitated by the El Rio Foundation, which was started in 2001 to support El Rio through fundraising, outreach and education.
Powered by more than 65 volunteers, including a dynamic group of young professionals known as the Vecinos (“neighbors” in Spanish), the foundation has raised more than $46 million.
“This is a true testament to the generosity of this community,” said Brenda Goldsmith, executive director of the foundation. “Almost all of the funds raised are private philanthropic dollars from individuals, foundations and corporations primarily here in Tucson, Arizona.
Annual Patient Visits: 558,579 Annual Patient Visits
*BASED ON 2024 UDS
food and more.”
El Rio is also building collaborations that promote workforce development in response to the ongoing shortage of primary healthcare providers.
“We actively collaborate with federal agencies, public officials, universities and peer organizations,” Kuntz said. “We also collaborate with other community health centers and various entities through initiatives like the Southern Arizona branch of Arizona Health Education Center at El Rio (a partnership with the University of Arizona) and
“I credit the foundation board, our team and the Vecinos for working hard to develop relationships, throw wonderful events, write grants and collectively engage people in considering El Rio as a potential charity of choice.”
Goldsmith said that opportunities for donor and patient engagement abound as El Rio moves forward in its mission to provide safe, quality and increasingly personalized medicine to all patients.
“At the heart of our vision for the future of El Rio is a continued transformation and continual movement toward patient-driven care,” said Kuntz. “This means empowering patients to actively participate in their health journey.”
Biz
PHOTOS: BRENT
‘A Unicorn Health Center’
El Rio Foundation Raises Millions for Expanding Healthcare
By Loni Nannini
There’s a unicorn on a mission in the Sonoran Desert, and its extraordinary power to heal is being brought to fruition by a group of generous donors, a dollar at a time.
“There is a lot of symbolism with unicorns being mythical and connected to healing,” said Brenda Goldsmith, executive director of the El Rio Foundation. “The unicorn represents many things, including a for-profit start-up company that grows to $1 billion in five years.
“I strongly believe that El Rio Health is a unicorn health center for the United States. We think outside of the box and are growing significantly and will continue to grow. We are focused on our mission of treating all people with dignity, respect and compassionate, quality healthcare.”
cided to activate the El Rio Foundation and the additional fundraising dollars raised from the community have helped us to grow and save lives. Because of our donor support, we can help people who don’t have insurance to access care.”
“Most community health centers in the U.S. don’t have foundations to support them with private fundraising.”
Goldsmith has been at the helm of the foundation for 21 years, championing El Rio’s evolution into the 20th largest community health center − by patient census − in the United States. Goldsmith credits the El Rio board of directors with visionary foresight in creation of a nonprofit foundation that has resonated with the entire community, garnering contributions of time, money and talent from volunteers, individual donors, foundations, businesses and partner organizations.
– Brenda Goldsmith Executive Director El Rio Foundation
“Most community health centers in the U.S. don’t have foundations to support them with private fundraising,” said Goldsmith. “In 2001, El Rio’s board de-
The foundation leadership recognized that El Rio’s role as a healthcare safety net was compelling to all Tucsonans, and in 2013 they recruited a group of young professionals to expand outreach and engage the next generation of volunteers.
El Rio Vecinos – vecinos is Spanish for neighbors − initially raised funds for children’s dental programs. The young professionals’ group has since extended support to cancer screenings, teen health and other programs, Goldsmith said. The annual “Vecinos Block Party” and other events have been vital to raising awareness and funds for El Rio programs.
The collective efforts have been a resounding success. The foundation has raised $46 million since inception and is in the midst of one of the most successful community health center capital campaigns in the U.S. In less than a year, the foundation has secured commitments of more than $16 million toward the $40 million state-of-the-art El Rio Stone Health Center slated to open in 2026 at River Road and Stone Avenue.
continued on page 107 >>>
“Release”
From left –
Brenda Goldsmith, El Rio Foundation Executive Director
Anthony Schaefer, El Rio Foundation Campaign Chair
Angela Mattix-Celis, El Rio Foundation Board President
Sculpture by local Artist, Shirley Wagner, who uses the human art form to tell a story.
PHOTO: BRENT G. MATHIS
When asked in 2024 to “fasttrack” the capital campaign with a stretch goal of $10 million, Goldsmith said leadership knew the effort had to be inclusive, much like El Rio.
“At El Rio we want to make fundraising fun, and we want to embrace all people at all levels of their abilities to give. We believe anyone can be a philanthropist with their support,” said Goldsmith.
The Blessing Project
In a stroke of philanthropic genius, the foundation team led by Campaign Chair Anthony Schaefer created “The Blessing Project” to reflect El Rio’s status as a healthcare unicorn.
“A herd of unicorns is called a blessing, and once we changed the name to The Blessing Project, we started receiving many more blessings with so many people joining us,” said Goldsmith.
Donors who contribute between $5,000 and $5 million over a fiveyear period become “unicorns” and receive recognition on the donor wall at the new facility. Prospective donors who tour El Rio are “sparkles” − the term for baby unicorns − and people who donate at other levels are “yum yums.”
Schaefer, an original Vecinos member who transitioned to the foundation board a few years ago, said leading the campaign is “the honor and the challenge of a lifetime in philanthropy.” He credits numerous El Rio donors, board members, patients and health center employees from all walks of life for gifting at unprecedented levels.
“It provides an opportunity for people to coalesce around a project that is greater than all of us, and everyone is all in,” said Schaefer. “People don’t just throw money at a project. They give to projects that have impact and positive ramifications for our community.
“This campaign has achieved so much success because people believe in its ability to open up access to many healthcare services and because they know how big the need
is. It is easy to get behind something that checks all those boxes.”
Schaefer believes the wide scope of El Rio’s programming is added incentive for involvement.
“There is so much happening to power community health through this community health center. I had no inkling that besides the main services, there are between 30 and 40 lesser-known programs that make a huge difference every day. El Rio is kind of a hidden gem that needs to be championed,” he said.
The breadth of programming is backed by El Rio’s ongoing commitment to personalized medicine in the increasingly technical world of healthcare.
“El Rio is focused on people-topeople service and communication and is using technology and AI in ways that enhance that, not replace it,” said Goldsmith. “In the primary care setting, human-to-human interaction and the trust built between providers, patients and other team members − whether that is a dentist, nurse practitioner or doctor − those relationships are everything.”
Those interactions and relationships have inspired Foundation Board President Angela MattixCelis, who experienced the impact firsthand through El Rio midwife services during the birth of her daughter. She continues to build connections with El Rio providers and fellow patients during her primary care visits.
“People’s lives are being changed because of El Rio,” said MattixCelis, who is humbled by the many Tucsonans who have stepped up “to create a legacy of healthcare that will last for generations.”
“After 55 years, my hope is that it will continue to grow,” she said. “Whether people choose El Rio as the provider for all of their healthcare needs or whether they are happy with where they are but want to help others, it is about the bigger picture. My hope is that El Rio continues to thrive and be a consistent standard for healthcare in Tucson and the nation.”
YOU CAN Give the GIFT OF HEALTH. YOUR DONATION CHANGES LIVES!
Receive an Arizona State Tax Credit When You Donate to El Rio Foundation
El Rio Foundation is an Arizona Qualified Charitable Organization (QCO). The Foundation accepts cash, credit cards, gifts, stock transfers, Donor Advised Funds and IRA distributions / RMDs, and estate gif ts. In 2025, up to $495/single; and $987/married filing jointly is eligible for credit. This dollarfor-dollar state tax credit is different than the Arizona schools and foster care tax credit. Scan the QR code above, donate online at Elrio.org/donate or mail your check to El Rio Foundation, 839 W. Congress, Tucson, AZ, 85745.
EL RIO FOUNDATION LEGACY CLUB
CREATE A FREE WILL
Your legacy can live on when you designate a charity like, El Rio Foundation in your estate plans. These generous donations help provide sustainability and support our health center’s care for 130,000+ people.
Contact us at foundation@elrio.org or 520-205-4947 to learn more or join us for a VIP clinic tour.
If you do not yet have a will in place, please visit https://www.freewill.com/elrio to create one for free to protect your loved ones and give to your charity.
BizLEADERSHIP
Change-maker for Community Health
Clinton Kuntz, DBH, CEO of El
Rio Health
For Clinton Kuntz, El Rio Health represents redemption for everyone who has struggled with access to healthcare in any way, shape or form.
It’s a concern that Kuntz, CEO of El Rio Health, understands all too well.
“Growing up in Appalachian Ohio, I experienced firsthand the challenges of limited medical care in rural areas,” said Kuntz. “This experience motivated me to help establish Muskingum Valley Health Centers in Morgan County, which provided essential services that were previously unavailable in the community.
“This health center later helped save my own daughter who was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes,” he said. “I have lived what not having access to care is like and what is does to a community.”
That experience left an indelible mark on the husband and father of three and shaped the philosophy that he brought to El Rio in 2022 after nine years as CEO at Marana Health.
“I believe that everyone should have access to high-quality healthcare, regardless of any barriers. Our goal at El Rio is to remove all barriers to access, whether it is being able to pay for your healthcare, or just finding a doctor in your community even if you have the ability to pay for care,” said Kuntz, who has emerged as a leader in the growing community health center movement that encompasses 20,000 sites nationwide.
Pima County is home to four community health center networks, and El Rio is the largest. Now serving one in nine Tucsonans, El Rio is working to redefine perceptions about community health centers with a “whole-person care model,” according to Kuntz.
By Loni Nannini
“A ‘whole-person care model’ integrates primary care, dental, behavioral health and pharmacy services under one roof,” Kuntz said. “This approach not only improves access but also addresses physical, mental and social health needs in a coordinated way − improving health outcomes and removing barriers to care for the entire community.”
Kuntz said this integration of services is a huge driver in the rising popularity of community health centers, which are nonprofit entities that reinvest all revenue into patient services and community programs.
“We combine affordability, accessibility and comprehensive care in one place, making it easier for patients to get the care they need at one location,” he said. “El Rio also provides services regardless of a patient’s ability to pay, using sliding fee scales and helping people to navigate insurance options, which removes major financial barriers.”
The practicality and convenience of a “one-stop health shop” is enhanced by the sense of security that comes with the realization that patients can receive a continuum of care in spite of potential changes in insurance or loss of coverage. Kuntz said this peace of mind, in combination with the holistic, personcentered approach to care, makes for a healthier Tucson.
Patients also appreciate the 55 years of El Rio history that have forged strong personal and cultural bonds in many Tucson neighborhoods.
“Our community health centers are deeply rooted in the community, employing staff from the community and offering language support, which builds trust and comfort for patients,”
Kuntz said. “Located in medically underserved areas, they provide extended hours, same-day appointments, and telehealth options, reducing reliance on emergency departments.”
He emphasized that El Rio will continue its focus on prevention and chronic disease management with state-ofthe-art technology and new models of care as it moves forward with its largest facility to date − El Rio Stone Health Center. Located at the former Tucson Heart Hospital, the $40-million project will serve up to 24,000 patients annually, reducing wait times across the region.
True to El Rio’s model, the new facility will feature a full range of integrated services under one roof. In addition to primary care, pediatrics, women’s health, dental and behavioral health, it will offer a convenient drive-through pharmacy, on-site imaging, and lab services.
“The Blessing Project” capital campaign for the new center has been met with overwhelming support, which Kuntz views as continued validation of El Rio’s vital role in Tucson’s healthcare safety net and the community overall.
“Beyond healthcare, this project revitalizes a long-vacant hospital property, creates jobs, and strengthens our community. We look forward to bringing better access to care, more services and a healthier future for Tucson. El Rio has been here for 55 years, and we plan on being here for the next 55 and beyond,” Kuntz said.
Clinton Kuntz, DBH CEO El Rio Health
From left –
Dr. Rajiv Modak, MD Chief Quality Officer at El Rio
Dr. Sonia Reidy, MD, MS, CPE, FAAP Senior Medical Director at El Rio
Vanessa Seaney, MSW, LCSW, CPHQ Chief of Behavioral Health Integrated Services at El Rio
Dr. Amanda Pinder, DDS, MHA Chief of Dental Services at El Rio
Behavioral Health Leadership Team at El Rio
Service Lines Cover the Entire Spectrum of Health Care from Childhood to Adult
It’s said that health is wealth, and for more than a half century, El Rio Health has been on a mission to improve generational well-being in Tucson.
To accomplish this, the nationally recognized community health center integrates medical, dental and behavioral health with pharmacy, laboratory, radiology and other services under one roof for patients of all ages and all income categories.
“This means a child can receive their first pediatric checkup at El Rio, grow up seeing the same family medicine clinician, receive dental care throughout their life, and bring their children and grandchildren to us,” said Dr. Sonia Reidy, senior medical director at El Rio. “Being a ‘Health Home for Life’ means that El Rio Health is the constant in an often chaotic world.”
A Continuum of Quality Primary Care
El Rio’s trifecta of service lines − medical, dental and behavioral health − is the gateway to a full spectrum of health and wellness services that prioritize clinical quality, patient safety and patient experience.
“We employ a team-based care model where clinical staff are empowered to proactively and independently address preventive care needs for patients though standardized workflows,” said Dr. Rajiv Modak, chief quality officer at El Rio.
“Utilizing technology, we also conduct robust outreach to actively engage patients in their own healthcare, even when they are not in our health centers. Quality outcome data is shared transparently with our providers and staff to drive continuous improvement. This has helped drive a culture of quality within our organization.”
On the medical front, primary care clinicians in family medicine, pediatrics and internal medicine provide preventive and ongoing care. Medical services
By Loni Nannini
extend to reproductive care − which is handled by OB/GYNs and midwives − and to preventive screenings including colonoscopies and mammograms.
Comprehensive offerings include sports medicine, addiction medicine, pain management through the Buena Vida Integrated Pain Clinic, physical therapy, nutrition and wellness offerings. Additionally, specialized care is available for chronic conditions such as asthma, diabetes, HIV and hepatitis.
Reidy said that El Rio’s patient-centric approach is designed to help people overcome barriers and achieve their health goals.
“As a patient’s medical home, El Rio Health offers on-site laboratories, radiology and pharmacy at most of our health centers,” Reidy said. “Our eligibility team can help with insurance enrollment, including the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS), Medicare, and the health insurance marketplace. We also offer a sliding-fee scale to ensure accessibility for those who do not qualify for health insurance.”
Dental Care as a Cornerstone of Health
Since 1972, El Rio has been intent on supporting lifelong oral health, beginning with a child’s first tooth.
“Oral health is deeply connected to overall health and well-being,” said Amanda Pinder, DDS, chief of dental services at El Rio.
“Dental issues can affect nutrition, speech, self-esteem, and can even increase the risk for chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease. By providing access to high-quality dental care, we’re not only treating teeth, we’re improving lives.”
Now the largest nonprofit dental program in Arizona, El Rio Dental offers comprehensive dental care to patients of all ages at seven sites citywide. General and pediatric dentists, endodon-
tists, oral surgeons, and a periodontist provide general hygiene, implants and acute care. In 2025, the team is projected to serve more than 50,000 unique patients through nearly 100,000 visits. New patients are welcome.
“We want every patient to feel empowered, respected, and cared for − regardless of age, income or background. We are here for Tucson, and we’re committed to building a healthier, happier community − one smile at a time,” said Pinder.
Innovative Initiatives in Behavioral Health
In response to community demand, El Rio’s behavioral health services line has grown 10-fold over the last five years, expanding inpatient and outpatient mental health and psychiatric services to 15,000 patients.
“At El Rio, we serve the whole person, and bodies and minds are connected. We want the community to know that we are here to provide quality, bestpractice mental health and behavioral health services to our patients,” said Vanessa Seaney, MSW, LCSW, CPHQ, chief of behavioral health integrated services at El Rio.
A dedicated staff of 160 psychiatrists, psychiatric residents, nurse practitioners, nurses, licensed clinical therapists, certified peer support specialists, and case managers provide outpatient programming for ages six and over. Providers treat patients dealing with anxiety, depression, grief and a full range of mental health disorders, substance use disorders, neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism and neurocognitive disorders like dementia.
Inpatient care is provided through a unique partnership with Carondelet Health Network; other innovative programming includes the Behavioral Health Street Medicine team, which engages directly with homeless patients on the streets and in shelters.
El Rio Invests in Recruitment, Retention Filling the Pipeline
El Rio Health is powered by people, including a growing force of healthcare providers, health-adjacent staff and other employees that number more than 1,900.
As it celebrates 55 years, the nonprofit is implementing a dynamic plan for workforce development to support the increasing needs of its clientele. Leveraging collaboration with education, El Rio is generating a pipeline of healthcare professionals at a time when one in four Arizona adults lack a personal doctor and 28% haven’t seen a doctor for a routine check-up in the last year according to a 2024 study by University of Arizona College of Medicine − Phoenix.
“Recognizing the critical shortage of primary care providers nationwide, El Rio Health is investing in the future by training the next generation of healthcare professionals,” said Dr. Sonia Reidy, senior medical director at El Rio.
“We proudly welcomed our inaugural class of El Rio Family Medicine and Psychiatry residents in July 2025. After more than half a century of service, we remain dedicated to ensuring every Tucsonan has a healthcare home that is accessible and welcoming.”
Creating a Pipeline of Healthcare Providers
Launched under the leadership of Dr. Felipe R. Perez, designated institutional official at El Rio, the Teaching Health Center model embeds graduate medical training within community health settings. In addition to family medicine and psychiatry, the model offers residencies in clinical pharmacy, and general and pediatric dentistry, as well as advanced practice training for nurse practitioners and certified nurse
By Loni Nannini
midwives. El Rio also hosts workforce experience pathways through the Southern Arizona Area Health Education Center.
“It’s a privilege to create educational pathways that respond to our region’s workforce needs,” Perez said. “My mission is to anticipate those needs, recruit learners who share our values, and cultivate a compassionate, skilled pipeline of providers for Southern Arizona.”
“Residents learn to manage chronic conditions, address social factors, and collaborate across disciplines − all while serving the unique needs of our community.”
– Dr. Felipe R. Perez, MD, FAAFP Designated Institutional Official El Rio Health
Perez said that El Rio clinical sites provide an ideal training ground in comprehensive, real-world care for residents and students. They also rotate through local hospitals and community providers to gain exposure to diverse care environments and strengthen regional partnerships. Partner organizations include the University of Arizona,
Pima Community College Health Professions, Pima Medical Institute, UA College of Nursing, Arizona Department of Economic Services, Job Path, Carrington College, JTED, NYU Langone and Pima County One Stop.
“Residents learn to manage chronic conditions, address social factors, and collaborate across disciplines − all while serving the unique needs of our community. This environment fosters resilience, advocacy, and clinical excellence,” Perez said.
The new Family Medicine residency program was supported in part by an $800,000 grant from the Diane & Bruce Halle Foundation that Perez said “reflects broad community belief in the power of place-based medical education.” The effectiveness of the training model has been demonstrated across the past decade through El Rio’s partnership with the Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education programs, which has produced more than 40 family medicine physicians, many of whom now work in Arizona.
“We have realized that growing our own workforce − rooted in accessible, comprehensive and affordable care − is the most sustainable solution. It’s about creating opportunities and building a robust and sustainable legacy of healing,” he said.
A Culture of Caring
Building a legacy means not just training providers, but recruiting and retaining them.
“We truly take care of our employees, providing a comprehensive medical, dental and vision package that includes a VIP-line for their healthcare needs and an Employee Assistance Program
extended to not only employees, but also to their family members,” said Iris Matheny, manager of human resources and talent acquisition at El Rio.
Other benefits include paid time off; a 403(b) retirement plan with employer match; a 457(b) plan; a health savings account; a flexible spending account; life and disability insurance; and wellness programs including free exercise classes at El Rio Health centers. Additionally, El Rio offers career and leadership development and some tuition reimbursement. Employees may also qualify for state and federal loan tuition forgiveness.
Chief Human Resources Officer George Toy said that generous benefits, in combination with a caring culture and competitive salaries, contribute to El Rio’s outstanding retention rate, which stands far above the national average at 82%.
In addition to healthcare-related jobs, El Rio offers opportunities in information technology, human resources, finance and accounting, operations, quality and compliance, transportation, facilities and much more. Employment opportunities are updated weekly and can be found online at www.elrio.org/ careers.
Ultimately, Matheny said, El Rio Health is vested in the health, meaningful career growth and well-being of all employees.
“Whether you are directly or indirectly providing care for our patients, careers at El Rio Health connect you to serving our community with much greater impact.”
Human Resources ManagerTalent Acquisition at El Rio
Dr. Felipe R. Perez , MD, FAAFP Designated Institutional Official at El Rio
Iris Matheny
PHOTOS: BRENT G. MATHIS
