Who We Are
“Our volunteers work like they
have the best paying job in the world!”
Allison Lowe has been with us for one and a half years and adds a whole new dimension to our crew: she’s headed to medical school having completed a BS at the University of Arizona, and her spare time is devoted to the art of dance. She’s our featured dancer at this year’s SALUD, a fundraiser celebrating women’s health.
Brandy McLain designed Dequenesh’s 5,000-square-foot, one-stop-shop health clinic and has been steadfast in her commitment to the board since 2003. A UA College of Architecture graduate, she holds a Bachelor's of Architecture and Master's of Science in Planning. Keep your eyes open for this up-and-coming urban designer.
Bree Hoerning, one of our founding board members, graduated from the UA in 2000 with a BS from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Currently she’s the Western Division Manager for the Providence Service Corporation. Just as an aside, she has one husband, two children, two mastiffs, four horses, many fish and in her spare time competes in barrel racing, breeding and training quarter horses.
Courtney L. Nation, CMA, recently completed his training as a certified medical assistant in Austin, Texas. New to Tucson, he has jumped right into the volunteer sector and put his skills to use! As a new member of Dequenesh, he is already establishing himself as an outstanding volunteer. He's a 4.0 student with exceptional recommendations from his peers and instructors, and we are very excited about this new addition to our organization.
Deanna Lewis, PA-C is a physician assistant graduating from Stanford’s Primary Care Associate Program in 2004. Also known as “the truck driver,” she navigates the 35-foot mobile health clinic to its scheduled destinations. She has a BS from the UA in Family Studies and Human Development, is an avid runner and an incredible soap maker.
Elaine Wider’s expertise lies in community processes and identifying the health needs of children and adults. She holds a BSW, a M Ed and an Arizona Teaching Certificate, and is currently employed with the Department of Economic Security. One of her passions is promoting literacy through the Altrusa Women’s Service Club since 2001, and she has worked on various campaigns with local and state officials.
Jane Jones is straight in from Philly after completing her BSN at LaSalle University. “They” say it’s a dry heat, but that doesn’t stop her from daily walks up Tumamoc Hill! When she’s not out exploring the desert you’ll find her reading and traveling, and she’s currently pursuing a certification as a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner.
Pamela S. Lotke, MD is our new medical director and supervising physician. A 1996 graduate from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, she spent four years at the Beth Israel Medical Center completing her residency, and is currently a board certified obstetrician and gynecologist for University Physicians Healthcare.
She speaks fluent Spanish and French, is an Arizona Clinical Research Scholar with interests in family planning and contraception, adolescent health and alternative medicine. In her spare time she hangs out with her family. We look forward to her leadership and guidance as we prepare to expand our services to provide comprehensive well-woman care.
Raquel Ramirez is back after a short break and brings with her extensive knowledge and experience from the non-profit sector. Trained as a social worker, she holds a Master's of Counseling from Chapman University and is the Director for Family and Outpatient Services at Compass Health. She enjoys hiking, backpacking, running and community development.
Rebecca Campalans is our secret weapon, behind-the-scenes person. She has been instrumental in organizing our inventory and designing custom forms. She’s an officer in the United States Public Health Service, has worked for the FDA and has a MS in Community Health Sciences. In lieu of pursuing an MD, she’s opted for the nursing model and is currently attending the UA’s BSN program.
Rowan Frost completed her MPH from the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health in December, 2007. She has eight years of experience as a health educator working in the areas of sexual health and substance abuse with marginalized and stigmatized groups (sex workers, HIV+ people, substance abusers, LGBT people, and at-risk youth).
Currently she is a research specialist at the College of Public Health, serves as the outreach and education coordinator for Dequenesh and loves to bird watch.
Rudy Chavez showed up on the first day the mobile clinic went into service, January 2, 2006. He pulled up on his motorcycle, took off his helmet and said, “What do you need me to do?” and he’s been with us ever since.
Currently a board member at large, Rudy is attending school in San Antonio Texas to become a Physician Assistant. He has served as our board president, as our technology consultant/programmer and electrician. We look forward to his return.
Sierra Geraci is a Licensed Massage Therapist and Zen Shiatsu Practitioner with a private practice called Dragon Root Zen Shiatsu. She holds a BA in Anthropology and plans to continue her education with training in acupuncture. Her interests include Tai Chi, Qi Gong, dietary healing and integrative medicine.
Theresa Ragsdale is new to Dequenesh and is currently the Operations Supervisor at Casa Paloma, a transitional housing program and Dray Drop-In Hospitality Center for women. She holds a BA in Economics and a BS in Business Administration from the University of Montana. She’s the co-chair of the Education Committee for the Tucson Planning Council for the Homeless and an advisory board member at The Health Education Project. In her spare time she practices Ving Tsun Kung Fu, crochets and is a genealogy buff.
All our volunteers are innovative and dynamic, with a commitment to excellence and collaboration with integrity. There are many more volunteers whose names do not appear here, but know that their contributions to Dequenesh have helped us establish a place in our community to meet the needs of the underserved. To all of our volunteers we send a heartfelt “Thank you.”
—“the truck driver”