Southern Ute Indian Tribe

About

Welcome to the Southern Ute Health Center (SUHC).  We thrive on providing comprehensive care to the community and surrounding areas.  Our goal is to create an environment where you are the center of care and we assist you in achieving your healthiest state; physically, mentally, and spiritually.

The SUHC practices a team-based care model.  When receiving care at the health center, you have access to a team of highly qualified medical professionals.  Your primary care provider (PCP) will serve as your advocate to ensure that you receive the highest quality care and connect you with other specialists as needed to meet all your healthcare needs.

We have 2 teams at the health center; Team Sage and Team Cedar.  We try to keep patients seeing their PCP and the providers on the same team as much as possible.  In urgent situations you will be scheduled with the earliest available provider in the clinic.

Things to Know

• Please arrive 15 minutes prior to appointment time to check in and complete any required documents.
• Please inform the front desk to changes in your phone number, address, and insurance.
• We request that cancellations be made 24 hours prior to appointment time.
• If you leave a message for an RN, you will get a return call within 24 hours.
• Phone visits are now available on a case-by-case basis. For some conditions, you will be required to be seen for an appointment.
• You will lose your appointment if you arrive to your appointment 10 or more minutes late.
• Schedule routine health exams. It is recommended that you see your PCP on an annual basis to ensure that you receive appropriate screening exams, lab tests, and immunizations.
• At your visit : keep your PCP informed of all providers that you are seeing and any outside labs and tests that have been done.
• As a patient of the Health Center you are required to apply for Medicaid. Benefits Coordinators are available to help with the process.

Health Center Staff

Team Cedar

Richard Keller, MD – CMO, Family Medicine Physician

Dr. Keller grew up on Lake Erie in Sandusky, Ohio, attended the University of Toledo for medical school, and trained in full-scope Family Medicine in Grand Junction, Colorado. Upon finishing, he worked briefly in New Zealand before settling in Durango where he worked with Durango Family Medicine, which then became Mercy Family Medicine, for five years.  After returning from a long road trip with his family, he started with us part-time in July 2018.  He liked it so much he decided to stay and joined us full-time in November 2018. In his free time, Dr. Keller enjoys running, biking, and working on old VWs which he uses to travel the continent with his wife and twin boys.

Erin Nealon, MD – Internal Medicine Physician

Dr. Nealon joined our permanent staff in August 2020 and has lived and worked in Durango for over 5 years.  Dr. Nealon has been committed to serving indigenous communities within the southwest for over 10 years.

As an internist and type 1 diabetic, she is experienced in maintaining adult health and managing chronic diseases.

When not working, she appreciates exploring the rivers and trails of SW Colorado with her family.

Nenette McNamara, FNP-C – Family Nurse Practitioner

Nenette McNamara is a Nurse Practitioner with her board designation as a Family Nurse Practitioner.

She graduated from the George Washington University with a Masters in Nursing and has a Masters degree in Business from California State University Dominguez Hills. She has been a Nurse Practitioner for 15 years and an RN for 36 years.

She has recently been certified in Sound Therapy and Breathwork facilitation and will be available for sessions through the Southern Ute Health Center or  Behavioral Health on specific days of the week.

Nenette is married with 5 children (2 biologic and 3 step children).  She loves to knit, weave, is a hand spinner and makes her own yarn.  She also enjoys sewing.  She has two dogs and 2 cats (one who is special needs) and a very large goldfish named Jeffery… all who are rescues.

Her health philosophy is one of wholeness.  When we address our emotional, psychological, spiritual health then our physical health is improved.

Nenette has worked at the Southern Ute Health Center since 2016.

Loni Acevedo, RN – Chief Nursing Officer

Loni is a proud member of the Southern Ute Tribe.  She is the mother of both a son and a daughter.  She has been a nurse since 2000.  She was first a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) for the U.S. Army.  After being honorably discharged in 2002 she continued her nursing career in many different states while being married to another active duty soldier.  She moved to Durango in 2011 to be closer to her parents and went back to college to obtain her RN degree.  She graduated with honors from San Juan College of Nursing in 2014.  She started working for the Southern Ute Health Center in 2015.  She is currently the Chief Nursing Officer at the SUHC and is happy to be serving her community and fellow Tribal membership.

Julie Olexa, RN, BSN, MPH – Registered Nurse

Julie has been with the SUIT since 2013 and has worked in the nursing field since 2015.  She focuses on helping people and communities.  She enjoys outdoor activities, including skiing, mountain biking & whitewater rafting.

Sonja Silva, RN – Registered Nurse

Sonja’s family has lived in Ignacio for generations.  Although she grew up here, she left for 25 years before moving back in 2018.  Sonja has been an RN since 2005 and started working at the SUHC in 2021.  She is thrilled to serve her community, enjoys family, lifelong friendships, playing pool, hiking and hot springs.

Lilley Powell, CCMA – Certified Medical Assistant

Lilley was born and raised in Ignacio.   She enjoys teaching sprint at SunUte, running, mountain biking, and most of all her Granddaughter Violet.

Team Sage

Ryan Duvall, MD – Family Medicine Physician

Dr. Ryan Duvall has been providing medical care at the Southern Ute Health Center since 2019. He received his Medical Degree from the University of Louisville and underwent his Family Medicine training at St. Mary’s in Grand Junction. His favorite part of practicing medicine at the SUHC is the ability to collaborate with a diverse team of health care professionals.

Sandra Beirne , M.D. – Pediatric Medicine Physician

Dr. Sandra Beirne is a pediatrician who joined the Southern Ute Health Center in 2022.  She grew up in Walla Walla, Washington, attended college at the University of Montana in Missoula, MT, and medical school at the University of Washington.  Their decentralized model allowed her to learn medicine not only in Seattle, but also in Alaska and towns in rural Washington and Idaho.  After residency and a chief year at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, NY, she moved to the Southwest where she has been caring for children in the Shiprock area for the past 12 years. She is excited to have the opportunity to provide pediatric care for kids and families at the SUHC and the SUIMA.  When not at work, Sandra likes to make food, paintings, and knitted goods, read, coax plants to grow, and be outside.

William Finn, MD, MPH – Public Health Physician

Dr. Finn grew up in the Seattle area and attended the University of Washington Medical School. He completed his residency in Rochester, New York in both Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, then moved to the Four Corners area in 2009 with his wife and son. He has worked with Native Americans on the Navajo, Ute Mountain Ute, and Southern Ute Reservations for over 10 years. He received a master’s degree in Public Health from Johns Hopkins School of Public Health in 2022 with a focus on substance use disorders in Indigenous communities. Dr. Finn treats patients with substance use disorders, works on Public Health projects, and provides medical care at the Health Clinic and the Detention Center.

Stacy Concelman, NP-C – Family Nurse Practitioner

Stacy Concelman has been a board-certified family nurse practitioner since 2010 when she graduated from the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona. She provides researched based care to all ages that is focused on the entire well-being of the person (physical, mental, and spiritual).  She enjoys teaching and it is extremely important to her that people understand the what and why of their diagnosis, treatment, and plan.  In her spare time, she enjoys coaching gymnastics, hiking, skiing, exercising, and spending time with her husband and 2 daughters.

Joy Miller, RN – Registered Nurse

Joy has been an RN for since 2012 and at SUHC since 2019.

Ru Si, RN – Registered Nurse

Ru was born in Beijing, China. She worked as a translator for the French Embassy in Beijing, an executive administrative assistant, and a public school teacher in both Missouri and Colorado. She graduated with presidential honors from San Juan College in 2021 and worked in the ICU/PCU at San Juan Regional Hospital prior to beginning her role at SUHC in 2023. Ru is currently pursuing a master’s degree to become a nurse practitioner.  She enjoys living in beautiful Southwest Colorado with her husband and their two fur babies.

Brenda Jarrell, RN – Registered Nurse

Brenda graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree with a Chemistry minor from Fort Lewis College.  Following graduation, she worked with the Southern Ute Air Quality Program for nine years.  She then pursued her second career in nursing and graduated with honors from Pueblo Community College.  Prior to working with the Southern Ute Health Center in 2023, she was an Operating Room RN.

In House Specialists

Mark Saddler, M.D. – Nephrology

Dr Saddler grew up in Zimbabwe, Africa.  He completed medical school in Zimbabwe then did his nephrology fellowship at Yale University and University of New Mexico.  He subsequently worked on faculty at UNM and in private practice.

He was the founding member of Durango Nephrology Associates in 2005.  This 3 physician nephrology group is now a Centura practice.  Dr Saddler also served until recently as a Group Medical Director for Davita, providing consultative service and training for physicians and medical directors of dialysis units.

Dr Saddler is passionate about providing high quality patient-centered nephrology care.  He is a keen cyclist and cross-country skier.  He and his family enjoy the community spirit and recreational opportunities inherent to living in a beautiful small town in Colorado.

Erika Stensen, PA-C – Rheumatology

Erika graduated from University of New England with a Master’s of Physician Assistant Studies in 2009.  She practiced Family Medicine for the first 8 years of her career.  She has practiced Rheumatology for 5 years here in Durango.   She treats multiple rheumatologic diseases including rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, gout, Lupus and connective tissue diseases.  She has lived in Durango for the past 13 years with her husband and 2 children. She enjoys exploring the mountains with her family and has a devoted yoga practice.

Jon Drake, M.D. – Audiology

Jon Drake is a certified bilingual (English/Spanish) audiologist.  He completed his Master’s Degree in Audiology from The University of New Mexico in 2001.

Lab/X-ray

Angela Romero, CMA –Medical Assistant, Lead Lab Tech

Tanisha Figueroa, RMA – Medical Assistant/Assistant Lab Tech

Tanisha has been a medical assistant since 2021. She recently accepted a full-time position as an Assistant Lab Tech at the SUHC. She loves to bead, bake cakes, and spending as much time with her little family as possible.

Genevieve King – Lab Tech

Genevieve joined the Southern Ute Health Center in September 2024.  She was previously a lab tech at Mercy Regional Hospital.  She went to school at Bacone Jr. College and Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, OK. She now resides in Navajo Dam, NM.  She has 2 boys and 3 grandboys living in Denver area.  She loves to walk, hike, mt bike and crochet.

Case Management

Susan Avery, RN – Registered Nurse/Nurse Case Manager

Susan grew up in upstate New York. She has been a registered nurse for over 17 years. Her background includes Neurology, Ortho/Spine, Med/Surg, Urology, Physiatry and Oncology nursing. Susan is married with two sons and loves hiking, traveling and spending time with her family.

Front Desk

Georgette Miller – Support Services Manager

Georgette has been in the NM/CO area for 34 years and have worked in administration for medical for over 20 years. She has a Masters in Healthcare Administration Management. Wife and Mother of 2 daughters with 7 Grandchildren. She is a Girl Scout leader and foster dogs and cats for the local shelters. She loves to spend time with my family and love to read. She is currently in dual roles as she is also the THD Healthcare Accounting Manager.

Chantelle Thompson – Medical Records

Tia Nez, CMA – Medical Assistant, Front Desk Clerk

Tia has been with SUIT since 2020.  She enjoys reading, art and music, and helping with music at church.

Margaret Manzanares – Patient Registration

Margaret has worked with the Southern Ute Tribe since 1994.  She worked as an admin assistant for Southern Ute HeadStart until 2013. She also worked as a Front Desk Attendant at SunUte from 2016-2023. She enjoys hiking, bike riding, arm knitting and reading. She is a wife, a mama and a worker bee.  Three children, two stepchildren, and six grandchildren.

Referral Coordinator

Brandilyn Archuleta – Referral Coordinator

Services

• Adult preventive care
• Pediatric preventive care
• Urgent care appointments
• Same day appointments per RN triage
• Exam room dedicated to cold and upper respiratory symptoms
• Adult and pediatric immunizations
• 24/7 hour RN Triage line (Call the Health Center’s main phone number 970-563-4581)
• On site lab services
• On site x-ray services
• On site Pharmacy
• Referrals and consultations to specialist care
• Women’s health
• Pap smears
• Birth control (Oral pills, IUDs, Nexplanon implant)
• Specialty Clinics- Nephrology – monthly; Rheumatology – Generally every other month (Call to verify the schedule)
• On site Rheumatology – monthly
• Audiology – monthly
• Nurse Case Management to help with access to care and supplies
• Physical Therapy

Frequently Asked Questions

I have a question for a provider, what do I do?

Call the front desk and they will connect you with the provider’s RN.

I want to speak directly with a provider, what do I do?

To see or speak with a provider, an appt is needed.  Call the front desk to schedule.

I have a question or issue and the clinic is closed, what do I do?

Call the front desk number. An RN will speak with you and help you determine the next steps needed for your healthcare needs.  The RN is able to contact a medical provider if deemed necessary.

I need help with medical devices, oxygen supplies, or other care

Call the office and ask to be transferred to the Nurse Case Manager.

I have a question or need help with a referral or imaging request that my SUHC provider wanted me to have

Call the office and ask to be transferred to the Referral Coordinator.