Dennis Walto joins Chiricahua Community Health Centers, Inc.

DENNIS WALTO JOINS CHIRICAHUA COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS, INC.

DOUGLAS, AZ – January 11, 2022 – It was announced today that Dennis Walto has joined the executive team at Chiricahua Community Health Centers, Inc. (CCHCI) as the Chief of External Affairs. Dennis brings with him more than 30 years of experience working in the non-profit sector and was most recently the Chief Executive Officer at Children’s Health Fund, a national children’s charity based out of New York, where he oversaw a 20% growth in new programs. In this new role at CCHCI, his expertise will be harnessed to develop the formation of a new charitable foundation which will support CCHCI’s work in the region, increase CCHCI’s public policy and advocacy voice, as well as lead the CCHCI marketing, communications, and fundraising teams.

A global leader in the health care and social development sectors, Dennis has worked in 43 states and more than 20 countries throughout the world. Through his three decades of international and US work experience, Dennis has built a network of leaders, activists, influencers, donors and decision makers that provide access at every level – a network he will make full use of as CCHCI scales up its bi-national work. A regular contributor to thought leadership platforms and speaker at global forums, Dennis received his Master of Arts Degree from York St. John University with a thesis on Leading Innovation & Change.

“We are excited to welcome Dennis to our team.” said Jonathan Melk, CEO at CCHCI. “His skills and experience will increase and enhance our ability to provide the highest quality health services to families throughout the borderland region where we work.” Dr. Melk explained that establishing a new support foundation has been the goal at CCHCI for many years, and that CCHCI’s recent growth provided the opportunity to make the investments needed. “The Board of Directors approved the establishment of a foundation at the December 2021 Board Meeting, and Dennis was the unanimous choice to make this vision a reality.” added Dr. Melk.

“All people have a right to access excellent health care.” said Dennis Walto, “I’m delighted and honored to be joining CCHCI! Great things come from great teams, and I fully embrace the CCHCI belief that if we work both smart and hard, our organization can do exceptional things for the people of Cochise County and beyond. We are at the beginning of another period of dynamic growth for these beautiful borderlands we call home.” Dennis closed by saying, “Viva Chiricahua, the best is yet to come!”

 Chiricahua Community Health Centers, Inc. (CCHCI) is a mission driven Federally Qualified Health Center and a tax exempt not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Founded in 1996 as a small, rural health clinic operating in a community center, CCHCI has since grown to become the largest primary care organization in southeastern Arizona, serving more than 30,000 patients annually.  CCHCI operates fourteen fixed-site medical clinics, and seven mobile-medical and mobile-dental units, that serve patients throughout the more than 6200 square mile borderlands of Cochise County.