Kristin Juliar, Director

Kristin Juliar is the director of Montana AHEC and ORH. In 2007, Ms. Juliar was appointed Adjunct Assistant Professor in the College of Nursing at Montana State University, and was also the recipient of a multi-year grant from HRSA to establish Montana’s AHEC system.  Before coming to Montana, Ms. Juliar was the Director of Minnesota’s Healthcare Education - Industry Partnership. She was also Executive Director of the Region Nine Development Commission, a rural development agency serving southern Minnesota. Ms. Juliar is on the Executive Committee of the national Rural Health Resource Center, and was recently elected to serve on the Board of the National Rural Health Association, and Chair of the NRHA Frontier Committee.  She has served on several healthcare committees and boards in Montana and Minnesota.  She has an M.A. in Urban and Regional Studies from Minnesota State University, Mankato.

Natalie Claiborne, Assistant Director

Natalie is an alum of Montana State University, earning her Bachelors of Science in Community Health Education in 2005. Following her time in Bozeman, Natalie attended Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon earning her Masters of Public Health in 2007. Natalie joined the Montana Office of Rural Health and Area Health Education Program Office in September of 2007 and currently serving as Assistant Director. Outside of the office Natalie enjoys many adventures with her husband including camping, traveling, cooking and spending time with Ellie, their 8 month old Golden Retriever.

Frank Newman, Associate Director and Professor Emeritus

Professor Emeritus of Veterinary Virology and Medical Science, Associate Director of the Montana Area Health Education Center (AHEC) and Montana Office of Rural Health (ORH), Program Coordinator of the Small Rural Hospital Improvement Grant Program (SHIP) and Director of the Montana WWAMI Targeted Rural and Underserved Track (TRUST) Program. Prior to his retirement in 1996, Dr. Newman served as Acting Director of the Division of Health Sciences, Director of the Montana AHEC, Director of the Montana ORH, Director of the Montana Family Practice Residency Satellite Program, Director of the WWAMI Medical Education Program and Professor of Veterinary Virology in the Veterinary Research Laboratory.

Sharon Kott, Administrative Associate III

Sharon has worked with the Montana AHEC since September, 1991, and has been at Montana State University since March, 1980.  She is responsible for the office accounting, submits grants and progress reports for the AHEC and Office of Rural Health, and is the Coordinator for the AHEC Oral Health screening and education programs.   Outside of work, Sharon is married to Rodney and is the mother of two children and grandmother of one beautiful baby boy.  Her son, Bryan, and his wife, Danielle, are employed at Lame Deer Elementary School as Assistant Principal and School Nurse, respectively.  They are the parents of her grandson, Quinten.  Her daughter, Lisa, and her husband, Matt, are stationed in Honolulu, Hawaii, where Lisa is an Army nurse.   In her spare time, she enjoys playing with her two “fur children” (a Brittany Spaniel and a Border Collie) and going to quilting retreats with her quilting buddies. 

Shalina Mirza, Project Coordinator

Shalina Mirza is the Project Coordinator for the Montana Office of Rural Health and the Area Health Education Center. She is a recent graduate from Montana State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Health and Human Development. She plans to pursue a Medical Doctorate and Masters in Public Health. 

Rachel Pearson, Administrative Associate II

Rachel, originally from Washington, completed her first year at Montana State University last spring. In order to gain residency, Rachel is taking the current year off and working full time for the Area Health Education Center and Montana Office of Rural Health.  Last fall, she began working in the office as a work study student. Since then, with her love for the outdoors, she has decided to make her move to Bozeman permanent. She is planning to graduate with a Master’s degree in Architecture, as well as a minor in Business Management.  

Juli Louttit, Assistant Project Coordinator

Juli Louttit began her work at MORH/AHEC last January as an INBRE Public Health intern.  Juli continues to focus most of her attention on the efforts of the Montana Rural Health Initiative.  Ms. Louttit will obtain her Bachelor’s in Science this December, and plans to pursue a Master’s degree in Public Health and Nutrition. Juli hopes to work to improve nutrition and physical activity through environmental and policy changes in her future work. Outside of work, Juli can be found enjoying all of the wonderful activities the Bozeman community has to offer.

Madeline Mussman, Assistant Project Coordinator

One of the great discourses in life is the conflict a person has in her/his own psyche regarding the desire to make a difference and finding the gumption to take action toward realizing that difference. Working in this office, with so many inspiring people and amazing programs, a person is able to actualize the dream of change through actual work. As an Assistant Project Coordinator, Madeline works with Renee Harris and the Montana Office of Public Instruction to address Non-traditional Occupation gender imbalances in addition to working with Kristin Juliar on Healthshare Montana and other public health projects. This opportunity has been a well-spring of actions toward the betterment of health-care the world over.

Caitlin O'Brien, Assistant Oral Health Project Coordinator

Caitlin O’Brien came to the MT AHEC/MORH as an INBRE public health intern in the fall of 2008.  She enjoys her work and the wonderful AHEC/MORH staff so much that she hasn’t been able to leave.   Ms. O’Brien primarily focuses her energies on the School Oral Health Screenings as the Assistant Oral Health Screening Program Coordinator.  She also gets to use her creative side as Communications Assistant, preparing posters, presentations, newsletters, etc… Ms. O’Brien will receive her Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science in May 2010 and her future plans include medical school.  When not in class or at the office Caitlin enjoys being outdoors, cooking, volunteering, and looking for adventure. 

Megan Gietzen, Work Study

Megan is a senior majoring in Biomedical Sciences at Montana State University. She joined MORH/AHEC as a work study student in Fall 2009 due to an interest in the office’s focus on  improving quality and healthcare provision for rural communities in the state of Montana. In the future, Megan plans to attend medical school  with the intention of specializing in cardiology or orthopedics .  Beyond school, she enjoys skiing, ice skating, sledding, and the various other winter activities that are a large part of living in Bozeman.

Jackson Storm, Work Study

Jackson Storm, a first year undergraduate at Montana State University, began working for the Montana Area Health Education Center and Montana Office of Rural Health in mid-September. He was born in Orem, Utah but moved to Bozeman from Great Falls, Montana. His major is University Studies but an interest in Health and Human Development may sway his major to Exercise Science. Along with his education and work study, he is involved in the South Hedges Residence Hall Association and the University Honors program. During his spare time, he enjoys basketball, tennis, lifting and having a good time with friends.