Dream it, Test it, Do it

Samanta Chumacero

Lecturer, K-12 Physical Education Teacher Education 

Samanta Chumacero (she/ella) is a bilingual educator and equity-focused leader dedicated to expanding access to K–12 and higher education through justice-centered teaching, mentorship, and student advocacy. She currently serves as a lecturer in the School of Education at MSU Denver, preparing future educators to serve diverse student populations using culturally responsive, trauma-informed, and equity-driven practices. With over a decade of experience across K–12 and higher education, Samanta brings expertise in culturally and linguistically diverse education, physical and health education, academic coaching, and community-centered student support.  

Previously, she served as a Health Career Navigator in the Day Health Institute at MSU Denver, guiding students as they explored health professions and navigated complex academic pathways. Passionate about removing barriers and creating equitable opportunities, Samanta strives to empower all students to achieve their academic and personal goals and thrive in inclusive, supportive learning environments.

Mariah Master 

Scholarship Support Retention Specialist 

Mariah is a proud, multiracial, first-generation MSU Denver alumna with a deep passion for social justice. She works as a  Scholarship Support Specialist in the Classroom to Career Hub at MSU Denver, supporting students working on social justice projects. She also manages the C2 Hub Champions, a student employment opportunity for students to develop storytelling and professional skills, and they are a vital key in the universities donor stewardship and communication strategies. She has 10 plus years of environmental activism and is a single mother to a beautiful 4-year-old and loves to go on road trips and be silly.   

Health Tech/ Health AI

Nabeel Meghji

Moderator

Nabeel Meghji is the Founder of Meghji Ventures, a fractional CPO and product consulting practice focused on helping startups accelerate product strategy, execution, and AI enablement. He partners with healthcare startups to refine product vision, scale execution, and integrate AI-driven solutions, helping companies navigate complex product challenges, drive adoption, and deliver meaningful health outcomes.

Previously, Nabeel was Chief Product Officer at Wellthy, leading product and technology strategy for a digital health company supporting family caregivers. Before that, he was Chief Product Officer at SonderMind, expanding access to personalized mental health services, and at DispatchHealth, a leader in mobile healthcare. He also served as Head of Product at Healthgrades, where he helped over a million patients a day find the right doctor.

With over 20 years of experience, he has built and led high-performing product teams at high-growth companies that have scaled to $1B+ valuations and impacted millions of lives.

Burnout – Healing Practitioners (or aspiring practitioners) So That They Can Keep Healing Us

Edie Sonn

Moderator (Breakout session 1)

Edie Sonn has spent 30 years working in public affairs, primarily in healthcare. Much of her policy work with the Colorado Behavioral Healthcare Council (CBHC), Pinnacol Assurance, Colorado Medical Society and Colorado Center for Nursing Excellence centered on workforce development and the future of work. While at CBHC, she worked closely with leaders at the Gina and Frank Day Institute to develop and implement the National Mental Health Workforce Accelerator Collaborative, which supports MSW graduates’ clinical placements in community mental health. She has also advised MSU Denver leaders on curriculum development that helps students gain the real-world skills that can smooth their transition to the workplace. Edie holds a masters’ degree in public policy from Duke University and a bachelors’ degree from The Colorado College. She was chosen by Gov. Hickenlooper to be a Governor’s Fellow in 2019 and is a Boettcher Scholar. 

Let’s Talk Money – How to Pay for a Health Degree Bios and Photos

Curtis D. Stepan – CEO 

Moderator

Curt Stepan is a Colorado-based healthcare executive and entrepreneur with more than 35 years of experience in medical administration, practice development, and executive leadership. Over the course of his career, Curt has successfully launched numerous medical practices along Colorado’s Front Range, earning a reputation for building clinically strong, operationally sound organizations. He currently serves as Chief Executive Officer of the Center for Spine and Orthopedics, where he oversees strategic growth, physician partnerships, and operational excellence. 

In addition to his operational leadership, Curt has an extensive record of community service with nonprofits. He has served as President of the Board for both Kids First Healthcare and Clinica Colorado and currently contributes his expertise on advisory panels for Metropolitan State University and for the University of Northern Colorado. 

Curt holds a bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology from the University of Colorado Boulder and a Master of Science in Business Management from Regis University. 

Lauren Koppel 

Panelists

Director of Scholarship Support & Retention, Classroom to Career Hub at MSU Denver

Lauren Koppel is the Director of Scholarship Support & Retention in the Classroom to Career Hub. Her team of scholarship coaches work with over a dozen scholarships providing support services to scholarship recipients. She knows the importance of scholarships in attaining student’s educational and professional dreams. Lauren considers it an honor to be a part of student’s educational journeys.

Health Careers You Didn’t Know Were a Thing

Steve Holloway 

Moderator

Steve Holloway is a public health professional, professor, and board member focused on advancing public and community health. He has served as Director of the Health Access Branch at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment since October 2011, where he leads initiatives to improve access to primary care and strengthen the health workforce. He is also an Adjunct Professor at the University of Denver’s Graduate School of Social Work, teaching courses on mental health and substance use policy, social determinants of health, and public policy. 

Steve holds a Master of Public Health from Emory University, a Graduate Certificate in Maternal and Child Health from the University of Arizona, and a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Colorado. He has completed advanced leadership training, including an Advanced Leadership Certificate from the Regional Institute for Health and Environmental Leadership. 

Aimar Amezcua-Sandoval (she/her/ella) 

Panelist

Aimar Amezcua-Sandoval is a Workforce Development Specialist at Denver Health, where she has spent the past two years learning HR systems and growing into her new role. Before transitioning into workforce development, Aimar leveraged over seven years of nursing experience, giving her a unique perspective on the needs of healthcare professionals. She holds a Master of Health Administration and is a proud MSU alumna. As a Latina professional passionate about equity and career growth, Aimar is committed to creating opportunities that empower individuals to thrive and strengthen the future of healthcare. 

Rana Tarkenton, Ed.M. 

Panelist

Rana’s professional experience spans more than 20 years of operations, policy, program and systems development in the education and nonprofit sectors. Rana has spent her career in education leading high-performing teams to increase postsecondary access and success for low-income, first-generation students and students of color. She brings a commitment to equity and a strong belief in the impact of strategic collaboration and student-centered design to her work at The Attainment Network. 

 Prior to joining The Attainment Network, Rana served as the Executive Director of the Office of Strategic Impact at the University of Colorado Denver, where she partnered with higher ed leaders to drive results through strategic decision-making and continuous improvement. She previously held leadership roles at the Denver Scholarship Foundation and the Colorado Department of Higher Education, advancing college access both locally and statewide.  

Rana earned her bachelor’s degree in Marketing and Theatre from Trinity University and her master’s degree in Higher Education Administration from Harvard University.