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The Business of Healthcare: Access, Workforce & the Rural Healthcare Economy

The Durango Chamber of Commerce is proud to present Forums for Progress, a quarterly interactive community event designed to foster meaningful dialogue on key local issues.

This quarter, The Business of Healthcare takes a regional look at what it takes to sustain healthcare in Southwest Colorado, and why a strong healthcare system is essential to our residents, workforce and economy.  

Featured Panelists:

Morre Dean — Interim President, CommonSpirit Mercy Hospital

Morre Dean is a mission-driven healthcare executive with more than 30 years of leadership experience, including serving as CEO of four faith-based hospitals and in senior leadership roles across health systems, strategy, care delivery, and Medicare Advantage. Morre is the Founder and Owner of Colorado Healthcare Connections, providing executive leadership support to healthcare organizations with a focus on improving affordability, accessibility, and care delivery. He currently serves as Interim President of CommonSpirit Mercy Hospital in Durango. Known for his relational and visible leadership style, Morre is passionate about building strong teams, fostering excellence and compassion, and making a positive difference in the lives of others. He and his wife, Katrina, reside in Lone Tree, Colorado.

Joe Theine — Chief Executive Officer, Southwest Health System 

Joe Theine is a healthcare executive with more than 15 years of leadership experience in Southwest Colorado. He has served as CEO of Southwest Health System since July 2023 and previously led Animas Surgical Hospital, San Juan Basin Public Health, and Four Corners Eye Clinic.Joe serves on several state and regional healthcare boards and committees, including the Western Healthcare Alliance and Southwest Colorado Education Collaborative. He is passionate about improving access, quality, and affordability in healthcare, as well as strengthening the role healthcare providers play in local economies.
Joe holds degrees from the University of Puget Sound, Regis University, and Dartmouth. He has called Southwest Colorado home for more than 20 years and lives there with his wife, Ann.

Haley Leonard Saunders — Vice President of Strategy and Communications, Axis Health System

Haley Leonard Saunders, MBA, serves as Vice President of Strategy and Communications and Public Information Officer at Axis Health System, where she has worked since 2018. She brings more than 15 years of experience in business strategy, communications, and organizational leadership, including more than a decade in rural healthcare. Her work focuses on healthcare strategy, program development, community partnerships, and organizational growth, with an emphasis on expanding access and responding to the needs of rural communities. Haley has also held leadership roles in healthcare marketing and public relations and has been actively involved in community leadership throughout Montezuma County.

Melissa Knight Maloney, PhD, EP-C — Associate Dean and Professor, Fort Lewis College Department of Health and Human Performance

Melissa Knight-Maloney, Ph.D., is a Professor and Associate Dean of Health Sciences at Fort Lewis College, where she has served on the faculty since 1997. She previously chaired the Department of Health and Human Performance from 2015 to 2024 and is actively involved in workforce development. Dr. Knight-Maloney is a Board-Certified Exercise Physiologist whose teaching, research, and leadership focus on exercise physiology, health promotion, student success, and workforce development. Her work has explored physical activity, mental health, health equity, and wearable technologies. She holds a Ph.D. and M.S. in Physical Education from The University of New Mexico and is committed to building partnerships that strengthen health education, wellness, and workforce development across the region.

Together, they’ll explore access to care, the economics of rural healthcare, workforce challenges, and the need to grow our local healthcare pipeline, as well as how regional partnerships can help maintain and expand care across Southwest Colorado.

What will it take to ensure Southwest Colorado has the healthcare system our communities and economy need for the future? Join the conversation and bring your questions.

Register now to save your seat, with the option to order lunch from Cafe Amor to enjoy during the Forum.

This event is proudly sponsored by the Energy Council and the Durango Area Association of Realtors. 

Refunds are available through the Friday before the event. After that date, no refunds will be issued, but registrations may be transferred to another attendee.