My educational growth and milestones include graduating from Dolores High in 1980. The one standout accomplishment I recall from that time was earning my license as an Emergency Medical Technician at the age of seventeen through the dedicated teaching of Chuck Melvin. I’m not sure I realized it at the time, but he showed me what it meant to care for and serve others.

I took that desire for service and caring for others into the Army at the age of eighteen and enlisted as a Patient Care Specialist with a Jump School option. It was during these initial three years of service that the Holy Spirit grabbed hold of me revealed God’s will in my life and brought me fully into the service of others.

Along the way, I was blessed with a loving, inspiring, and supportive wife and two sons. I have been with Opal for almost 40 years now and our two accomplished sons and loving daughters-in-law have given us three unique, talented, and amazing grandchildren.

In late 2009 my husband, David, and I moved to Montezuma County after many years of visiting the area to explore the natural and cultural wonders it offers. The presence of a rural hospital was a key factor in our decision to relocate here. All of our experiences with the hospital, both as tourists and residents, have been exemplary.

In response to the potential closure of the Family Birthing Center in 2023, I joined with other community members in forming Friends of the Hospital, which has taken a strong advocacy and leadership role in ensuring the continued success of our hospital and healthcare system. I’m dedicated to the long-term viability and success of our rural healthcare system because I believe that we deserve high-quality healthcare close to home, and its success is critical to the continued viability of Montezuma County and the greater region.

Prior to 2009, I had a varied career as an early childhood professional that began in the Special Education Program at University of Texas at Dallas, teaching and supervising student teachers and interns, and that culminated 28 years later as a clinical faculty member there, teaching and directing research in early childhood disorders. In between I provided home and center-based services to infants, toddlers, and preschoolers with disabilities and their families in inner-city Dallas, and was the executive director of an early intervention program. I’m most proud of being a co-founder and first chair of the board of a free medical clinic that provided (and still provides) comprehensive services to children of undocumented workers in Plano, TX. My career didn’t end when I moved, as I’ve held many local, regional, state-level, and national leadership roles in the fields of infant and early childhood development and mental health, and served on many nonprofit boards.

I earned my BA from UC Berkeley in Social Sciences, and my MA from Northwestern University in Language and Learning Disabilities, and have advanced certifications in fields related to infant and early childhood disorders and mental health.

I believe some of the qualities and skills I bring to the board include the ability to develop, organize and implement workplans and strategic plans; teaming and conflict management skills; an understanding of rural issues and needs; and a strong sense of social justice.

In 2016, Margi Strangl moved to the town of Dolores, in Montezuma County, Colorado, following her retirement as a trial attorney from the Chicagoland area. She was drawn to the diversity of the Four Corners area which has allowed her to pursue her love of hiking, camping, traveling, exploring new and challenging interests alongside her beloved giant dog.

She is a former defense attorney, prosecutor and family law practitioner from the Midwest. She worked and lived in McHenry County, Illinois and graduated from Highland Park High School in 1980, the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1984 and Hamline School of Law in St. Paul Minnesota in 1988.

With over twenty-five years experience working with community leaders and agencies as advisor, volunteer and advocate, she looks forward to utilizing her background on the SHS Board to help assure that Montezuma County and nearby residents continue to receive good medical care and that the allocation of resources allows for future growth.

Jay Wood is a seasoned professional in nonprofit management and community advocacy, renowned for his deep commitment to improving health and legal services for underprivileged and vulnerable populations. As a current member of the Board of Directors at Southwest Memorial Hospital, Jay brings a wealth of experience that is integral to his role.

In his present capacity as the Diversion Director/Project Director for the 22^nd Judicial District Attorney’s Office, Jay continues to make significant contributions to community welfare and legal advocacy. This role highlights his ongoing dedication to public service and legal justice.

Before joining the DA’s office, Jay served as the Executive Director of Southwest HealthNet in Cortez, Colorado. His work prior to moving to Colorado was equally impactful, as the Director of the Missouri State Legal Services Center working to promote legal aid services to the poor and Executive Director of Missouri KidsFirst, where he provided vital support and guidance through a statewide network of Child Advocacy Centers and led Prevent Child Abuse Missouri.  His work also included serving as the Statewide Chair of the Kids Count Data Book and Chair of the State Prevention Partners made up of State Agency Directors working with prevention issues in Missouri.

I am a retired general surgeon.  Between 2005 and 2018 I worked in the Four Corners, between Shiprock and Blanding.  I went to the big public meeting in the ambulance garage, when it looked like the birthing center might be closed, and there was general concern that several of our health care providers were leaving.  I then suggested to some people I knew that I might be interested is serving on the hospital board, and they encouraged me to do so.

I grew up in West Virginia and graduated from high school in 1966.  I did three semesters at West Virginia University and then volunteered for the draft.  I served two years in the army, one of those years being in Viet Nam.

After discharge I went back to college and graduated in 1973.  I graduated from medical school at Stony Brook, New York, in 1976.  I went back to West Virginia and completed a surgical residency at the Charleston Area Medical Center.

I practiced a few years in Charleston and then moved to northern Montana, where I worked for a few decades.

Since moving to Cortez I have been an active volunteer for The Bridge and The League of Women Voters.  I enjoy reading, bird watching and other outdoor activities, and travel.  Roxanne and I have four children and three grandchildren.

David was raised on a farm in rural northern Michigan.  Following completion of his undergraduate studies at DePauw University and medical school at Wayne State University, he completed his residency in anesthesia and fellowship in pediatric anesthesia at University of Iowa.

Dr. Dull practiced clinical anesthesia in Michigan for 30 years.  During that time, he held numerous leadership roles including chair of a department of anesthesiology, president of the medical staff, president of the Michigan Society of Anesthesiologists, and member of the Michigan Board of Medicine.  He has served as the chief quality officer and also as the chief medical officer for several hospital systems with oversight responsibilities for both small rural, critical access hospitals, and tertiary care medical centers.  He received his Master of Medical Management from Carnegie Mellon University. Dr. Dull is a certified executive coach and certified healthcare executive coach.  He is founder of Probitas Healthcare Advisors LLC and Compass Executive Coaching.  Both of these entities focus on leadership coaching and consulting for physician leaders and healthcare executives.  He is an assistant professor at Georgetown University where he teaches Health Care Leadership to masters level students.

David has always been active in the communities where he lives and has served on numerous non-profit boards of directors. He and his wife have been residents of Colorado for nearly a decade and moved to their ranch outside of Mancos 3 years ago.

He currently enjoys working on and managing his ranch, as well as being a professional Western Hat Maker.  In his spare time, he enjoys exploring the 4 corners region, hunting and snow shoeing.

His interest in joining the board of directors is to help ensure long-term viability of the hospital, expand healthcare services to residents of Montezuma County, and help ensure that high quality care is available to our community.