Our Team
Melissa Bosworth
Principal
A self-described thought disrupter and warrior for nonprofits, Melissa is the Principal of Vertical Strategies, Executive Director of the Eastern Plains Healthcare Consortium, and Assistant Professor at Regis University. She is committed to creating nonprofit sustainability through navigating uncertainty, and inspiring students who have a similar passion. She has spent the last 20 years working in human service and healthcare related nonprofits, and is most currently passionate about working with organizations across the United States.
As a previous pianist and music therapist turned administrator and teacher, Melissa brings a unique perspective when it comes to creating solutions for social justice. Influenced by her son, students, and nonprofit professionals, she aspires to never stop working for a more just world.
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For more information, visit her CV here.
Megan Galaviz
Principal
A masterful problem solver with over ten years of experience working in Healthcare Operations/Administration and Finance. Megan brings experience in full scope practice administration at both clinic and hospital levels, expertise in EHR and practice management systems, policy development and implementation strategy, and has a proven history of effective implementation of procedural and systematic change at both local and national levels. Her diverse background has created a unique understanding of global systems and the ability to recognize areas of opportunity within new or existing systems and effectively implementing opportunistic change with positive outcomes.
Megan is committed to strengthening systems and empowering non-profits to break barriers and execute high level services through sustainable means and is grateful for the opportunity to work with such diverse entities striving toward the development of just and equitable programs.
Dwayne Wharton
Senior Consultant- Just Strategies
Dwayne is a health and equity advocate working locally, globally, and everywhere in between to help build healthier communities. He has held leadership positions in several prominent non-profit organizations and has helped to advance local, state and federal policies, promote health equity, and worked to eliminate disparities across multiple determinants of health. Dwayne is an appointed member and co-chair of the City of Philadelphia Mayor’s Commission on African-American Males (MCAAM) and the Philadelphia Food Policy Advisory Council (FPAC) where he Chairs the Health Subcommittee. He also serves on the boards of the Greater Philadelphia Philanthropy Network, American Heart Association, Kynett Foundation, Bridging the Gaps Community Health Internship Program, and the Alliance for Agriculture in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Dwayne is a former Peace Corps volunteer, and is a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Culture of Health Leader.
Mike Fisher
Senior Advisor- HMRx Advisors
Mike has managed physician groups since 1985. His health care career began in clinical research and cardiopulmonary diagnostics after completing his undergraduate degree in Biology/Physiology in the 1970s.
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Mike graduated with an MBA in the early 1980s, and was a founding partner of Healthcare Management Systems, a practice management group on the west coast. Since arriving in Denver in 1991, he has held positions with HealthONE and Centura, and was Clinic Administrator for a primary care group from 1997 – 2003.
He earned his Doctorate in Business Administration/Health Services, and has been full time faculty at Regis University since 2001. Mike is currently Professor in the Rueckert-Hartman College for Health Professions at Regis University, and has attained the distinction of Fellow in the American College of Medical Practice Executives.
Veronica Avila
Grant Writer
Veronica has been an organizer and researcher in the labor movement for 15 years. She has worked for the Restaurant Opportunities Centers United (ROC) and several other service worker unions and workers’ centers. At ROC, she led East Coast One Fair Wage efforts and conducted strategic and corporate research. Veronica is a recipient of the Berger Marks Foundation “Edna” Award for female social justice leaders and a Data and Society Fellowship. She also earned an MSc in Inequalities and Social Science from the London School of Economics.
