OUR PROVIDERS

Team Member Since 2012

Dr. Kathleen Cowie is a family physician with a special interest in women and children’s health. She is fluent in Spanish and has a passion for providing compassionate medical care at home and abroad, having volunteered on outreach trips in Honduras, Peru, Bolivia, and Guatemala. Dr. Cowie graduated from Loyola Chicago Stritch School of Medicine in 2006 but fell in love with the Colorado Rockies while completing her family medicine residency at St. Anthony Central/North Hospitals in Denver. Prior to joining the Care Clinic in 2012, she provided full-spectrum family medicine including obstetrics and newborn care at Salud Family Health Centers in Commerce City and Platte Valley Hospital in Brighton. Dr. Cowie became Chief Medical Officer of the Care Clinic in 2017. In her free time, she loves doing all things outdoors and spending time with her family.

Team Member Since 2022

Tara Taylor is one of our Summit Community Care Clinic Nurse Practitioners. She has been providing primary care in Summit County for the past 5 years. She was born and raised in Bergen County, New Jersey, but considers Summit County her home at heart after 18 years. Like most of us here in the high country, she enjoys mountain biking, hiking, snowshoeing, snowboarding, and anything outdoors. She finds joy spending time with her husband Zach and two dogs Fiona & Porter. Her favorite thing is getting together with her large family in Denver, who followed her out here over the last few years to be together.

Prior to obtaining her Family Nurse Practitioner through University of Colorado Anschutz, graduating in 2017, she practiced as an Intensive Care Unit nurse for 17 years. She has vast experience in many clinical areas, such as open-heart surgery, trauma, neurosurgery, burn, bone marrow transplant, organ transplant, and pediatric critical care.

She is very passionate about primary care and disease prevention. She focuses on finding the underlying cause of disease, rather than simply treating symptoms. She is excited to now venture into an integrated care model, with her plans to attend an integrated fellowship in 2025. She is thrilled to be able to bring these services and promote well-being within our mountain community.

"Summit Community Care Clinic is the best place I have ever worked, and it is an honor to be a part of this fantastic team!"

Team Member Since 2017

Jennifer Kagan has been a Family Nurse Practitioner with the Care Clinic since 2017. She first came to Summit County in 1994 to ski and play in the mountains after graduating from the University of Vermont. She developed a passion for health and wellness that led her to go back to school for nursing. Jennifer received her AAS in nursing from Community College of Denver in 1991, worked in critical care and emergency nursing for 15 years while continuing her nursing education at Regis University in Denver. She graduated with her BSN in 2011 and her MSN in 2018. When she isn’t at the clinic she loves hiking, cross country skiing, gardening, and spending time at the beach with her husband, 12-year-old chihuahua Izzy and kittens, Frank and Beans.

Team Member Since 2023

Dr. Jennifer Camello Tomback is a family medicine physician who loves to see patients of all ages and stages – from pediatrics to prenatal care to geriatrics. She graduated with a degree in Anthropology from University of Southern California, then graduated medical school from Rush University in 2020. Afterwards, she completed her family medicine residency at University of Colorado. Dr. Camello Tomback is originally from Chicago, but she fell in love with the mountain lifestyle and decided to move to Summit County after residency. She began working at the Care Clinic in 2023. She is especially passionate about climate change and health – she has written multiple op-eds and advocated on the state and national levels regarding this topic. In her free time, she enjoys reading sci-fi/fantasy books, skiing, fly fishing, and hiking with her dog and husband.

Team Member Since 2021

Tara Edick is a Physician Associate working in Family Medicine. She is originally from central New York but moved to Colorado after college where she attended PA school at Red Rocks Community College Physician Assistant program, graduating in 2002. Tara worked in pediatrics at a Community Health Center for many years in Denver, before moving to Summit County where she began working in Family Medicine. She was drawn to the Care Clinic because she is bilingual in English and Spanish and enjoys working with the LatinX community. She loves providing education to patients so they can learn how to improve their own health. In her free time, Tara enjoys spending time with family, gardening, yoga, reading and enjoying Colorado’s great outdoors.

Team Member Since 2020

Stephany Chalarca is originally from Colombia and came to Colorado for the first time in 2014. She fell in love with the mountains and decided to move Summit County. Stephany studied English as a Second Language at the Colorado Mountain College before graduating as a journalist and working a few years in the communications field. Translation services has become Stephany’s specialty and passion. She enjoys helping patients with their healthcare needs by being the communication bridge between them and their providers. Stephany also loves the outdoors, camping, paddleboarding during the summer and snowboarding when it gets cold.

Team Member Since 2020

Dr. Joanna Kopytek received her dental training at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry, where she graduated with honors and is a member of Omicron Kappa Upsilon National Dental Honor Society. After dental school, Dr. Kopytek completed a General Practice Residency at the Rocky Mountain Regional Veteran Affairs Medical Center in Aurora, CO. She is passionate about continued learning and is an active member in the American Dental Association, Colorado Dental Association, Metro Denver Dental Society, and the Academy of General Dentistry. Outside of work, Dr. Kopytek enjoys being with family, traveling, winter sports, mountain biking, and spending time outdoors with her three dogs.

Team Member Since 2023

Dr. Kelvin Ha's roots trace back to Seattle, Washington, where he was born and raised. He completed both his undergraduate education and earned his dental degree at the University of Washington, proudly carrying the spirit of "Go Dawgs!" throughout his academic journey. His dedication to patient care is unwavering, marked by his commitment to evidence-based treatments. He embodies empathy and a deep understanding of the underlying factors contributing to oral health issues. He is an active member of several esteemed dental associations, including the American Dental Association and the American Academy of General Dentistry. Beyond his professional life, Dr. Ha finds joy in various pursuits. He relishes daily strolls with his wife, cherishing moments with their two feline companions, backpacking across the country, skiing, and playing tennis and basketball.

Team Member Since 2023

Dr. Withycombe went to Dental School at Oregon Health and Science University. Dr. Withycombe is a current member of the American Dental Association and participates in multiple continuing education courses each year to deliver exceptional dental care. Growing up in Oregon, he has found comfort in being outdoors through activities such as rock climbing, trail running, fishing, and skiing.

Dr. Merissa Delazerda moved to Summit County in 2024 from Washington, where she was born and raised. She completed her Bachelor of Science in Public Health and received her Dental training at the University of Washington in Seattle. Dr. Delazerda is mission driven and has a commitment to serving the underserved and knew that she wanted to work in public heath upon receiving her dental degree. She is an active member of the American Dental Association and participates in multiple continuing education courses each year. She is passionate about learning and improving her skills in dentistry and hopes to make the patient experience comfortable and welcoming. Dr. Delazerda looks forward to making a positive impact in this community she now calls home. When not working she enjoys long strolls with her husband, hiking, biking, winter sports, playing with her two cats KiKi and Didi, and baking for her co-workers!

Team Member Since 2015

Megan joined the Care Clinic in 2015 as a Dental Hygienist and she helped to implement the SMILES and COMDI programs in the School Based Health Centers. Megan has a Bachelor’s Degree in Integrative Physiology from the University of Colorado and an Associates Degree in Dental Hygiene from Pueblo Community College. She is a Colorado native.

Lacie joined the Care Clinic in 2020 as a Registered Dental Hygienist. She earned her Associate degree in Dental Hygiene from Concorde Career College in Kansas City. Lacie is passionate about public health, so when an opportunity to work with the clinic presented itself, she knew she had to move to Colorado. Lacie's favorite part about her job is going to the schools to complete dental cleanings for students. In her free time, she loves going on road trips and hiking with her dog, Royal.

Kelly Carey is an accomplished dental hygienist dedicated to promoting smiles and optimal oral health. She values delivering a combination of expertise, empathy and compassionate care. Kelly strives to make a positive impact on the well-being of each patient she sees. Beyond the clinic she enjoys spending time with her Husband, two daughters and Newfoundland dogs.

Team Member Since 2019

Kerri Hudgins has been a dental hygienist for over 20 years and enjoys establishing relationships with patients and providing them with all the tools they need for optimal oral health. Kerri graduated from Northeastern University in Boston Dental Hygiene School in 2001 where she started her interest in public health. She loves working in the Care Clinic’s School Based Health Centers. Health is her passion, and she is a certified personal trainer, and enjoys spending time working out. Keri lives with her husband of 15 years, and 2 dogs that are their kids.

Christie has worked with the Care Clinic since 2021 and has been a Registered Dental Hygienist since the dawn of time. Christie enjoys splitting her time between the Care Clinic’s main office and their School Based Health Centers. Christie believes that early intervention is key which is why she loves working with kids. When not at work, Christie, a local of over ten years, loves all things Summit County! She is an avid skier, half marathon runner, and the most supportive hockey mom.

Kristina is a true dental nerd and dental hygiene is her passion! Upon graduating from dental hygiene school in 2019, Kristina was presented with the Colorado Dental Hygiene Association’s Award for clinical excellence. She is also a member of the American Dental Hygiene Association. During her free time, Kristina likes to cruise the green and easy blue ski runs at Copper and Loveland, spend all day fishing (fly, cast, ice…), bang on the drums, and hang out with her husband and their two Staffies - Loki and Thora. Kristina’s personal motto is - Music is Life and Don’t Forget to Floss!

I couldn’t have chosen a more satisfying career and because of that, I failed at trying to retire a couple of years ago. My career has been challenging, fun, respectful, educational, and extremely rewarding! The opportunity to develop lasting and new relationships is the best part of every day.

Verania was born and raised in Leadville. She is fluent in Spanish and English. She started her career at the Care Clinic in 2018 as a dental assistant. She enjoyed the dental world so much that she left to pursue her degree in Dental Hygiene. Verania earned her degree in 2024 and came back to the clinic as a Registered Dental Hygienist. When not at work Verania enjoys spending time with her family and visiting new places.