We are proud to announce that Dee Kessler is the new Dental Operations Director for Valley-Wide Health Systems! Dee will be transitioning soon from her current position as Guadalupe Health Center Clinic Manager. Valley-Wide has seven dental clinics located in the San Luis Valley and lower Arkansas Valley.
I have worked in the healthcare field for 35 years, 26 years as a Practice Manager for dental offices. I was the lead practice facilitator for the Patient Centered Medical Home Initiative of the Oklahoma University Health Sciences Center Section of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics. Prior to coming to Valley-Wide as the Clinic Manager for Guadalupe Health Center, I was a Quality Improvement Coach for HealthTeamWorks out of Lakewood, CO, coaching practices using the Patient Centered Medical Home model throughout Southern Colorado. I also have experience in finance, real estate and sales.
One of my favorite quotes is by Patch Adams, “If you treat a disease, you may win or you may lose. If you treat a person, you will always win.” This is the foundation of the Patient Centered Medical Home Model. I believe if you take care of your patients, teach them and support them, the more meaningful your work will be in health care and your practice will take care of itself. I also believe it’s imperative that all areas of healthcare, Medical, Dental, Rehabilitative, Palliative and Behavioral Health should work closely together, integrating services whenever possible. I believe Valley-Wide is on the right track by providing integrated care and I’m excited to be a part of that.
I am a Kansas native but moved to Oklahoma where I met my husband, Dr. James Kessler, D.D.S. Jim and I have 4 children, ages 29-35, and 5 beautiful grandchildren, ages 8 months to 8 years old. We built our “retirement” home west of Antonito and made Colorado our permanent home in 2011. In our spare time we love to fly-fish, hike and explore but really value our time with our grandchildren whenever we possibly can.
