Leadership
Marillac Leadership & Key Staff Profiles, 2025
Lata (Kay) Ramachandran, MA
Kay assumed the top leadership role in 2013, leading Marillac’s transformation into a flourishing community health center. Kay possesses over twenty years of experience in senior management positions in health care, both in the for-profit and non-profit sectors of Canada and the United States. With fourteen years of Executive Director/CEO experience, her mastery in working with boards, senior leaders, community partners and elected officials has enabled her to develop and implement strategic plans, budgets, capital projects and clinic re-designs. Kay’s primary language is English. Born and raised in India, she also speaks Tamil and Hindi and possesses a deep understanding of cultural issues and economic disparities.
David Dreitlein, MD, FACEP
Dr. Dreitlein joined MarillacHealth in July 2023. He attended the University of Colorado Boulder for his undergraduate education then medical school at CU Health Sciences Center. He completed his residency in Emergency Medicine at Brown University where he served as Chief Resident. After working in hospital settings as an emergency physician for over 20 years, where he held many leadership roles including emergency department director and Chief of Staff, he transitioned to community medicine in 2020. Since that time, he has worked as medical director for a western slope safety net clinic for the medically underserved. Throughout his career he has been appointed to numerous committees for the State of Colorado and has been involved in the creation of several joint projects between regional hospitals. In the past, Dr. Dreitlein has worked as a physician in the Everest Region of Nepal as well as a flight physician. He has been active in medical roles for local National Parks, ski areas and other outdoor organizations. He spends his free time with his wife, a local veterinarian, and his two kids, hiking, skiing, backpacking and in general enjoying all the outdoor activities Western Colorado has to offer.
Thomas Lavery, DDS
Thomas began his employment with Marillac in 2005 as a full-time dentist and was promoted to the position of Dental Director in February 2007. Dr. Lavery received his dental degree from Creighton University and completed his residency at Wyoming State Hospital in Evanston, Wyoming. He possesses 36 years of private and public health dentistry and enjoys teaching and mentoring. Dr. Lavery is committed to continuously assessing local needs, identifying gaps in service and expanding dental service to assure accessible, affordable care for all.
Jeremy Carroll
Jeremy joined MarillacHealth in November 2021. Jeremy has over 20 years of experience in finance and executive leadership, including nearly 10 years working in Federally Qualified Community Health Centers in the roles of CEO and CFO in Western Colorado. Jeremy is a proven innovative leader in the healthcare industry, focusing on population health, team based care, patient outcomes, improving the patient experience and creating a culture of service. Jeremy drives organizational growth through executive leadership, working closely with boards and the executive team to develop and execute the organizations mission and vision by implementing the strategic plan while adhering to core values. Jeremy has a keen ability to evaluate risk to push the envelope to increase patient services, increase patient access and grow the organization. Jeremy also has over 14 years of construction management experience and has overseen 3 expansion projects over the last 8 years. Jeremy has a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance from Texas A&M University (Magna Cum Laude).
Dan Becker, MBA
Dan rejoined MarillacHealth in November 2024. He has over 14 years of leadership in Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and Indian Health Services (IHS), managing financial operations for organizations with budgets ranging from $6 million to over $30 million plus.
Specializing in driving financial sustainability and operational excellence, Dan has optimized diverse service lines, including primary care, behavioral health, dental, occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech therapy, vision, and 340B pharmacy programs. He has a proven track record of creating new revenue streams, achieving 5%-10% annual growth, and implementing key performance indicators (KPIs) to enhance patient access, streamline workflows, and boost employee satisfaction.
His expertise extends to engaging boards, committees, and stakeholders to align financial strategies with organizational goals while ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements. With experience in securing grant funding and conducting long-term budget planning, he is dedicated to advancing healthcare equity and fostering sustainable growth for underserved communities.
Kristy Schmidt
Kristy holds a Bachelor’s degree in Organizational Management from Colorado Christian University. Since 2003 Kristy has worn many hats at Marillac. She directs fundraising, grant-writing, special events, marketing, clinical rotations and community relations. In the past she served as Marillac’s operations manager and in 2011-12 capably executed the duties of Interim Executive Director. Kristy has implemented various grants and projects to address the needs of Marillac’s lowest income patients, those who are homeless, migrant farmworkers and their families. Her passion for our mission is evidenced through Marillac’s many partnerships, strong community awareness and numerous local, regional & national recognitions.