At Stratis Health, our rural health transformation team brings decades of experience and a deep understanding of the unique strengths and challenges facing rural communities. These subject matter experts and implementation specialists are dedicated to advancing rural health care and improving health outcomes through strategic planning, population health interventions, community engagement, and workforce sustainability. With practical solutions and innovative approaches, they partner with organizations to create meaningful change in rural health care delivery, access, and payment systems.
Explore their bios to learn more about the leaders shaping the future of rural health, then connect with us today to discover how we can help you meet and exceed your rural health transformation goals.
Sarah Brinkman, MBA, MA, CPHQ, has more than 20 years of experience leading health care quality improvement at both the community level and through nationally scaled initiatives. She partners effectively with health care leaders—primarily in rural settings—to interpret quality reporting requirements, translate data into actionable insights, and implement sustainable process and performance improvements. Through her work at Stratis Health, including rural consulting and health equity–focused initiatives, she has built organizational capacity and strengthened workforce performance. Sarah has served as program manager and quality improvement specialist for the Stratis Health RQITA program and as program director for the Superior Health Quality Alliance QIN-QIO. She was a 2020 National Rural Health Association Rural Health Fellow and received the inaugural Civitas Networks for Health Emerging Leader Award in 2023.
Erin Foss, RN, CARN, CCHP-RN, is a seasoned public health and rural health systems leader with more than two decades of experience advancing access, quality, and sustainability in underserved and rural communities. As a nationally recognized expert in addiction medicine and correctional health care, she has led statewide initiatives to support rural hospitals, clinics, and justice-involved settings in implementing evidence-based care models, strengthening workforce capacity, and improving care coordination. Her work aligns directly with the CMS Rural Health Transformation Program’s priorities, including sustaining rural access, advancing community health, building a resilient rural workforce, scaling innovative delivery models, and leveraging technology for data-driven improvement. With deep experience in cross-sector collaboration, program implementation, and measurable outcomes, Ms. Foss is well-positioned to translate federal investment into durable, community-responsive rural health transformation.
Carrie Howard, MA, CPHQ, CPPS, is a Senior Program Manager at Stratis Health with deep expertise in rural and Tribal health care transformation, quality improvement, and patient safety. A 2024 National Rural Health Association Rural Health Fellow, Carrie brings extensive experience leading federally funded, multi-year initiatives that strengthen care delivery, workforce capacity, and organizational performance across rural and American Indian and Alaska Native health care systems. She currently leads the American Indian Alaska Native Healthcare Quality Improvement Program, directing a national, multi-organization technical assistance team supporting the Indian Health Service, Urban Indian Organizations, and Tribally managed facilities. Her work aligns closely with CMS RHT Program priorities by advancing whole-person care, population health, safety, and sustainable system transformation through data-driven improvement, leadership development, and community-centered approaches. Carrie holds a master’s degree in health and human services administration and is certified in both health care quality (CPHQ) and patient safety (CPPS), with a demonstrated commitment to improving access, outcomes, and resilience in rural health care communities.
Jennifer Lundblad, PhD, MBA, is President and CEO of Stratis Health, with over 25 years of executive experience advancing rural health system transformation. She leads cross-sector initiatives that improve access, quality, and accountability, directly supporting CMS Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) goals. She is a Principal in the Rural Health Value program and serves as the faculty preceptor for the Quality module of the National Rural Health Association (NRHA) Hospital CEO Certificate Program. Her doctoral research and publications focus on organizational change and quality improvement in rural hospitals. Under her leadership, Stratis Health has implemented statewide and multi-state practice transformation, workflow redesign, quality measurement, and innovation dissemination initiatives, including the Rural Health Value program funded by the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy. Dr. Lundblad’s national roles with the RUPRI Health Panel, CMS Partnership for Quality Measurement Pre-Rulemaking Measure Review Hospital Committee, and other rural health bodies ensure RHTP strategies are evidence-based, rural-relevant, and sustainable, with measurable impact.
Jennifer Wagner, MPH, CPHQ, CPPS, is a health care quality improvement and program management leader with more than a decade of experience advancing rural health system transformation for Critical Access Hospitals and underserved communities. In her roles at Stratis Health, Convergence Health, and the Montana Hospital Association, she has led and managed federally and state-funded initiatives that strengthen quality infrastructure, reduce administrative burden, improve access to care, and support sustainable rural health delivery models. Jennifer brings deep expertise in technical assistance, grant administration, multi-state collaboratives, and evidence-based quality improvement, with a strong track record of translating CMS requirements into practical, actionable solutions for rural providers. A Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality and Patient Safety and an MPH candidate in UC Berkeley’s Rural Health Innovation Program, she is recognized for building trusted partnerships, advancing data-driven improvement, and supporting rural health organizations in achieving transformation aligned with CMS priorities for access, quality, and long-term sustainability.
Karla Weng, MPH, CPHQ, is a nationally recognized rural health leader with more than 25 years of experience advancing rural health system transformation through federally funded quality improvement, value-based care, and care delivery redesign initiatives. As Director of Program Management and Rural Program Lead at Stratis Health, she provides senior leadership for rural-focused programs delivering technical assistance to hospitals and clinics to strengthen quality improvement infrastructure, enhance workforce capacity, expand access to care, and prepare for alternative payment and care delivery models. Karla has led major national initiatives, including the HRSA Federal Office of Rural Health Policy–funded Rural Quality Improvement Technical Assistance program, supporting more than 1,360 Critical Access Hospitals and all 45 state Medicare Rural Hospital Flex Programs, and currently leads Stratis Health’s support for the national Rural Healthcare Provider Transition Project and the Rural Health Value program. She collaborates closely with HRSA, CMS-aligned partners, and national rural organizations, bringing a strong record of measurable impact, cross-sector collaboration, and community-centered solutions aligned with the CMS Rural Health Transformation Program.
Alongside these experts, Stratis Health boasts a diverse team with a broad range of skills and experience, ready to support and drive rural transformation.