Mary Hoffman, Adams State University Community Partnerships executive director, will attend the 2013 Colorado Capital Conference — from June 4 through June 8, in Washington, D.C., aimed at connecting Coloradans with national leaders and influential public figures. The conference, hosted by Senator Mark Udall, Colorado Mesa University and the University of Colorado, will feature a bipartisan and diverse slate of distinguished speakers.

"I am honored to be able to attend the 2013 Colorado Capital Conference and am looking forward to hearing from the diverse, bipartisan speakers, including Colorado's two U.S. senators," Hoffman said. "I look forward to making connections and bringing these experiences back with me to Colorado. I believe our government is much better when more people, from diverse backgrounds, are involved."

The June 5th conference will feature: Interior Secretary Sally Jewell, Treasury Secretary Jack Lew, Navy Secretary Ray Mabus, Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz, Undersecretary of Education Martha J. Kanter, Undersecretary of Agriculture Darci Vetter, Assistant Defense Secretary Sharon Burke, Charlie Cook, editor of the Cook Political Report Architect of the Capitol Stephen T. Ayers, Maya MacGuineas, president of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.), Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Former Sen. Timothy E. Wirth (D-Colo.)

The entire Colorado congressional delegation also will attend the Colorado Capital Conference and address participants.

For more information, contact Adams State Community Partnerships at 719-587-7372 or 719-587-8209.

The San Luis Valley Regional Medical Center CEO Russ Johnson and Health and Human Services Regional Director of Region VIII Marguerite Salazar will share their perspectives on community health at "Talk Straight to Adams State" healthcare forum, "Affordable care Act: What You Need to Know" from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m. Saturday, April 13, in Adams State University McDaniel Hall room 101. The event is free and open to the public. The event is sponsored by Adams State University Community Partnerships.

The Affordable Care Act represents the most significant government regulatory overhaul of the U.S. healthcare system since the passage of Medicare and Medicaid in 1965. Salazar will play a vital role in the effort to effectively implement the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act as the Health and Human Services Regional Director of Region VIII.

At a recent Rural Healthcare Leadership Conference in Phoenix, Johnson spoke about how SLV Regional Medical Center has integrated physicians into the governance of the hospital and his plans for preparing for the new Affordable Care Act. Johnson is active in the American Hospital Association and has served on the Colorado Hospital Association board for eight years, chairing its Rural Hospital Council for five years.

For information, call ASU Community Partnerships at 719-587-8209.

Dr. Reginaldo G. Garcia will bring another perspective to Adams State University "Talk Straight-Healthcare Forum" forum on Saturday, April 13. Garcia, a clinical psychologist, will address the prevention and health promotion, along with care cost reduction in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The free forum begins at 1 p.m. in Adams State McDaniel Hall, room 101.

Garcia works with the Rocky Mountain Prevention Research Center (RMPRC) at its Alamosa office as a researcher and program director and with the Colorado Clinical Translational Sciences Institute as a San Luis Valley community liaison. He earned his doctoral degree at the University of Colorado Boulder, and is licensed in Colorado and Alabama and is a member of the American Psychological Association. Both organizations Garcia works for are part of the University of Colorado Denver – Anschutz Medical Center and are funded principally by the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, the Colorado Heart Foundation, the National Institutes of Health and the U. Colorado Denver.

For questions or more information, please call ASU Community Partnerships at 719-587-8209.