Meet Our Team
.png)
Christopher Owens, PharmD, MPH
Idaho AHEC Program Office Director
Office: Gravely Hall Room 136
In 2024, Dr. Christopher T. Owens, PharmD, MPH, became the Program Director of Idaho AHEC. He also serves as Associate Vice President for Health Sciences at Idaho State University and is a Professor in the Department of Pharmacy Practice and Administrative Sciences at the L.S. Skaggs College of Pharmacy. He is Adjunct Faculty, and holds a joint appointment in the ISU School of Nursing.
Dr. Owens has over 20 years of teaching experience, and has published on professionalism, ethics, evidence-based integrative health, and population health topics. He has been instrumental in advancing inter-professional education and collaborating on curriculum development and delivery with the Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine.
Dr. Owens earned his Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) from Idaho State University in 2002, his Master’s in Public Health (MPH) in 2013, and a Certificate in Biomedical Ethics in 2017. From 2003-2009, he served as the Drug Utilization Review (DUR) program coordinator with Idaho Medicaid and as a clinical pharmacist at the Health West Pocatello Clinic.
With a focus on pharmacotherapy, public health, ethics, and geriatric care, Dr. Owens is committed to enhancing healthcare workforce training in rural and underserved areas. His work with the Southeastern Idaho Medical Reserve Corps, and various community initiatives, demonstrates his dedication to improving healthcare access and quality.
As the Idaho AHEC Program Director, Dr. Owens aims to leverage his experience and expertise to further AHEC's mission of addressing healthcare disparities in underserved communities across Idaho.
.png)
Rylee O'Neill, MPA
Idaho AHEC Program Office Associate Director
Office: Nursing Building Room 311
Rylee O'Neill, a sixth-generation Idahoan, has a deep-rooted passion for her state and its pioneering spirit. With a health-profession career spanning over two decades, she has dedicated herself to serving Idaho's healthcare landscape. Ms. O'Neill earned her Bachelor of Social Work and Master's in Public Administration from Idaho State University – and is a proud Bengal! Her journey into healthcare began as a Medical Social Worker, where she gained valuable experience in hospice and long-term care, oncology, and hospital settings before pivoting to her role at AHEC. She has championed inter-professional practice and rural healthcare, and is driven by a profound commitment to improving access to quality healthcare services across Idaho's communities.
Gina Clarkson, PhD, APRN, NNP-BC
Idaho AHEC Program Evaluator
Office: Nursing Building Room 313
Dr. Gina Clarkson is the appointed AHEC Program Evaluator. Dr. Clarkson is also a tenured Associate Professor in the PhD program at the School of Nursing. Her main research area is Parenting of Infants (and challenges of parenting, such as parental substance abuse and infant health issues). She is particularly interested in helping parents of infants who were sick as newborns and admitted to the Newborn Intensive Care Unit. Dr. Clarkson is also a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner and a Veteran of the U.S Air Force, where she proudly served as a Captain in the Nurse Corps.
.png)
Molly Merrick
Community Engagement Liaison
Office: Nursing Building Room 202
