Northern Arizona Healthcare (NAH) is pleased to introduce the newest member of its system-wide Board of Directors. The Board is an all-volunteer group of private citizens who bring a range of experience and skill, combined with community awareness. They are committed to effective governance, oversight and support in NAH’s quest for healthcare excellence across northern Arizona. As NAH’s Governing Board, members must attend annual, mandatory governance training to stay current on the latest requirements in order to meet their organizational quality and fiduciary responsibilities. Board members spend hundreds of volunteer hours each year participating on the Board of Directors and on the seven Board Committees.
The newest NAH Board Member elected in 2026 is:
David (Dave) Palmisano: Palmisano brings more than 35 years of executive leadership experience in hospital and physician practice administration, healthcare finance, business development, healthcare IT, and most recently, healthcare education and workforce solutions, including his current role as Vice President of Strategic Partnerships and Workforce Solutions for Covista, Inc., America’s largest healthcare educator. Prior to joining Covista, Palmisano served as Senior Vice President of Strategic Partnerships and Workforce Development at Grand Canyon Education/Orbis Education, where he expanded nursing programs at 22 academic institutions into more than 40 markets nationwide by developing innovative academic and clinical partnerships. Additionally, he served as a hospital administrator at Texas Health Fort Worth and Longmont United Hospital, built and led a 630+ multispecialty physician group, and held executive positions with several national and regional health plans. Palmisano has experience serving on several nonprofit and boards, including Sedona Sister Cities Association, ThinkFirst Injury Prevention Foundation, United Cerebral Palsy of Tarrant County and the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine Physician Assistant School. Palmisano and his wife Judi currently reside in Sedona and share seven children.
David Palmisano joins these board members who are continuing in their service to the region:
William J. Badger, MD: Dr. Badger is a board-certified urologist and resides in Flagstaff where he has operated a private practice since 2008. He has presented extensively on urological issues, both in Flagstaff and beyond. His work has been cited in numerous medical journals and textbooks. Dr. Badger introduced laparoscopic and robotic urologic surgery to northern Arizona, further enhancing access to advanced medical care in the region. Patients applaud his polite bedside manner and direct, honest conversations.
Coral J. Evans, DrPH, MBA: Evans is a former mayor of Flagstaff. She was elected mayor in 2016 and 2018, and she served two terms on the Flagstaff City Council. Prior to her work in local government, she spent seven years as vice president of mission services at Goodwill Industries of Central Northern Arizona. Her contributions to the local community are extensive. She currently serves as northern Arizona director for U.S. Senator Mark Kelly, acting as a liaison between the senator and regional organizations, government agencies and constituents. She is also executive director of the Sunnyside Neighborhood Association of Flagstaff, Inc., where she leads strategic planning to support the community’s most vulnerable members. She is deeply committed to uplifting diverse populations affected by the systemic impacts of poverty. She currently resides in Flagstaff.
Richard Evnen: Evnen was elected to the NAH Board of Directors in 2023. He was the CEO of a wholesale foodservice distributor in Nebraska before moving to Sedona. He has a long history of volunteer community service and civic leadership. He is a former trustee and governance leader of Bryan Health in Lincoln, Neb. Evnen also served as Chair of the American Hospital Association Committee on Governance.
Randall Garrison: Garrison was elected to the NAH Board of Directors in 2018 and resides in Cottonwood. He is a fifth-generation Verde Valley native who currently lives in Cottonwood. Garrison and his wife own and manage several businesses around the Verde Valley area. He previously served on the Yavapai County Board of Supervisors representing District 3.
Paula Herald (NAH Board Treasurer): Herald was elected to the NAH Board of Directors in 2023. She has over 25 years in healthcare management and administration experience at large health organizations. She has had success in developing and leading operations and project teams, establishing and managing executive relationships, and driving improvements in profitability, productivity and quality. Her experience includes such work at CVS Health, Kaiser Permanente, and Ernst and Young. She has lived in Cottonwood for the last 20 years, where she is active in various community organizations.
Janina C. Johnson, DNP, RN, CNE: Johnson is currently dean of Northern Arizona University’s (NAU) College of Nursing. She is passionate about educating the next generation of healthcare providers in our region and beyond and brings extensive experience in building and expanding innovative nursing education programs. Her career has spanned multiple academic leadership roles, including professor, academic coordinator, director, executive director, associate dean and dean. Prior to joining NAU, she held positions at Chamberlain University in Chicago and Brookline College in Phoenix. In addition to her academic leadership, she has served on national nursing boards and supported programs as a consultant. She resides in Flagstaff.
Troy Lorents (NAH Board Chair): Lorents was elected to the NAH Board of Directors in 2021 and has lived in Flagstaff since 1971. Lorents works at W.L. Gore and Associates, focusing on Data Privacy and Data Security as an Americas Privacy Lead for the Medical Group. He has been on many community non-profit groups including the Lorents Education Foundation, Flagstaff Hoops Basketball, president of the Coordinating Council on Mexican Affairs and DREAMS minority scholarships. In his free time, he is a high school wrestling referee.
Daryl Melvin, PE (NAH Board Vice Chair): Melvin has been a member of the NAH Board of Directors since 2022 and resides in Flagstaff. Melvin is a private equity principal in Melvin Consulting, PLLC. Melvin is Hopi/Navajo from the Hoospowungwa (Roadrunner Clan) and born from Muii’dez’gesh’ni (Coyote Pass Clan). He held the position of chief executive officer for numerous tribal hospitals and health centers. He is a licensed civil engineer in Arizona and New Mexico and is a captain in the U.S. Public Health Service (ret.).
John Rivers (NAH Board Secretary): Rivers was elected to the Northern Arizona Healthcare Board of Directors in 2018 and resides in Flagstaff. He served as president and chief executive officer of the Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association from March of 1986 until retiring in January of 2011. Rivers is a lifetime Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and served as Arizona’s Regent to the College from 1992 to 1997. He also served as a member of the National Steering Committee for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Smokeless States Project. He is an active participant in numerous other civic and community activities.
NAH is committed to delivering high-quality healthcare close to home for the patients and communities we have the honor to serve. For more than 50 years, NAH has focused on Improving health and healing people, and will continue to deliver excellent patient care in northern Arizona in the years to come.