Departmental Engagement Program

Gilbert Achay

Pronouns: (he/him/his/siya)

Gil Achay joined the University of Colorado Department of Family Medicine in 2023, and helps lead departmental engagement efforts. His role involves: collaborating with faculty, staff, and medical clinics on systems and culture change; cross-campus representation, such as facilitating in the HEAL Lab; and connecting with partners in the Denver metro area. Originally from Hawai'i, Gil has a B.S. degree from the University of Minnesota and previously worked in local and national nonprofits, corporate philanthropy, and organizational consultation. He is in a counseling psychology graduate program and enjoys integrating holistic health and wellbeing practices personally and professionally.      

Angelo Alago, PsyD 

Pronouns: (he/him/his)

Dr. Alago is a clinical psychologist at the University of Colorado Department of Family Medicine, where he serves on the Departmental Engagement Team as a consultant and liaison with his colleagues on the psychology team. A graduate of Rutgers’ Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology, he completed his internship at CU-DFM and now leads a primary care anxiety clinic focused on increasing access to high-quality treatments, such as exposure therapy, for underserved communities. His passion for this work is shaped by his evolving understanding of his own Latino identity, experiences working with homeless men in Chicago, and training in Dialectical Behavior Therapy. Dr. Alago is committed to promoting wellness, effective communication, and equity in healthcare by challenging power imbalances in clinical and training settings—an approach he models by inviting new patients to interview him during their first visit and using a supervision tool called the culture wheel with trainees.

Heather Bleacher, MD, MPH

Pronouns: (she/her/hers)

Dr. Bleacher is core faculty at the University of Colorado Family Medicine Residency, and practices family medicine in inpatient and outpatient settings. Through her years of being a doctor, Heather has witnessed the way patients have been affected by their personal experiences of health and healthcare. As a result, her career has been focused on teaching new physicians and improving clinical settings. Since 2012 she has co-directed the family medicine residency’s community health curriculum which focuses on population health, advocacy, and community engagement. In her role as Director of Community Health Initiatives and Outcomes, Heather works to develop tools, resources, practices and policies to help medical clinics become places where every person feels like they belong.  

Taryn Bogdewiecz

Pronouns: (Xe/Xem/Xyrs or They/Them/Theirs)

Taryn Bogdewiecz is a Research Services Senior Clinical Sciences Professional at the University of Colorado Department of Family Medicine (DFM). Xe manages the Disrupting the Status Quo Blog, the Spotlight Program, and the Justice League Newsletter. Taryn has also offered LGBTQIA+ and Gender Equity trainings to clinics, and departments across Anschutz Medical Campus.  

Taryn is currently working on a variety of research projects that engage with underserved populations and older adults. Taryn is also a part of the Research Services Professional Leadership Team, Oasis Advisory Committee, and helps to lead the DFM Gender Equity Committee. Outside of the University of Colorado, Taryn is an inclusive yoga instructor and offers trainings in adapting yoga instruction to create Body Positive and LGBTQIA+ inclusive spaces. 

Dionisia de la Cerda, MPA 

Pronouns: (she/her/hers)

Dionisia de la Cerda has worked for the University of Colorado since 2001. She began as a community college transfer student working as a student tutor in the Math Learning Center at the Colorado Springs campus. She has worked in Student Success and Retention, Corrections, K12 STEM pathwways education research, and Health Services Research. She came to the Anschutz campus in 2015 starting her time in the Department of Family Medicine (DFM) in the Practice Innovation Program. She is the Data and Evaluation Manager for the Center for Health Equity & Vice Chancellor's Office of Access and Engagement, and supports this team with Data and Evaluation consultation.

Natalie Hamilton, MD

Pronouns: (she/her/hers)

Dr. Hamilton is a Senior Instructor of Family Medicine at the University of Colorado. She completed her residency training at the University of Colorado and joined the team as a Faculty Fellow in 2024. She is also a graduate of the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND) program. She practices primary care in the outpatient setting at UCHealth Lone Tree where she specializes in primary care for patients with disabilities. Her background includes being a Direct Support Professional (DSP) for Special Olympic athletes, participating in population health projects for improving healthcare disparities for patients with disabilities, and enhancing medical education around disability care. 

Stephanie Mitchell

Pronouns: (she/her/hers)

Stephanie Mitchell is a Business Services Senior Professional at the University of Colorado Department of Family Medicine (DFM). Stephanie has been with the university for 25 years and serves as a Senior Administrative Support Coordinator; she provides administrative support to the team, and is the administrative assistant of Dr. Cleveland Piggott. Stephanie also supports many groups and individuals here at the DFM, including our I.T. department and H.R. She is a part of the department's DFM Administrative Team. She manages procurement card requests, is the Approving Official (AO) for procurement card expenses and expense reports, and provides expense related trainings for out department. 

Cleveland Piggott, MD, MPH, FAAFP

Associate Professor; Vice Chair for Departmental Engagement

Pronouns: (he/him/his)

Dr. Piggott is a family physician at the University of Colorado Department of Family Medicine (DFM). He received his MD and MPH from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill and completed his residency training at the University of Colorado Family Medicine Residency. As a faculty member, he co-founded a departmental working group, with Dionisia de la Cerda, to help bridge the gap in health outcomes and employee satisfaction. He is now the inaugural Vice Chair for Departmental Engagement. He still sees patients and spends most of his time in medical education. His expertise is in recruitment, mentoring, education, and organizational change. He finds creating systems where everyone can thrive to be as rewarding as it is challenging.

Alicia Wong, MD, MPH, MA

Pronouns: (she/her/hers)

Alicia Wong is an Assistant Professor of Family Medicine at the University of Colorado. She earned her BA at Bowdoin College and received her MD and MPH from Boston University. She completed residency training at the University of Colorado Family Medicine Residency and stayed on as a Faculty Fellow the following year. She is now one of the lead physicians of Denver Health’s Adaptive Primary Care clinic and does health services research focused on the provision of communication accommodations in primary care and on documenting disability in the electronic medical record. She also serves as Medical Director of the Disability Equity Collaborative. Dr. Wong's work with the Leadership Team is focused on providing medical education around disability care to DFM residents and faculty, running a support group for trainees with disabilities, and inclusive mentorship.