SJMF Staff

Welcome to our website!

We are happy to introduce you to our website. Take a moment to browse. We invite you to join us as a volunteer for one of our annual fundraising events or the Connelly Hospitality House. You will be glad you did. I promise!

John Oliphant, Executive Director

John Oliphant was recently offered and accepted the Executive Director position for San Juan Medical Foundation and is thrilled to be back in Farmington and San Juan County where he has lived the majority of his life.

A Vietnam veteran, UNM Graduate, and San Juan Leadership Alumni, he served as the Executive Director for the Boys & Girls Club of Farmington through the expansion period from 1986 until 1999. In June of 1999 he joined the National Staff of Boys & Girls Clubs of America and for the next 13 years served in two dynamic and challenging positions for BGCA. As a Regional Service Director out of Dallas, Texas - he provided developmental and consultation services to Clubs all over the Southwest Region and was instrumental in opening new Clubs in communities in 8 different states. In 2004 he joined the Government Relations Department and moved to Tucson, Arizona as Director Government Relations and was instrumental in raising millions of dollars on both the state and federal levels which in turn were passed through to Clubs all across the country to assist with much needed operational resources.

At the end of March 2012, John resigned from Boys & Girls Clubs of America with the intent to pursue a career change designed around community and organizational development and with significantly less travel. When he saw the Executive Director posting for San Juan Medical Foundation he talked it over with his wife Becky and they both agreed this was the ultimate opportunity and he instantly applied. With over 26 years of non-profit experience to include success’ in organizational development, they both had hopes to return to Farmington (home) to lead the Foundation, toward an advanced dream of working with San Juan Regional Medical Center to enhance health care opportunities in San Juan County.

His experience in working with boards of directors, business leaders, elected officials, governmental agencies, foundations and especially the public helped convenience the search committee that he had the tools needed to move San Juan Medical Foundation to a higher level of operation. His knowledge of the community and the philanthropic partners he has developed over the years will undoubtedly be an asset in helping the board of directors accomplish its mission and attain the continued success it has experienced.

Board of Directors | About SJMF

Leslie Fitz, Connelly House Manager

Welcome to the web site for San Juan Medical Foundation and Connelly Hospitality House (CHH).

I am the manager of Connelly House. I love being in a position of creating a warm and caring environment for patients and families who are coping with a medical crisis. They need a place of quiet serenity where they can rediscover hope and grow toward healing. Whether I am making a bed, planting flowers, interacting with the HOST volunteers or receiving a new guest, I am creating a tranquil place for families in medical crisis.

My previous work and personal experiences have uniquely suited me for this position. For fifteen years I worked at Four Corners Home for Children/Navajo Ministries. In that time, I worked for ten years as an assistant to the Director of Development at Navajo Ministries and for three years I was the Director of Development. In addition, our son was physically handicapped and chronically ill so I was a caregiver in the midst of medical challenges.

I came to CHH in the summer of 1999. I am inspired by the courage of the patients and their families and I delight in the dedicated commitment of the HOST volunteers.

Board of Directors | About SJMF

Brenda Shepherd, Annual Giving/Donor Relations Coordinator

Welcome to the San Juan Medical Foundation website. I am Brenda Shepherd, the Annual Giving/Donor Relations Coordinator.

In 2001, I began working full-time for the San Juan Medical Foundation as an Executive Assistant. There were just two of us in the office, so “other duties as assigned” took on a whole new meaning for both of us. The SJMF had grown to the extent that the need for more help became a reality. Hiring an Office Assistant in 2006, freed me to do what I love best… Special Events!

I have three children and two grandchildren.

The Annual Cancer Walk-a-Thon, while the largest event, is not the only one hosted by SJMF. We host, or partner with other organizations and businesses to produce the following:

Thank you for visiting our website. We invite you to be a part of any, or all of our activities.

Board of Directors | About SJMF

Latisha Furtado, Executive Assistant

Welcome everyone to the San Juan Medical Foundation website. I am Latisha Furtado, the Executive Assistant.

Before coming over to the Medical Foundation team in January of 2012, I worked for Volunteer Services for 8 years. I have had the opportunity to see some of the most amazing and compassionate people volunteering at SJRMC during that time. I am humbled to have been apart of that, to have learned from the best, and seen love in action.

I am excited to be apart of the foundation team, and working with such amazing people. We all have a goal of making things better for those in need and really educating people on the resources available to our great community. It is a feeling of great accomplishment to help a scared woman get funding for treatment, helping a gentleman who does not know where to turn for help paying bills, and helping a parent have the ability to hold their child’s hand during a scary procedure. Thank you for allowing me to be apart of the San Juan Medical Foundation mission.

I have a degree in Health Care Administration from California Coast University, and am currently working on my fundraising certificate through The "Fund Raising School".

I have an amazing 13 year old daughter named Taylor. Taylor and I love to hunt, hike, and camp, shoot our bows, and do anything outdoors.

Enjoy the website!