About NRTRC

Our Team - Staff

Nichole Perisho, MPH, BSN, BA, RN, Director

Nicki Perisho, MPH, BSN, BA, RN serves as Director of the Northwest Telehealth Resource Center (NRTRC), where she leads the development and dissemination of resources and technical assistance that advance digital health across Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. A nationally recognized speaker, she presents on telehealth policy, digital health innovation, artificial intelligence, and healthcare transformation, with a focus on improving access, advancing quality, reducing costs, and strengthening the healthcare workforce.

Prior to joining the NRTRC, Ms. Perisho directed the telehealth program at a rural regional health system, leading the implementation and expansion of telehealth services across multiple specialties. Her clinical background in critical care nursing, combined with extensive experience in telehealth operations and rural healthcare, enables her to translate healthcare policy and innovation into practical, sustainable solutions.

Ms. Perisho has testified before the Senate Finance Subcommittee on Health Care on telehealth policy and earned a Master of Public Health in Health Policy from the University of California, Berkeley, where she was selected as a Rural Health Innovation Scholar. Her work focuses on expanding access to care and strengthening healthcare delivery in rural and frontier communities.

Jaleen Johnson, BS, Assistant Program Director

Jaleen Johnson is the Assistant Program Director of the Northwest Regional Telehealth Resource Center (NRTRC). In her position, she provides technical assistance in developing digital health networks and creating and disseminating telehealth resources for the region of Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. Jaleen served as the Telestroke Program Coordinator and Neurosciences Outreach Administrative Coordinator for six years at University of Utah Health before moving to UETN and NRTRC in July of 2020. Jaleen has participated in many research efforts and has contributed to several published works in peer-reviewed medical journals including the Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare. In 2022, Jaleen participated in the 8th cohort of the NTEN Digital Inclusion Fellowship in which she facilitated a digital health literacy project focused on the region. She now holds a certification from the Non-Profit Technology Enterprise Network (NTEN).

Sarah Bauman, MBA, Principle Investigator

Sarah Bauman serves as the Director of the Utah Telehealth Network (UTN), directing network operations and working with the UTN Advisory Council to develop and execute organizational strategic plans. Sarah also serves as the Principal Investigator (PI) for the NRTRC HRSA Grant awarded to the University of Utah to support NRTRC operations. Her background includes nonprofit development, healthcare management, and government relations.

In her current role with UTN, she oversees network support services for 80 healthcare facilities accessing the UTN broadband network and the financial discounts provided by the Universal Service Administration Company’s Healthcare Connect Fund. In addition, Sarah manages UTN’s school-based telehealth project providing telehealth kits and training to Title One schools in the State of Utah. Her prior experience includes serving as an elected official on the Moab City Council and in the roles of executive director and development director for Utah-based nonprofit organizations where she drove business development and impact, fostered partnerships, and increased organizational capacity.