About NRTRC

Our Team - Staff

Nichole Perisho, BA, BSN, RN

Ms. Perisho serves as the Program Director at the Northwest Telehealth Resource Center (NRTRC), creating and disseminating resources to expand and sustain telehealth in the NRTRC’s seven-state region, serving AK, ID, MT, OR, UT, WA, and WY. She is an invited speaker across the country, sharing her deep and broad telehealth expertise in ways that resonate with participants, including a focus on telehealth’s critical role in achieving the quadruple aim of reducing cost, improving quality, enhancing the patient experience, and bettering the work life of health care staff.

Prior to joining the NRTRC, Ms. Perisho oversaw the Telehealth Program at a rural regional hospital, managing all aspects of telehealth delivery, expansion, and improvement. Her clinical background in critical care, years of telehealth experience, and her knowledge of the needs of healthcare providers and patients translate into an intuitive approach to supporting and operationalizing telehealth best practices for healthcare. Ms. Perisho has testified in front of Congress at the Senate Finance Subcommittee on Health Care and is pursuing a Master of Public Health as a health policy fellow at the University of California, Berkeley.

Jaleen Johnson, BS, Programs Manager

Jaleen Johnson is the Program Manager of the Northwest Regional Telehealth Resource Center (NRTRC). In her position, she provides technical assistance in developing digital health networks and creating and disseminating 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 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.

Marz Cesarini, Associate Director IT

The Associate Director, IT directs UETN Telehealth Services network & media services teams. This position serves as a key technical resource and oversees technical support of NRTRC activities, including webinars and videoconferences. He serves as staff liaison to the NRTRC Technical Committee and provides technical assistance to NRTRC constituents..