Primary Care

Comprehensive care plans are developed to address larger health concerns/issues.   Providers work in conjunction with all other services at RPHC.

Well Woman Visits, Birth Control ( including IUD placement and removal  and Nexplanon placement and removal), and Prenatal care are available at RPHC by appointment.

RPHC offers same day appointments to seek treatment of acute illness.  Please call 480-278-7742 to make an appointment.

RPHC providers also provide an array of other services based on patient needs, but the facility is not an urgent care or emergency room and refers patients to other facilities as necessary.

An illustrative list of services includes:

• Orthopedic Injections
• Biopsies
• EKG
• Incision and Drainage
• Cyst Removal
• Sexually transmitted Illness testing
• Sutures
• Toenail removal
• Trigger finger injection
• Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine

At RPHC, we care for everything from common colds to vaccines for those seeking treatment of acute illnesses on the same day. Adults and children are welcome, please call 480-278-7742 to make an appointment ahead of time or just walk-in. Walk-in spots are limited and are offered between 8am to 3pm Monday through Friday.

List of Walk-In Services:

• Coughs/Colds/Flu/Sore Throat
• STI Screenings/Treatment
• UTI
• Nausea/Vomiting/Diarrhea
• Sports Physicals
• COPD/Asthma
• Gout Flare Ups
• Rashes
• Seasonal Allergies
• Vaccines
• Eye Redness/Pink Eye

Family Medicine

Dr. Megan Huynh is a board-certified Family Medicine physician with a special interest in reproductive health. A native Arizonan, she earned her Bachelor of Science in Molecular and Cellular Biology from the University of Arizona. She later completed a Master of Arts in Biomedical Sciences and a Doctorate in Osteopathic Medicine at Midwestern University in Glendale, AZ.

Dr. Huynh completed her residency training in Fort Collins, Colorado, and returned to Arizona in 2024 to serve the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with loved ones and exploring the outdoors.

Internal Medicine & Pediatrics

Dr. Caroline Kupfer is a board-certified physician specializing in both Internal Medicine and Pediatrics. Born in South Korea and raised near Chicago, she earned her medical degree from Indiana University School of Medicine and completed a combined residency in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics.

Dr. Kupfer has been practicing since 1997 and has particular expertise in caring for adults with chronic childhood medical conditions, including congenital heart disease, cystic fibrosis, Down syndrome, and autism. She is passionate about providing comprehensive, compassionate care to patients of all ages and with a wide range of medical concerns.

Family Medicine

Dr. Unnati Patel is a board-certified Family Medicine physician originally from Iowa. She earned her medical degree from Zhejiang University in Hangzhou, China, and later completed a Master of Science in Global Health at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. After several years working in global public health, she returned to the Midwest to complete her Family Medicine residency at Norwegian American Hospital (now Humboldt Park Health) and PCC Wellness, a federally qualified health center in Chicago.

Dr. Patel continued her work in primary care at Oak Street Health in Chicago, where she also completed a Fellowship in Leadership in Value-Based Care and earned her MBA from Northwestern University. Before joining River People Health Center in 2024, she served as a Medical Director and Primary Care Physician at Oak Street Health in Tempe, Arizona.

She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians and serves as an Assistant Clinical Professor at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix. Dr. Patel is passionate about preventive care and values a team-based approach that empowers patients to take charge of their health. She lives in Arizona with her husband and young child, and enjoys traveling, hiking, board games, reading, and building furniture.

Family Medicine

Dr. Kody Smith is a board-certified Family Medicine physician and a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians. He enjoys providing care across all age groups, with a special interest in aerospace medicine, orthopedics, and diabetes management. Dr. Smith values building relationships with families and supporting long-term health.

Outside of medicine, he enjoys spending time with his wife and children, surfing, reading, working on cars, playing guitar, and following sports.

Family Medicine

Dr. Stacey Sullivan is a board-certified Family Medicine physician and a proud member of the Navajo Nation. She completed both her undergraduate studies and medical degree at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ) in Newark.

After medical school, Dr. Sullivan returned to Arizona to be closer to her family and completed her residency in Family Medicine at the University of Arizona in Tucson. She is a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians and is committed to providing high-quality, culturally grounded care to patients across the lifespan.

Family Medicine

Dr. Michael Truesdell is a board-certified Family Medicine physician and a member of the White Mountain Apache Tribe. He provides care for patients ages 15 and older, with a focus on adult medicine. He has extensive experience managing acute and chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol, and also performs limited in-office procedures.

Dr. Truesdell earned his medical degree from the University of Arizona College of Medicine and completed his Family Medicine residency training at Maricopa Medical Center. He has proudly served the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community for over eight years, providing compassionate, culturally grounded care.

Michael was born and raised in Mesa, Arizona. He completed medical school at Campbell University in 2022 and subsequently moved back to Arizona for residency at the HonorHealth family medicine program located in Scottsdale. Both during medical school and residency Michael gained a love of serving the underserved and a strong desire to provide full spectrum primary care including a desire to focus on MAT. His other interests within medicine include geriatric care, and palliative and hospice care. In his free time he enjoys spending time with his soon to be 9 year old daughter, hiking, camping, trying to bike, and rediscovering life after residency.

Family Nurse Practitioner

Michelle D. Adams is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner and an enrolled member of the Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes in northeastern Montana. Born and raised in Montana, she began her nursing career in 1997 on the Northern Navajo Reservation and later joined Phoenix Indian Medical Center, where she worked in both inpatient pediatrics and the emergency department.

She earned her Master of Science in Nursing – Family Nurse Practitioner from the University of Phoenix in 2011. Michelle has since practiced in a variety of clinical settings in South Florida, including urgent care, family medicine, infectious disease, and occupational health.

She is passionate about providing comprehensive and compassionate care to diverse populations. Outside of work, Michelle enjoys spending time with her husband and family, attending sporting events, exercising, and reading. She shares her home with a German Shepherd named Griffin and a cat named Sammy.

Certified Nurse Midwife

Gabrielle Benally is a certified nurse-midwife with a deep passion for serving Native communities. Originally from Jackson, Wyoming, she spent most of her life there before moving to the Navajo Nation in 2011. She earned her Master of Science in Nursing and Nurse-Midwifery degree from Frontier Nursing University in 2011, following 13 years of experience as a registered nurse.

Gabrielle served for a decade on the Navajo Nation in Kayenta, Fort Defiance, and Tuba City, where she held the role of Chief of Midwifery. Before joining River People Health Center, she worked at Phoenix Indian Medical Center. Her lifelong fascination with pregnancy and birth led her to become a midwife focused on empowering women through safe, culturally appropriate care. She has a particular interest in working with underserved populations and mentoring future midwives.

In 2020, she was honored as Preceptor of the Quarter by Frontier Nursing University for her commitment to student learning. Gabrielle is married and has three sons—Matthew, Jasper, and Ace—and a dog named Noel. In her free time, she enjoys attending live music events, practicing Pilates, writing, and spending time with her friends and family.

Family Nurse Practitioner

Gem Bartsch is a licensed Family Nurse Practitioner with over 37 years of experience across a range of clinical settings, including medical-surgical units, emergency care, and labor and delivery. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Pacific Union College and her Master of Science in Nursing – Family Nurse Practitioner from Arizona State University.

Gem has been a dedicated provider with the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community for more than 20 years, with a primary focus on adult family practice and chronic disease management, particularly diabetes care and wellness promotion. She has also served in leadership roles in staff development, quality improvement, and organizational training.

In recognition of her outstanding contributions, Gem was honored with the Phoenix Indian Medical Center’s 2013 Provider of the Year Award for the Salt River Clinic. Outside of work, she enjoys hiking and exploring the natural beauty of Arizona.

Priscilla Wilson has been healthcare since high school, through a specialized program called the Health Careers Academy. That program helped her become a certified nursing assistant at the age of 18. She was an licensed vocational nurse (LVN) and worked in various positions, from home health nursing to case management. In 2005 her nursing career moved into a trauma-trained pediatric and adult as a registered nurse in Long Beach, California. She relocated to Arizona in 2008 and continued providing emergency and trauma nursing services to patients and their families at St. Joseph Hospital and Honor Health Osborn. 

Since becoming an FNP in 2017 , the foundation of all of her emergency room experience has led her to work at the MinuteClinic, Tempe Fire Department and her own telemedicine practice. The unique program she was asked consult in as an FNP with the Tempe Fire Patient Advocate Services in which she helped the community for the city of Tempe. Supporting and working with each fire station on repeat 911 callers, repeat fall-assistance calls, and any high-risk transport refusals by coordinating and connecting these patients with primary care services. 

She started the walk-in portion of family practice at Salt River Clinic back in 2020. A part of the clinic that has since grown into the Walk-In Clinic of the River People Health Center, now staffed by multiple providers who meet the needs of community members and many other Native Americans in Arizona, surrounding areas, and neighboring states, all by word of mouth, no advertising needed.

After losing her husband in 2023 years, she realized that traveling, hiking, and laughing a lot is a big part of who she is today. She calls her two cats, Calvin and Hobbes, her therapy animals. She believes that educating, living, and exploring life with her two adult children is her new focus. Working hard and playing hard is her new motto.

Family Nurse Practitioner

Candice Ben is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner and an enrolled member of the Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes of Montana. She is also half Navajo. She earned her associate and bachelor’s degrees in nursing from Salish Kootenai College and began her nursing career at her tribal health clinic before transitioning to hospital-based care in Montana and at Banner University Medical Center in Tucson, Arizona.

Candice has experience in medical-surgical, telemetry, and progressive care units, and served as a resource pool nurse. She completed her Doctorate of Nursing Practice with a focus on Family Nurse Practitioner at the University of Arizona in 2020. Since then, she has practiced as an FNP in tribal and community health settings, including service with her home tribe, Gila River Healthcare in Sacaton, and most recently, a community health center in Clifton, Arizona.

She is passionate about providing culturally responsive care to Native communities. Outside of work, Candice enjoys spending time with her husband and four children, being outdoors, and watching movies. Her family also includes two dogs and a cat.

Family Nurse Practitioner

Jorge is a Certified Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP-C) who has been serving the SRPMIC Community since 2026. He started his nursing career in 2018 and has worked in the acute care setting, home health, community health center and in the correctional setting. He is originally from Queen Creek, AZ and still resides in the area. He is a graduate of Northern Arizona University.  Jorge is married, has 4 children, goats, and a dog. During his time away from work, he enjoys spending time with his wife and family, watching Arizona sports teams, reading, and exercising.

Family Nurse Practitioner

Christina Interpreter is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner and a proud member of the Hopi and Navajo Tribes. Raised in Kykotsmovi and Kayenta, Arizona, she brings a deep understanding of Native values to her care. She holds dual bachelor’s degrees in Health Promotion/Education and Nursing from Northern Arizona University, and earned her Master of Science in Nursing from the University of California San Francisco, completing a fellowship focused on diabetes medical management.

Christina has over a decade of nursing experience in general surgery, emergency care, and public health. She has worked in both private and Indian Health Service settings, including Mayo Clinic Hospital, Winslow Indian Health Care Center, and Tuba City Regional Health Care.

She joined River People Health Center in 2017 and provides care to patients ages 5 and older. Her focus includes chronic disease management—particularly diabetes—as well as podiatric wound care in partnership with the podiatry team.

Christina is also involved with the University of Arizona’s Native American Wellness Youth Camp for Diabetes Prevention. In her free time, she enjoys outdoor activities, movies, and spending time with her fiancé, daughters, and grandchildren.

Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner

Stephanie Taijeron is a board-certified Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner originally from the island of Guam. She is a U.S. Army combat veteran and currently serves as a Major in the Army Reserves with Reynolds Army Health Center at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.

Stephanie has been a Nurse Practitioner since 2017 and began her healthcare career as a registered nurse in 2006. She brings extensive clinical experience and a strong commitment to service. She is of Chamorro and Native American heritage—her father is from Guam and her mother is of the Lumbee Tribe in North Carolina.

Stephanie is passionate about providing compassionate, culturally grounded care to her patients and brings a unique perspective shaped by her military and multicultural background.

Nurse Practitioner

Aaron Seaman is a board-certified Nurse Practitioner with over 20 years of experience in emergency medicine and urgent care. Throughout his career, he has worked in various areas of healthcare, including administration, but his true passion lies in direct patient care.

A native of North Mesa, Aaron is a proud graduate of Westwood High School. He is dedicated to making a positive impact in the lives of his patients through compassionate and attentive care.

Outside of work, Aaron enjoys spending time outdoors and being with his family.

Courtney Wood is a Certified Physician Assistant (PA-C) who will be serving as the first PA-C at River People Health Center and is a SRPMIC community member. Courtney’s previous clinical experience includes working as a pharmacy technician at the Salt River clinic, a medical assistant in dermatology, and patient care coordinator in psychiatry. She completed her undergraduate degree in Biological Sciences at Arizona State University in 2019 and earned a Master’s degree in Medical Nutrition in 2020. Courtney started PA school in 2023 at A.T. Still University in Mesa, Arizona and completed several of her clinical rotations at River People Health Center. She graduated in 2025 with her Master’s in Physician Assistant Studies and is recently married. During her free time Courtney enjoys traveling, spending time with family and friends, and watching movies.

Jonathan Ong, MD

Resident Physician
Medical School: Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine
Residency: HonorHealth Family Medicine Residency Program

Dr. Jonathan Ong is a Family Medicine resident physician training through the HonorHealth Family Medicine Residency Program in partnership with River People Health Center. He is passionate about building long-term relationships with patients and providing comprehensive care through every stage of life. His professional interests include preventive medicine, continuity of care, and addressing the social and emotional factors that influence overall health.

Dr. Ong values compassionate, patient-centered care and is committed to helping individuals and families achieve their health goals. He chose the HonorHealth Family Medicine Residency Program for its strong sense of community, supportive learning environment, and collaborative culture that prepares physicians to provide high-quality care to diverse patient populations.

Travis Seideman, MD

Resident Physician
Medical School: University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix
Residency: HonorHealth Family Medicine Residency Program

Dr. Travis Seideman is a Family Medicine resident physician training through the HonorHealth Family Medicine Residency Program in partnership with River People Health Center. He is passionate about providing comprehensive, relationship-centered care and enjoys caring for patients of all ages. His professional interests include full-spectrum family medicine, caring for underserved communities, healthcare policy, and medical ethics.

Dr. Seideman is committed to building meaningful relationships with his patients and supporting their health through every stage of life. Outside of the clinic, he enjoys playing chess, weightlifting, studying philosophy and medical ethics, spending time with his wife and family, and relaxing with his dog. He also appreciates Arizona’s beautiful desert sunsets, which he says can brighten even the busiest day.