Our Staff

OFFICE HOURS: Monday – Thursday: 8:00am to 5:00pm Friday: 8:00am to 3:00pm
AFTER-HOURS CRISIS SUPPORT & VICTIM ASSISTANCE: 303-615-9911

Our Staff

The Health Center at Auraria is staffed by highly trained Medical and Mental Health personnel dedicated to the well-being and success of students and campus colleagues. We are committed to providing inclusive and supportive care for each person we serve. 

Our Medical and Mental Health practitioners offer a wide range of services to address Medical and Mental Health needs. They are trained to address health concerns professionally and confidentially.

The professional staff includes physicians, psychiatrists, physician’s assistants, nurse practitioners, medical support staff and allied health professionals.

Although all Medical and Mental Health appointments are with a trained professional, there are a number of opportunities for Student Employment in a variety of different departments within the Health Center at Auraria.

Meet Our Medical & Mental Health Providers


Ruben Zorrilla, MD

Medical Director/Family Physician

Education/Training

  • Board Certified in Family Medicine
  • Fellowship in rural and underserved medicine at Tacoma General Hospital, Tacoma, WA
  • Family medicine residency at Stamford Hospital, Stamford, CT
  • Medical school: University of Illinois College of medicine at Peoria, Peoria, IL

Professional Interests

  • Primary Care
  • Women’s Health
  • Urgent Care

Justin Hauxwell, MD

Psychiatry Medical Director/ Family Physician

Education/Training

  • Board Certified Psychiatry
  • Board Certified Family Medicine
  • Dual Residency in Family Medicine and Psychiatry, University of Cincinnati
  • Medical Doctorate, Kansas University School of Medicine
  • Bachelor of Arts in English; Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry; University of Kansas

Professional Interests

  • General Psychiatry
  • General Family Medicine
  • Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
  • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
  • Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
  • Social Anxiety Disorder (also called Social Phobia)
  • Major Depressive Disorder
  • Celiac Disease
  • Sexual Health and Sexual Dysfunction
  • Care of LGBTQ individuals
  • Transgender care; evaluation for, and prescribing of, gender-affirming hormones
  • Transcultural Medicine

Elle Heeg-Miller, FNP-C
Family Nurse Practitioner

Education/Training

  • Board Certified Family Nurse Practitioner, American Association of Nurse Practitioners
  • Case Western Reserve University, Master of Science in Nursing, Family Nurse Practitioner.
  • Case Western Reserve University, Master of Nursing.
  • University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology and Psychology.

Professional Interests    

  • Women’s Health
  • Sexual Health
  • Preventative Medicine
  • Urgent Care
  • Infectious Disease
  • Dermatology

Kelly Burke, PA-C
Physician Assistant

Education/Training

  • MMS, St. Francis University and Red Rocks Community College PA Program, Lakewood, CO
  • BS, Gettysburg College- Biology Major, Spanish Minor, Gettysburg, PA
  • Board Certified Physician Assistant since 2013

Professional Interests

  • Preventive Medicine
  • Primary Care
  • Urgent Care
  • Orthopedics
  • Women’s Health
  • Dry Needling

Alyssa LaBate, PMHNP-BC

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Education/Training

  • Board Certified Family Psychiatric and Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
  • Master of Science, Nursing, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, University of Colorado at Anschutz, Aurora, CO

Professional Interests

  • General adult psychiatry
  • Mood disorders
  • Posttraumatic stress disorder

Elizabeth Lessman, DNP, PMHNP-BC
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Education/Training

  • Board Certified Psychiatric and Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
  • Doctor of Nursing Practice, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA

Professional Interests

  • Young Adults
  • Mood disorders

Andrew McBride, MD, CAQSM, FAAFP
Sports Medicine Specialist/Family Physician

Education/Training

  • Board Certified in Family Medicine & Sports Medicine
  • Sports Medicine Fellowship, University of Colorado Hospital
  • Family Medicine Residency, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
  • Medical School, Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine
  • Bachelor of Science in Pre-Medicine; Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry; University of Dayton

Professional Interests

  • Sports Medicine
  • Primary Care
  • Preventive Medicine
  • Urgent Care

Richard Miccio,
LCSW
Assistant Director Educational Services, Marketing & Inclusion

Education/Training

  • Masters in Social Work: Children, Youth, Women & Families; California State University, Los Angeles
  • Certified Clinical Trauma Professional

Professional Interests

  • Trauma
  • Crisis Intervention
  • Systems-level issues impacting individuals and families
image of natalie nowak
Natalie Nowak, MS, RD
Registered Dietician
Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor

Education/Training

  • Master’s, University of Illinois Chicago 2016
  • Bachelor’s, Psychology, DePaul University Chicago 2010

Professional Interests

  • Intuitive Eating
  • Disordered Eating/eating disorders
  • Gut Microbiome 

Hang Nguyen, PA-C

Physician Assistant

Education/Training

  • MS, Western University Health Sciences Center, Physician Assistant Studies, Pomona, CA
  • BS, University of Colorado at Denver, Biology Major, Psychology Minor, Denver, CO
  • Board Certified Physician Assistant since 2006

Professional Interests

  • Preventive Medicine
  • Primary Care
  • Urgent Care
  • Travel Health
  • Dermatology
  • Cardiology / Electrophysiology

Amy Rosenblum, PA-C

Physician Assistant

Education/Training 

  • Board Certified Physician Assistant, NCCPA
  • Master of Science, Mary Baldwin University Physician Assistant Program, Staunton, VA
  • Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist, Certification Board for Diabetes Care and Education
  • Registered Dietitian, Commission on Dietetic Registration
  • Bachelor of Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX

Professional Interests

  • Urgent Care
  • Primary Care
  • Preventative Medicine

Anna-Lisa Wick, PMHNP-BC

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Education/Training

  • Board Certified Psychiatric and Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
  • Master of Science, Psychiatric Mental Health Practitioner, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus

Professional Interests

  • General Psychiatry
  • Psychiatric Medication Management in the treatment of Addiction, Bipolar Mood Disorder and Generalized Anxiety

Tamara Wristen, PA-C

Supervisor of Clinical Operations

Education/Training

  • Board Certified in Family Medicine – NCCPA
  • Child Health Associate Physician Assistant Master’s Program – University of Colorado, Denver, CO
  • Bachelor of Science – Adams State University, Alamosa, CO

Professional Interests

  • Dermatology
  • Women’s Health
  • Travel Medicine
  • Primary Care
The Health Center at Auraria also oversees the Auraria Immunizations and MSU Denver Student Insurance offices.
The Auraria Immunizations office administers the state of Colorado higher education Immunization Requirement for CCD, MSU Denver and CU Denver. This office also provides additional immunizations for the prevention of disease and traveling abroad.

The MSU Denver Student Health Insurance office coordinates the MSU Denver Student Health Insurance Plan. This office can assist you with any questions you have about the MSU Denver Student Health Insurance Plan.

Schedule an appointment

Call 303-615-9999 to schedule an appointment in advance.
Please note there is a failed appointment fee of up to $50.00 for missed appointments or short notice cancellations (less than 24 hours).