Valerie Borsa, M.D.

Board Certified | Internal Medicine & Pediatrics | 25+ Years in Practice

With over 25 years of medical practice, Dr. Valerie Borsa brings both deep expertise and an unwavering commitment to compassionate care to every patient encounter.

Raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, she has called Colorado home for the past two decades, a place whose rural landscapes and underserved communities have shaped the very heart of her practice.

“Bridging the wisdom of cultural healing traditions with the rigor of modern medicine is not a compromise. It is, I believe, the fullest expression of care.”

Board certified in both Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Dr. Borsa serves rural southern Colorado through two organizations she owns and operates: a small private practice primary care clinic, and Mt. Rose Health Center Palliative Care and Hospice, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing hospice and palliative care to patients in one of the state’s most geographically isolated regions.

For those facing life-limiting illness far from major medical centers, this work is not simply clinical. It is a lifeline.

Dr. Borsa’s commitment to underserved populations extends far beyond Colorado’s borders.

In 2009, following a transformative hiking trip through Peru’s Sacred Valley to Machu Picchu, she co-founded the Heart to Health Foundation, an organization born from the belief that quality medical care is a universal right, not a privilege of geography or circumstance.

Her international mission work has brought care to indigent communities across South America, weaving together the healing practices of local traditions with evidence-based Western medicine.

When she is not in the clinic or on a medical mission, Dr. Borsa can often be found exploring the world’s cultural landscapes, a traveler with a deep respect for the places and peoples that broaden her perspective as a healer.

At home in Colorado, she has found another calling: rescuing elderly and special needs animals, offering them the same gentle, unhurried care she gives her patients.

Corey Sutton – Vice President & Co-Founder

Born in Florida and raised in Tennessee, Corey brings a grounded, purpose-driven perspective to everything he does. Now based in Boulder, Colorado, Corey has embraced the Rocky Mountain lifestyle fully – spending time outside of work snowboarding and rock climbing, disciplines that reflect the same resilience and determination that define his professional path.

After building and running a successful business through 2023, Corey made a pivotal decision to redirect that entrepreneurial energy toward a career in medicine, returning to school to study Integrative Physiology and pursue a pre-med track. Currently applying to Physician Assistant programs, he plans to concentrate in infectious disease and epidemiology – fields with an urgent and growing impact on underserved populations. Alongside his academic pursuits, Corey works as a Trauma Technician and EMT in the Emergency Department at Boulder Community Health, gaining frontline clinical experience that sharpens both skill and compassion.

As a co-founder and Vice President of The Heart to Health foundation, Corey is committed to channeling that experience into meaningful change. Having witnessed firsthand how geography and systemic barriers limit access to quality healthcare, he is deeply passionate about expanding the Foundation’s reach into indigenous and rural communities – populations that are often left behind by traditional healthcare systems. His goal is not just awareness, but action: building sustainable programs that bring resources, education, and care to those who need it most.

Corey believes that a healthier future is built at the intersection of community trust, clinical expertise, and genuine human connection – and that is exactly what The Heart to Health strives to embody.

Julie Hirman

Julie Hirman, DNP, FNP, is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner with over a decade of experience in primary care and pediatric medicine.

She earned both her Nurse Practitioner degree and her Doctor of Nursing Practice from the University of Northern Colorado. Currently practicing at Erie Primary Care, Julie previously served as Assistant Medical Director at Clinica Family Health Services for five years.

Julie’s path into nursing began as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Guatemala, where working alongside underserved communities ignited a lifelong commitment to service. That experience also deepened her appreciation for diverse cultures and traditions — values that continue to shape her approach to patient care.

A bilingual provider fluent in Spanish, Julie draws on her global perspective to deliver culturally competent care to every patient she serves.

In 2019, Julie traveled to Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) to teach nursing students and help launch the country’s first nurse practitioner training program. When the COVID-19 pandemic cut that work short, she joined a Brooklyn, New York hospital to care for pediatric patients in one of the hardest-hit areas of the country. As the first nurse practitioner hospitalist in the pediatric unit, she expanded the role and helped build a team of five NPs.

When she’s not practicing medicine, Julie enjoys traveling, hiking with her dog, and spending time with her twin adult sons and their many
“grandcats.” She is also the proud owner of four special-needs cats who keep her thoroughly entertained — and an avid reader who can often be found lost in a good book.

Ciani Kate Sosa

Ciani Kate Sosa is a Family Nurse Practitioner with two decades of dedicated service to underserved and low-income communities across Colorado. A graduate of Regis University’s Family Nurse Practitioner program with a specialization in care for underserved populations, Ciani has built her career around the belief that every person deserves access to compassionate, high-quality healthcare — regardless of income, background, or circumstance.

Currently practicing at Sunrise Community Health in Greeley, Colorado, Ciani provides comprehensive primary care for patients of all ages, from newborns through the elderly. Her clinical expertise spans prenatal care, women’s health, chronic disease management, and preventative screenings. Fluent in both English and Spanish, she is a skilled communicator who connects meaningfully with culturally diverse patient populations.

Ciani has a deep commitment to global health. Since 2013, she has been a part of the Heart to Health organization with global outreach, currently focusing on the Sacred Valley of the Incas, Peru, delivering hand care and community health education to vulnerable populations in remote areas. Her passion for equity in healthcare continues to guide every patient interaction — and every community she serves.

Rita Ano Olivera RN

Rita Ano Olivera is a dedicated and compassionate nurse whose life’s work has been woven into the fabric of the Sacred Valley of Peru for over 25 years. With deep roots in the highlands she calls home, Rita has devoted herself to serving the communities that surround her — bringing skilled, heartfelt care to those who need it most.

Rita has been an integral part of the Heart to Heart Foundation from its very beginning, standing as a cornerstone of every medical mission since the first visit to Peru. Her role extends far beyond the clinic walls. As a fluent speaker of both Spanish and Quechua — the ancient language of the Inca people and the living voice of the highland communities — Rita bridges the gap between visiting medical teams and the patients they serve, ensuring that no one is left without a voice or without care.

Her contributions to each yearly mission are nothing short of invaluable. Rita coordinates logistics on the ground, forging relationships with local government groups and community leaders to ensure every visit runs smoothly and reaches those who need it most. Her knowledge of the land, the culture, and the people means that care doesn’t end when the team returns home — Rita remains a trusted point of contact, following up with patients and connecting them to resources long after the mission concludes.

Over the decades, Rita has touched countless lives through her extraordinary blend of clinical expertise, cultural wisdom, and unwavering compassion. She is not simply a nurse — she is a healer, a bridge-builder, and the beating heart of every mission she is part of.

Anita Gonzalo

Anita Gonzalo first joined the Heart to Heart Foundation’s medical campaign in 2019 as a volunteer translator, bringing with her a gift that would prove indispensable — fluency in both Spanish and Quechua, the ancient and living language of the Andean highlands. What began as a volunteer role quickly grew into something far greater, and today Anita stands as an integral and beloved member of the team.

Originally from a small rural community several hours outside of Cusco, Anita understands firsthand the realities of life in the more remote corners of Peru. That personal connection has been transformative for the mission. Her knowledge of the land, the people, and the culture has allowed the team to reach communities further beyond the Sacred Valley than ever before — bringing care and compassion to rural areas that might otherwise go underserved. She now calls the beautiful city of Cusco home, and her presence there keeps her deeply connected to both the mission and the communities it serves.

Beyond her tireless dedication to the foundation, Anita is a passionate musician, singer, and performer. She keeps the rich traditions of Andean culture alive through her performances, taking the stage in vibrant, traditional colorful attire and filling every room with the soulful sounds of traditional Peruvian music. Though her heart and her work keep her rooted in the Sacred Valley, her performances carry her across the breathtaking landscapes of Peru, sharing her culture and her artistry wherever she goes.