Dr. Laura Popko Promoted to Medical Director at Community Health Alliance

Dr. Popko’s leadership and vision will be instrumental in guiding CHA as it strives to provide exceptional healthcare services to the residents of Northern Nevada.

Community Health Alliance (CHA), the largest federally qualified health center in Northern Nevada serving over 31,000 patients, is thrilled to announce the promotion of Laura Popko, MD to the position of Medical Director. Dr. Popko has been an integral part of CHA since 2023, serving as a primary care general internist at our Wells Avenue Health Center in Reno, NV.

Dr. Popko brings a wealth of experience to her new role, having previously worked at Virginia Mason Kirkland Medical Center in Washington, where she cared several thousand patients from 2016 to 2022. During her tenure, she excelled in providing comprehensive healthcare through in-person clinic visits, telemedicine appointments, chronic care coordination, and basic outpatient procedures.

As a dedicated advocate for quality improvement, Dr. Popko has held several key roles focused on enhancing patient care. Her initiatives at Virginia Mason included tracking and reporting quality metrics related to hypertension, colorectal screening, statin utilization, and diabetes management. She is also passionate about women’s health and care of the elderly.

Dr. Popko earned her Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Nevada School of Medicine in 2013 and completed her Internal Medicine residency at Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle, WA. She is board-certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine and holds medical licenses in both Nevada and Washington.

“We are excited to promote Dr. Popko to Medical Director,” said Community Health Alliance’s Chief Medical Officer Travis Walker, MD, MPH, FAAFP.  “Her extensive clinical expertise, commitment to quality improvement, and passion for patient care will be invaluable as we continue to enhance our services and support the health needs of our community.”

Dr. Popko’s leadership and vision will be instrumental in guiding CHA as it strives to provide exceptional healthcare services to the residents of Northern Nevada.