Francisco Velázquez

Spokane Regional Health District creates transportation guide for seniors

Rural older adults often face barriers accessing healthcare services

November 1, 2026

Francisco Velázquez, Callie Jones, and Samantha Hennessy

For rural America, transportation is especially vital to health because many rural residents live 10 to 30 miles from the nearest hospital or pharmacy. Rural older adults, who make up about one-quarter of Americans age 65 and older, face unique challenges accessing transportation and healthcare services.

The business case for neurodiversity in the workplace

Many inclusive companies are experiencing greater efficiencies, productivity, innovation

December 4, 2025

Francisco Velázquez and Katey Treloar

Neurodivergence is used to describe a broad range of neurodevelopmental differences that sometimes can result in a distinct set of challenges for individuals who are interacting with the world around them.

Guest Commentary: Access to opiate blocker would help save lives, lower ER visits

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April 12, 2018

Francisco Velázquez

In February, the House and Senate announced a budget agreement that includes $6 billion over two years to address the opioid epidemic further. Reducing morbidity and mortality and its concurrent health and societal costs is a great investment for some of

Dr. Francisco Velazquez: Laser focus needed for Spokane's life sciences niche

Upcoming three to five years critical to sector's sucess

December 29, 2016

Francisco Velázquez

In January, it will be five years since my wife and I moved to Spokane. During that period of time, we have had the opportunity to learn about Spokane and its aspirations, meet new friends and colleagues, and become part of the fabric of this community in

Consumer technology reshapes health, wellness

New e-tools are making us better self-monitors

September 8, 2016

Francisco Velázquez

The cost of health care in the U.S. is approximately $3 trillion-more than what we spend in education, transportation, or defense. We as consumers also spend $502 billion a year on health care-related services, products, and devices. This is projected t

The economics of a medical school

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March 26, 2015

Francisco Velázquez

It's well understood that medical schools create new physicians and that they have a positive economic impact for their host communities. But their role as business incubators and magnets isn't as well understood. Yet, this is arguably the thing on wh