Fallon Baraga

About Fallon Baraga

I am a mission-driven healthcare professional with seven years of experience strengthening behavioral health, prevention, and population-level systems across state and health-system settings. With dual graduate degrees — an M.S. earned en route to a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology and an M.Ed. in Prevention Science — I bring a blend of clinical insight, research rigor, and strategic systems thinking to the work of improving care and community wellbeing.I lead with evidence-informed decision-making, grounding programs and strategies in research, data, and best practices. My work is guided by upstream thinking, identifying root causes of risk and designing solutions that improve outcomes before crises emerge. I’m skilled in policy brokerage, translating complex regulations and guidance into practical, actionable plans that align with organizational goals.My background in prevention science strengthens my abilities in implementation science and sustainable change, ensuring initiatives move from concept to enduring practice. I have experience designing and supporting systemwide programs, shaping high-impact training, monitoring fidelity, and using evaluation to guide continuous improvement. These strengths are complemented by a commitment to community alignment, ensuring programs reflect the needs, realities, and strengths of the populations we serve.I excel at interdepartmental collaboration, bringing together clinical, operational, and community-focused teams around shared priorities. My work in suicide prevention has reinforced my capacity for high-stakes decision-making and risk mitigation, ensuring workflows and processes support safety for both patients and staff. I approach systemwide clinical strategy through clarity, coordination, and a belief that sustainable change requires both structure and compassion.In my informal leadership roles, I’ve learned that vulnerability, candor, and respect build the strongest foundation for trust and collaboration. As I grow toward formal team leadership, I’m committed to fostering environments grounded in psychological safety, shared accountability, and genuine care for the people doing the work.I welcome connection with leaders and organizations committed to building safe, equitable, and community-centered systems of care.

Experience

1. Suicide Prevention Program Manager

   St. Luke's Health System

   Aug 2021 — Present · Boise, ID, US

   I lead St. Luke’s systemwide Suicide Prevention Program, guiding the integration of evidence-informed practices into clinical workflows to ensure safe, compassionate, and effective care for patients at risk of suicide. My role focuses on advancing organizational strategy, strengthening care quality, and equipping the workforce with the tools, training, and structures needed to respond confidently to suicide risk across all care settings.I collaborate across the health system—including Clinical Operations, Employee Wellbeing, and Community Health & Engagement—to align prevention efforts, support our workforce, and reinforce a unified approach to patient and community safety. Through the Suicide Prevention Collaborative, I monitor emerging national guidance, state-level data, and developments in the evidence base to ensure our programs remain current, effective, and compliant with best practice standards.My work centers on continuous improvement: assessing system needs, shaping high-impact training, designing scalable workflows, and bringing stakeholders together to strengthen how St. Luke’s identifies, assesses, and responds to suicide risk. This leadership ensures the organization delivers consistent, high-quality suicide prevention care while fostering a safer and more supportive environment for patients, staff, and the broader community.

Education

• Gonzaga-in-Florence

  Study Abroad, Psychology

  2012 — 2012

• Gonzaga University

  Bachelor of Arts (BA), Psychology

  2009 — 2013

• University of Oregon

  Master of Science - MS, Counseling, Family & Human Services

  2015 — 2018

• University of Oregon

  Master of Education (M.Ed.), Counseling, Family & Human Services, Prevention Science

  2014 — 2015