Zia Health Solutions was founded out of personal experience, deep community ties, and a commitment to advocacy and care. For Valerie Clark, this journey began when her own father, a former worker at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), fell ill due to occupational exposure. As her family navigated his diagnosis, they discovered the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act, or EEOICPA, a federal program meant to provide medical benefits and financial compensation to DOE workers and their families.
Applying for benefits was anything but simple. Valerie and her family quickly realized that many claimants were left to navigate a complex system with little guidance or education. The process was overwhelming, and they saw firsthand how misinformation and predatory practices were taking advantage of those seeking help.
During this time, Valerie became a Home Health Aide (HHA), directly caring for her father and witnessing the critical need for compassionate, high-quality home healthcare services for claimants. After her father’s passing, she felt a deep responsibility to help others facing the same challenges. She transitioned into patient advocacy, assisting other families in applying for benefits, ensuring they were not exploited, and helping them secure the care they rightfully deserved.
It was through this work that Valerie met Ramon Shultz, a business and technology strategist with a history of solving complex operational challenges. Their skills and experiences complemented each other perfectly—Valerie had firsthand knowledge of the EEOICPA process and patient advocacy, while Ramon brought the structure and systems needed to make these services efficient and scalable.
Together, they saw the opportunity to fill a crucial gap—not just in navigating EEOICPA claims, but in delivering specialized home health services tailored to the unique needs of these patients. Zia Health Solutions was founded to bridge that gap, ensuring that no family has to struggle through the process alone. What began as Valerie’s personal mission to help her father has now grown into a company dedicated to serving an entire community of workers and their families who deserve both advocacy and care.