Chuck Palm, M.P.H.
CRI Life Enhancement Program Manager
Chuck Palm joined Canyon Ranch Institute in 2011 with nearly 20 years of experience in community mobilization, including projects with indigenous and tribal communities. He also has an extensive background in leading organizational assessments, strategic planning, and community needs and assets assessments, as well as policy analysis and development. He has presented at national and statewide conferences on methods of community planning and mobilization, creating community awareness, and establishing substance abuse prevention programming for youth.
Chuck is the program manager for the Canyon Ranch Institute Life Enhancement Program (CRI LEP). Canyon Ranch Institute, a 501(c)3 non-profit public charity, catalyzes the possibility of optimal health for all people by translating the best practices of Canyon Ranch and our partners to help educate, inspire, and empower every person to prevent disease and choose a life of wellness.
As CRI LEP program manager, Chuck’s primary role is to work with the CRI team and our partners to initiate and sustain Canyon Ranch Institute Life Enhancement Programs in their communities. He collaborates with CRI LEP core teams to develop program budgets, adapt materials, train facilitators, implement the program, and collect evaluation data for analysis by CRI.
Previously, Chuck was the Director of Public Policy & Training for Pima Prevention Partnership, Inc., in Tucson, AZ. He provided training, planning facilitation, and other technical assistance directly to over 70 community substance abuse prevention coalitions and government agencies in Arizona, American Samoa, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands. In addition, he oversaw the award-winning efforts of the Office of Juvenile Justice Enforcement of Underage Drinking Laws (EUDL) pilot program to reduce underage drinking at both Luke Air Force Base in Phoenix, AZ, and Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, AZ.
Previously in his career, Chuck coordinated county tobacco prevention, cessation and control programs and served as a regional director for both the American Lung Association and the American Heart Association.
Chuck was born in Spain and served in the U.S. Air Force as a Russian cryptologic linguist and intelligence analyst in England and Germany, and at the National Security Agency. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in language studies from the University of Maryland where he also received a Bachelor of Science in journalism. At the University of Arizona Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, Chuck earned a Master’s in Public Health with a community health practice concentration.
Chuck and his wife have a son in college and four rescue dogs. Chuck is an avid reader and is enthusiastic about yoga and other fitness activities. He serves on the board of directors for the non-profit Our Family Services in Tucson.