Why should I build a culture of advocacy?

Where do I find Emergency Preparedness resources? A Conversation with Sonya Howk

In this episode of What the HEC: Health Education & Conversations, host Dani Gehrke speaks with Sonya Howk, Sustainability Manager at the Oregon Primary Care Association (OPCA). They discuss how OPCA is enhancing support for community health centers to ensure they comply with federal emergency response regulations through a new initiative called the Emergency Preparedness Synergy Group.   About the Guest Sonya Howk, OPCA Sustainability Manager, provides Oregon's community health centers with information for Operational Site visits and resources for developing reports for federal agencies. Sonya has a Master of Public Health Administration and more than 25 years of experience in community-based health. Sonya will facilitate the new Emergency Preparedness Synergy Group.   Resources & Links * Contact Sonya Howk, OPCA Sustainability Manager, showk@orpca.org * Join OPCA's Emergency Preparedness Synergy Group [showk@orpca.org] * [Call to action or related resource] * Sign up for email updates about the podcast here [https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/RuB0Mxh/wthorpca]. Enjoyed the episode? Subscribe, share, and follow What the HEC: Health Education & Conversations for more discussions on community health, policy, and innovation.

Emergency Preparedness: Readiness and Tabletop Simulations

In this episode of What the HEC: Health Education & Conversations, host Dani Gehrke speaks with Ed Colson, President of Ready Northwest, to highlight the significance of emergency preparedness and how to strengthen plans through tabletop simulations. To demonstrate the benefits of tabletop exercises, Alex Jones of Cascadia Health and Michelle Guerrero of One Community Health join the discussion for a wildfire-focused simulation scenario.   About the Guests Ed Colson, President of Ready Northwest, with a background as a commercial helicopter pilot, a degree in emergency management, over 10 years experience in the field of health care and business emergency management, he is well versed in developing an emergency management and business continuity program for your organizations.  Alex Jones, Director of Security at Cascadia Health, is responsible for overseeing Cascadia Health’s physical security, public safety and emergency preparedness programs at all Cascadia sites and programs. Michele Shrum-Guerrero, Communications Manager at One Community Health (OCH), manages OCH’s marketing and communications team and strategic projects. In this capacity, she oversees patient group wellness projects at OCH.   Resources & Links * Ready Northwest, www.readynorthwest.com [https://www.readynorthwest.com/] * One Community Health Blog, Wildfire Safety & Resources [https://www.onecommunityhealth.org/wildfire-safety-and-resources/] * Join OPCA's Emergency Preparedness Synergy Group [showk@orpca.org] * Sign up for email updates about the podcast here [https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/RuB0Mxh/wthorpca]. Enjoyed the episode? Subscribe, share, and follow What the HEC: Health Education & Conversations for more discussions on community health, policy, and innovation.

Building Workforce Pipelines: A Reflection with Michelle Bowers

In this episode of What the HEC: Health Education & Conversations, host Dani Gehrke sits down with Michelle Bowers, OPCA's Workforce Development Manager, to reflect on the conversation with Norma Santiago Hernandez about Multnomah County Community Health Center’s Dental Careers Pathways program. Michelle shares her approach to supporting Oregon health centers through community partnerships, grow-your-own pathways, and tools like case studies that document program processes, workflows, and budget forecasting.   About the Guest Michelle Bowers develops training programs that strengthen the community health center workforce. Michelle has more than a decade of experience in this field, and in 2024, completed a Master of Science in Nonprofit Management & Organizational Leadership through Multnomah University.   Resources & Links * Oregon Primary Care Association (OPCA), www.orpca.org [http://www.orpca.org/] * OPCA Workforce Development, www.orpca.org/workforce-development/ [https://orpca.org/workforce-development/] * Join OPCA's Human Resources Synergy Group by contacting Michelle Bowers, mbowers@orpca.org * Additional resources are available in the Workforce Repository for OPCA members through the Member Portal * Sign up for email updates about the podcast here [https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/RuB0Mxh/wthorpca]. Enjoyed the episode? Subscribe, share, and follow What the HEC: Health Education & Conversations for more discussions on community health, policy, and innovation.

Dental Career Pathways Program at Multnomah County Community Health Center

In this episode of What the HEC: Health Education and Conversations, host Dani Gehrke speaks with Norma Santiago Hernandez, Dental Workforce Development Supervisor at Multnomah County Community Health Center, about how the health center is addressing dental workforce shortages through a community-centered Dental Career Pathways program. Norma shares her path into dentistry and provides insight into the program's structure, mentorship model, and lessons learned.   About the Guest Norma Santiago Hernandez is a compassionate and empathetic Registered Dental Hygienist with a deep commitment to improving her patients' lives. Beyond her clinical expertise, Norma mentors the next generation of dental professionals as an adjunct faculty member at Pacific University and serves as the Dental Workforce Development Supervisor at Multnomah County Community Health Center. Norma's work has been recognized through multiple awards, including the American Association of Public Health Dentistry's Community Dentistry, Dental Public Health Award, and OPCA's 2026 Compassion in Care Award.   Resources & Links * Multnomah County Community Health Center, www.healthcenter.multco.us [https://healthcenter.multco.us/] * Multnomah County Community Health Center, Learning & Training Opportunities [https://healthcenter.multco.us/about-us/careers/job-training-opportunities#1086-dental-assistant-training] * Dental Assisting National Board, www.danb.org [https://www.danb.org/] * Sign up for email updates about the podcast here [https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/RuB0Mxh/wthorpca]. Enjoyed the episode? Subscribe, share, and follow What the HEC: Health Education & Conversations for more discussions on community health, policy, and innovation.

The History of the Health Center Movement and the Storm Ahead for Oregon

In this episode of What the HEC: Health Education & Conversations, host Dani Gehrke and Marty Carty, OPCA’s Director of Governmental Affairs, trace the Health Center Program back to 1965, when Doctors Jack Geiger and Count Gibson launched the first neighborhood health centers, grounded in community governance, comprehensive care, and a commitment to never turn patients away. The conversation highlights how health centers became a cornerstone of community health, what today’s political environment means for their mission, and the importance of advocacy to sustain care for underserved communities.   About the Guest Marty Carty, Governmental Affairs Director at the Oregon Primary Care Association, oversees government affairs and policy initiatives for OPCA with responsibility for the organization’s public policy agenda and regulatory engagement on a range of state and federal priorities.    Resources & Links * Oregon Primary Care Association, www.orpca.org [http://www.orpca.org/] * Geiger Gibson Program in Community Health, www.geigergibson.publichealth.gwu.edu [https://geigergibson.publichealth.gwu.edu/] * Interested in becoming a CHC advocate? Contact dgehrke@orpca.org * Sign up for email updates about the podcast here [https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/RuB0Mxh/wthorpca]. Enjoyed the episode? Subscribe, share, and follow What the HEC: Health Education & Conversations for more discussions on community health, policy, and innovation.