Dental Career Pathways Program at Multnomah County Community Health Center

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.

Peers and Ending HIV & Hep C in Oregon: A Reflection with Dayna Morrison

In this episode of What the HEC: Health Education & Conversations, host Dani Gehrke sits down with Dayna Morrison, Senior Director of the HIV/STI Program at the Oregon Primary Care Association, to reflect on the conversation with Dr. Hunter Spencer about PATHS (Peer-Assisted Telemedicine for Health and Substance Users). Dayna emphasizes the importance of reaching Oregonians outside mainstream systems, especially in rural areas. The discussion also covers how peer input shapes provider education provided by the HIV/STI Program, and resources available to health care providers including capacity building, communities of practice, and one-on-one mentoring.   About the Guest Dayna Morrison brings over 20 years of experience working with people living with HIV/AIDS in Oregon and abroad. As the Senior Director of the HIV/STI Program at the Oregon Primary Care Association, Dayna provides capacity building assistance to health care systems, Federally Qualified Health Centers, and health care providers in efforts to build more robust health care environments. Previous professional positions include Director of HIV Services at Quest Center for Integrative Health, and Program Coordinator for the CDC Global AIDS Program.   Resources & Links * Oregon AIDS Education & Training Center, www.oraetc.org/ [https://www.oraetc.org/] * Provider Mentoring, www.oraetc.org/prescriber-support [https://www.oraetc.org/prescriber-support] * Contact the HIV/STI Program at OPCA, info@oraetc.org [info@oraetc.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.

PATHS: Peer Assisted Telemedicine for Health in Substance Users

In this episode of What the HEC: Health Education & Conversations, host Dani Gehrke speaks with Dr. Hunter Spencer of the Oregon Health & Science University about Oregon’s hepatitis C epidemic and the PATHS program (Peer Assisted Telemedicine for Health in Substance users). Dr. Spencer explains how stigma, trauma, and distrust keep many who use drugs from seeking care, and how certified peers in recovery build trust and facilitate communication between patients and clinicians.   About the Guest Dr. Hunter C. Spencer [https://tuality.org/provider/hunter-spencer/], DO, AAHIVS, provides care to create a more beautiful and just community. He is inspired to treat and cure diseases that interact with every aspect of people’s lives like chronic infections and substance use disorders. He finds meaning in sharing in his patients’ trauma, struggles and successes. PATHS is an intervention developed by Oregon Health & Sciences University (OHSU) in collaboration with partners. Peer recovery support specialists (peers) assist people who use drugs to access hepatitis C (HCV) and syphilis testing, facilitate telemedicine HCV treatment, and support participants in medication adherence.   Resources & Links * PATHS: Peer Assisted Telemedicine for Health in Substance Users, www.peerpathstohealth.org [https://peerpathstohealth.org/] * Additional interview about federal funding to support PATHS [https://www.koin.com/am-extra/ohsu-expands-hepatitis-c-hiv-initiative-thanks-to-federal-funding/] * Oregon Primary Care Association programming to support Poly-Substance Use Disorder (PSUD) * PSUD Workgroup [https://orpca.org/groups/poly-substance-use-disorders-workgroup/] * PSUD Webinar Series [https://mwaetc.caspio.com/dp/f2c1700003a9a1d88f3e41269921?ER_ID=47431] * 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.