Introducing OPCA's Data Specialist Name, title, and preferred pronouns: Sarah Heppler, Data Specialist, she/her/hers What are 2-3 things we should know about you as a person? I’m still deciding on whether or not to call myself an Oregonian. I grew up in a large suburb of Sacramento,...
BY KATRINA RATZLAFF, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, WALLACE For the past decade, Wallace’s mobile medical clinic has been a popular community ambassador. The big rig with two fully-equipped exam rooms (and even a small lab) has crisscrossed the streets of the Portland metro area thousands of times...
Introducing OPCA's Financial Sustainability Manager Name, title, and preferred pronouns: Rob Schlegel, Financial Sustainability Manager, he/him/his What are 2-3 things we should know about you as a person? I’m a lifelong Oregonian. I grew up in Corvallis and have lived in the Portland area since college. My...
By Gil Muñoz, CEO, Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center, OPCA Board President & Joan Watson-Patko, OPCA Executive Director Community Health Centers have long stood as a beacon of strength, service, and care in their communities. And, this year is no different. In 2020, we’ve seen strong examples of...
Introducing OPCA’s Events & Marketing Specialist Name, title, and preferred pronouns: Malia Turina, Events & Marketing Specialist, she/her/hers What are 2-3 things we should know about you as a person? I grew up Portland, and now live in NE Portland with my husband and our two cats....
By Taylor Thompson, KHP Data Analyst COVID has made 2020 a truly unprecedented year. But, that hasn't stopped Klamath Health Partnership (KHP) from taking care of our community. In fact, in a time where healthcare is perhaps more important than ever, KHP has had to adapt...
Introducing OPCA's Health Equity and Quality Improvement AmeriCorps member Share your name, title, and preferred prnouns: Maya Roe-Bauer, Health Equity and Quality Improvement AmeriCorps member, she/her/hers What are 2-3 things we should know about you as a person? I just graduated with a BA in public health and...
By Julie Wurth, Communications Officer, La Clinica We like to say that a big part of our role at La Clinica is to meet the community’s need. Never have we had a greater opportunity to do that than in this unusual year—first as we adjusted for...
By Laura J. Recko, Associate Director of Communications & Donor Relations, Central City Concern How Central City Concern locations, staff, and operations have been impacted by wildfires: Similar to our COVID response, Central City Concern stood up an Incident Command Team which met daily to address...
2019-20 OPCA ANNUAL AWARD FOR VALUE Share your name, position, and CHC: Sarah Salisbury, Quality Coordinator for Lane County Health & Human Services Quality & Compliance Division What does this award mean to you? I am very grateful to be recognized by the OPCA for this award. Quality...
Introducing OPCA’s Health Equity Manager Share your name, title, and preferred pronouns: Courtney Kenney, Health Equity Manager, she/her What are 2-3 things we should know about you as a person? I recently moved to Oregon from Boston and I am just beginning to explore this beautiful state!...
By Erin Zelinka, Communications Manager, Rogue Community Health Rogue Community Health (RCH) began in 1972 as the Ashland Women’s Health Center, an all-volunteer organization focused on self-care exams, pregnancy and communicable disease testing. By 1977, the community requested services for a broader population, and the Ashland...
By Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center In 1975, beautiful six-year-old Virginia Garcia and her farmworker parents traveled from their home in Mission, Texas, to California and Oregon to work in the fields. Along the way Virginia cut her foot, and by the time they reached Oregon,...
The OPCA team is so excited to be able to recognize and celebrate our Oregon health centers this year during National Health Center Week (NHCW). This year’s NHCW theme of Lighting the Way for Healthier Communities Today and in the Future, is fitting as health...
By Chris Altavilla and Dustin Vance, Prism Health Prism Health was just an idea in 2015 when its parent organization, CAP, recognized an unfulfilled need in the local LGBTQ+ community for culturally affirming primary care. CAP spent two years, researching, planning, and raising funds for the...
By Penny Moore, Director of Development and Communications, Neighborhood Health Center How and when did your CHC open? Neighborhood Health Center (NHC) opened in 2010 out of a need to provide a medical home for 1,200 high-risk patients. CareOregon originally started NHC because they had 1,200...
2019-20 OPCA ANNUAL AWARD FOR HEALTH EQUITY Share your name, position, and CHC: Katie Thornton, Regional Manager for the North and Northeast Health Center, Multnomah County Health Department What does this award mean to you? This award tells me two important things; first, we are on the...
By Julie Wurth, Communications Officer, La Clinica The year was 1989. “Rain Man” won the Academy Award for best film. Gas cost $1.10 a gallon. In Switzerland, a scientist developed the world’s first web browser. And in a little building next to the railroad tracks in...
By Katrina Ratzlaff, Director of Community Engagement, Wallace Over 36 years ago, a physician named James Reuler persuaded a handful of other doctors to join him in making medical visits to uninsured homeless and low-income residents of Downtown Portland. Dr. Reuler originally named this fledgling organization The...
By Amber Hollingsworth, Communications Program Supervisor, Department of Family Medicine With the implementation of the Oregon Health Plan (OHP) in the early 1990s, health systems across the state looked to build and grow primary care access. OHSU’s Family Medicine practice on Marquam Hill was an educational...