What the HEC: Health Education & Conversations

In this episode of What the HEC: Health Education & Conversations, host Dani Gehrke speaks with Allison Ulrich, a licensed clinical social worker at Clackamas County Health Centers, about medication for addiction treatment (MAT). This is an integrated approach that combines medications with counseling and behavioral health supports. Patient Anne joins the conversation to describe how wraparound support and the MAT program helped her recovery and inspired her to become an addictions counselor.
 
To protect the privacy of the patient whose story is shared in this episode, we used a pseudonym. We also changed some identifying details to protect the patient’s confidentiality.
 
About the Guest(s)
Allison Ulrich, LCSW, EOLD, MAT Behavioral Health Consultant at Clackamas County Health Centers.
 
Resources & Links
Clackamas County Health Centers
OPCA's Poly-Substance Use Disorder Workgroup
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In this episode of What the HEC: Health Education & Conversations, host Dani Gehrke explores contingency management as an evidence-based treatment option for substance use disorder. Certified alcohol and drug counselor Jesse Flack and Tracy Winn,  Sr. Medical Director of Addiction Services at Cascadia Health, explain contingency management and outline implementation choices, staffing, costs, and quality improvement. Brandon Clark with the Oregon Primary Care Association shares a personal account of a contingency management program that helped him sustain sobriety and build new goals.
 
About the Guests
Jesse Flack, CADC-II, QMHA-R, Certified alcohol and drug counselor.
 
Tracy Winn, PMHNP-BC, CARN-AP, Sr. Medical Director of Substance Use & Addiction Services at Cascadia Health.
 
Brandon Clark, HIV/STI Logistics Coordinator at the Oregon Primary Care Association.
 
Resources & Links
Reduction in Mortality: Contingency management for stimulant use disorder and association with mortality
Long-term efficacy of Contingency Management treatment based on objective indicators of abstinence from illicit substance use up to 1 year following treatment
Recovery Incentives Program: California's Contingency Management Benefit
OPCA's Poly-Substance Use Disorder Workgroup
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In this episode of What the HEC: Health Education & Conversations, host Dani Gehrke reflects on National Health Center Week and asks: if community health centers disappeared, how would our communities access health care? Dani speaks with Health Center Advocates from Neighborhood Health Center regarding why their community needs their health center. Marty Carty, OPCA's Governmental Affairs Director, also chimes in to explain the stagnation of federal base grants and the growing pressures that threaten access, underscoring the need for support from decision-makers and lawmakers.
 
About the Guests
Brittany Marks, Neighborhood Health Center Board Co-Chair, joined the Board of Directors in 2013.
 
Penny Moore, Director of Advancement at Neighborhood Health Center (NHC), develops and executes the organization’s fundraising plan, strategic communication and marketing strategies, advocacy efforts, and interorganizational communications.  Penny acts as the board liaison, responsible for NHC Board of Directors relations through recruitment, development, and training.
 
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
Neighborhood Health Center, www.nhcoregon.org
National Health Center Week Event, Health Fair
Oregon Primary Care Association, www.orpca.org
Episode Recommendation: Why Should I Build A Culture of Advocacy?
Interested in becoming a CHC advocate? Contact dgehrke@orpca.org
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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
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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
One Community Health Blog, Wildfire Safety & Resources
Join OPCA's Emergency Preparedness Synergy Group
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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
OPCA Workforce Development, www.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
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