What the HEC: Health Education & Conversations

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/
Provider Mentoring, www.oraetc.org/prescriber-support
Contact the HIV/STI Program at OPCA, info@oraetc.org
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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, 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
Additional interview about federal funding to support PATHS
Oregon Primary Care Association programming to support Poly-Substance Use Disorder (PSUD)
PSUD Workgroup
PSUD Webinar Series
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Why is increasing patient access to life-saving medications vital?

In this episode of What the HEC: Health Education & Conversations, host Dani Gehrke is joined by OPCA Governmental Affairs Director, Marty Carty, to reflect on a conversation with RxFusion’s Josh Free regarding the Federal 340B Drug Pricing Program and physician office dispensing. The hosts also discuss Oregon’s 340B landscape and how the federal program enables health centers to improve health care access and medication compliance.
 
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
340B Drug Pricing Program, www.hrsa.gov/opa
RxFusion, www.rxfusion.com
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340B and Office Dispensing: RxFusion

In this episode of What the HEC: Health Education & Conversations, host Dani Gehrke interviews Josh Free, co-founder and president of RxFusion, to explore his background in pharmacy, his firsthand experience learning about the federal 340B Drug Pricing Program, and what led him to launch a company focused on physician office dispensing.
 
About the Guest
Josh Free, Co-founder and President of RxFusion, brings 20+ years experience in Health care. RxFusion is an physician office dispensing expert at streamlining medication delivery with in-clinic dispensing to your patients. If you’re looking to improve patient outcomes, speed time to therapy, and improve revenue, RxFusion allows you to dispense medications directly in your practice, boosting satisfaction for both staff and patients while saving money compared to contract pharmacy.
 
Resources & Links
340B Drug Pricing Program, www.hrsa.gov/opa
RxFusion, www.rxfusion.com
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Why should I build a culture of advocacy?

In this episode of What the HEC: Health Education & Conversations, reflects on recent interviews with Oregon Representatives Ed Diehl and Cyrus Javadi to explore why health centers should develop a culture of advocacy. Host Dani Gehrke is joined by the Oregon Primary Care Association's Health Policy Analyst, Erin Woods and Director of Governmental Affairs, Marty Carty.
 
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. 
Erin Woods, Health Policy Manager at the Oregon Primary Care Association, dives deep into health policy in service of Oregon's Federally Qualified Health Centers to help health centers be more familiar with the legislative process in Oregon and the health care political landscape.
 
Resources & Links
Oregon Primary Care Association, www.orpca.org
To learn about the advocacy repository for health centers contact info@orpca.org
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Filling the Gap: A Dentist on the HIll

In this episode of What the HEC, host Dani Gehrke interviews Oregon Representative Cyrus Javadi (House District 32) on how his background as a dentist and Tillamook County Community Health Center's Dental Director informs his health care policy work on the Oregon House Committee on Health Care.

Shaping Health Policy: Oregon Landscape

This episode of What the HEC explores where Oregon health policy decisions are made, and the role of the Oregon House Committee on Health Care. Host Dani Gehrke speaks with Representative Ed Diehl (House District 17), a Vice Chair of the committee, about his background, why he joined the committee, and its focus on access to care.

Welcome to What the HEC!

Welcome to What the HEC, Health Education and Conversations, a podcast by the Oregon Primary Care Association. From healthcare delivery to workforce challenges, each episode features conversations with primary care leaders and partners working to strengthen Oregon's Health Care Safety Net, as well as expand access for all Oregonians across our state.