All Episodes

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
[Call to action or related resource]
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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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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
Multnomah County Community Health Center, Learning & Training Opportunities
Dental Assisting National Board, www.danb.org
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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
Geiger Gibson Program in Community Health, www.geigergibson.publichealth.gwu.edu
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 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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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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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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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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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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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.

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.