What the HEC: Health Education & Conversations

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 Sign up for email updates about the podcast here. Enjoyed the episode? Subscribe, share, and follow What the HEC: Health Education & Conversations for more discussions on community health, policy, and innovation.

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 [email protected] Sign up for email updates about the podcast here. Enjoyed the episode? Subscribe, share, and follow What the HEC: Health Education & Conversations for more discussions on community health, policy, and innovation.

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, [email protected] Sign up for email updates about the podcast here. Enjoyed the episode? Subscribe, share, and follow What the HEC: Health Education & Conversations for more discussions on community health, policy, and innovation.

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 Sign up for email updates about the podcast here. Enjoyed the episode? Subscribe, share, and follow What the HEC: Health Education & Conversations for more discussions on community health, policy, and innovation.  

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 Sign up for email updates about the podcast here. Enjoyed the episode? Subscribe, share, and follow What the HEC: Health Education & Conversations for more discussions on community health, policy, and innovation. 

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 Sign up for email updates about the podcast here. Enjoyed the episode? Subscribe, share, and follow What the HEC: Health Education & Conversations for more discussions on community health, policy, and innovation.  

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 [email protected] Sign up for email updates about the podcast here Enjoyed the episode? Subscribe, share, and follow What the HEC: Health Education & Conversations for more discussions on community health, policy, and innovation.

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.

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.