Melinda Davis, Ph.D., M.C.R. is a Professor of the Department of Family Medicine & OHSU-PSU School of Public Health, Director of Oregon Rural Practice-based Research Network (ORPRN) and Director, OCTRI Community and Collaboration Core. She started at ORPRN in 2007 as a practice facilitator (aka PERC) and became faculty in 2010 following the completion of her Ph.D. in Social-Developmental Psychology from the University of Vermont. In 2022 she stepped into the role of Interim Director. Before joining ORPRN she facilitated challenge course activities, managed her university’s outdoor program, and sailed around the world as a deckhand. Melinda is energized by getting to work with partners in Oregon and around the world to improve health and health care delivery, build cross-sector collaborations to address upstream determinants of health, and to blend implementation science and improvement science. Her work also helps her stay engaged with rural parts of the state. To recharge, she enjoys outdoor activities and exploring new places, especially when they take her to places where there’s no access to technology.

Jennifer came to ORPRN in 2019 after working at Kaiser Permanente’s Center for Health Research for more than 15 years as a scientific editor, project manager, and team manager. She has also acted as a consultant for CareOregon managing a cancer screening program. She earned her B.S. from Carnegie Mellon and her M.A. from Reed College. She conducts research focused on the implementation of evidence-based practices in health care settings. She studies how to best translate health research findings into practice-based solutions that work in rural practice settings. She notes that helping people access cancer screening and preventive care can save lives. Outside of work, you can find Jen traveling (or dreaming about travel). She also likes hiking, reading, and cooking.

Caitlin provides direction and oversight for ORPRN’s research program activities, including managing program staff, engaging with investigators both internal and external to Oregon Health and Sciences University (OHSU), and maintaining program structures and processes. She also plays a central role in the delivery of practice-facilitation interventions, supporting quality improvement and collecting research data across more than 800 ORPRN clinics. Caitlin works on contract, foundation and federally funded projects, with a specific focus on vaccination, cancer screening, women’s and children’s health, and community engagement. Before joining ORPRN, she worked for OHSU’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and coordinated career development programs and research projects focused on evidence-based medicine, comparative effectiveness, patient safety, and improving teamwork and leadership among health care personnel. Caitlin grew up in the Portland area and earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Denver. She received a Master of Public Health degree from Oregon State University. In her leisure time, she enjoys singing and dancing with her young children, baking, reading murder mysteries, running, and volunteering.

Nancy is a health policy enthusiast with over 20 years of experience in the field. She has dedicated her career to cultivating leadership for large scale health systems and policy change through bringing together diverse partners- governments, academics, nonprofits and businesses. She has done this work at state and local government agencies; national and international nonprofit organizations; and as a private consultant. She brings experience in systems and policy change; cross-sector collaboration; community engagement; evidence-based practice; organizational development; and addressing the root causes of health and equity. Ms. Goff received her Masters in Public Health from Portland State University with a concentration in sustainability, and her Bachelors in Psychology from the State University of New York at Stony Brook. Ms. Goff resides in Oregon with her husband and two young sons.

Maggie joined ORPRN in 2015 after starting her OHSU career as curriculum development manager for OHSU’s employee wellness program. She earned her B.A. in Business Administration and her M.P.H. from George Washington University. She enjoys planning projects and creating programming that is valuable to ORPRN’s partners. Her wellness background means she is particularly interested in preventive care and wellness in primary care and its ability to improve health outcomes and reduce costs. When not at work, she loves to hike, cook, and travel. She also has a passion for singing with others.

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LJ founded ORPRN in 2002 and lead the organization until he stepped down as Director in 2018. Prior to founding ORPRN, he established the Dunes Family Health Care clinic in Reedsport, which was designated one of the 13 model rural practices in the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Rural Practice Project. He joined the Department of Family Medicine at OHSU in 1993. He is passionate about connecting with primary care practices and their health care teams because it teaches him what is relevant and meaningful to the care they provide to their communities. An avid birdwatcher, LJ enjoys traveling, exploring Oregon’s rivers, and connecting with his kids and grandkids on the East Coast.

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Passionate about advancing public health, Briana (she/her) entered the field after working domestically and abroad in agriculture. She is passionate about the intersections of public health and food systems, climate adaptation, health equity, and, informed by her own rural upbringing, advancing opportunities for those living in rural areas. Briana fosters a deep connection with food and the land and by spending most days elbow deep in the garden and pursuing adventure by backpacking, rock climbing, and alpine skiing.   Briana earned her MPH from the OHSU-PSU School of Public Health and a BS in Animal Sciences from Washington State University.

Brittany joined ORPRN in 2020 with a background in direct patient care, chronic disease prevention program management, care management department coordination, and primary care operations. She earned her B.S. in Health Studies: Community Health Education from Portland State University and her M.P.H. from the University of Arizona. Brittany enjoys her work at ORPRN because it allows her to participate in health systems transformation through community-based participatory research. Outside of work, she enjoys camping, hiking, reading, cooking, and spending time with her husband and two kids.

Chrystal spent her first year and a half at ORPRN as an NIH BUILD EXITO Research Scholar before joining as a Qualitative Research Data Analyst in 2021. Prior to her career in research, Chrystal worked in health promotion and fitness. Her experiences in this field are what led her to be passionate about research that improves access and quality of healthcare. Her research interests include implementation science, qualitative methods, preventive care, quality improvement, underserved populations, and community engagement. Chrystal has a BS in Health Studies with a minor in Philosophy from Portland State University and a Master’s in Public Health from OHSU. Outside of work, she enjoys crafting, reading, exercising, and going on adventures with her partner and two dogs.

With vast experience in a Coordinated Care Organization, leadership, entrepreneurial and volunteer roles, Lindsey is passionate about making a real difference in rural communities. After earning a Bachelor’s in Business Administration from the University of Oregon, she dedicated her time and career to improving health outcomes for rural and underserved populations. Her research interests focus on social determinants of health, and she's particularly driven by finding data-driven and innovative solutions to improve health policies, access to care and to tackle health disparities. Outside of work, she spends her time with her husband and three multisport daughters. They live on a farm in eastern Oregon, where she enjoys almost everything outdoors—raising animals, gardening, hiking, hunting, and fishing. When indoors, she loves DIY, reading, puzzles, games and spending quality time with friends and family.

Leah (she/her) joined ORPRN in 2020. She was raised in Oregon and did her undergraduate studies at OSU. She completed her dietetic internship at OHSU and earned her MPH from OHSU-PSU. Leah is passionate about health care quality improvement and collaborating with an interdisciplinary team to promote health, especially among older adults. She worked as a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist in a long-term post-acute care facility for 11 years doing clinical assessments and food service management. She spent 5 years at the Quality Improvement Organization (QIO), Comagine Health. In her free time she enjoys gardening, hiking and paper crafting.

Prior to joining ORPRN as a Research Project Coordinator in 2022, Hannah served as ORPRN's Accountable Health Communities AmeriCorps VISTA. Her year of service supported various health equity projects focused on bridging the gap between healthcare and the social determinants of health. Hannah earned her B.S. in Environmental Public Health from The Ohio State University, where she deepened her passion for sustainability, collaboration, and advancing health equity. In her free time, Hannah enjoys painting, cooking, and hiking.

Maryan Carbuccia (she/they) is a Data Analyst 2 at ORPRN. They hold a BS in Economics and an MPP. Prior to working with us, they were a research associate at American Institutes for Research where they worked on a wide range of projects using mixed-methods for English Learners. They have worked on a number of studies related to school finance and program evaluation, and particularly enjoyed projects that surveyed parents and teachers on children’s outcomes. Maryan also worked as a Junior Economist at the United Nations Development Programme in the Dominican Republic where they worked with the team that created the Human Development Index for the country. Maryan moved to Portland in 2021, and is thrilled to be working with colleagues in Oregon. You can catch them on a hike, bike, or rock climbing after work.

Priscilla joined ORPRN in 2020 after serving as a program coordinator for College Possible Oregon, a non-profit that works to support low-income students with college access and success. Prior to that, she worked as a case manager at a YMCA supporting a youth workforce development program. She holds a B.A. in Ethnic Studies from the University of Oregon. Priscilla loves that her work allows her to provide support for rural areas in Oregon, like her hometown of Nyssa. She enjoys traveling, hiking, boxing, eating tacos, and spending time with her family.

Ferrik joined ORPRN in 2020 after working for the Portland Art Museum's events team. They also volunteered at the Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education with the collections and archives team, maintaining their physical collection. They hold a B.S. in Social Sciences focused on History and Archaeology from Portland State University. Ferrik is excited to help make healthcare more accessible for all Oregonians. When not at work, they enjoy spending time at home with family, playing games or reading a good book.

Cort is a life-long Oregonian with a background in public health and community wellness. He has been with ORPRN since 2019, and has worked on a variety of projects, including projects focused on screening for unhealthy alcohol use, opioid prescribing and pain management, and increasing HPV vaccination rates in rural communities. From 2022 to 2023, he coordinated the community health assessments in Coos and Curry Counties. Based in Medford, Cort appreciates working at ORPRN because it allows him to get back to his rural roots. He has a B.S. in Communication Studies and a certificate in dispute resolution from Oregon Tech in Klamath Falls. When he’s not working, Cort enjoys spending time with his wife and two dogs. He also spends time running and biking, playing basketball, video gaming, native plant gardening, and playing Dungeons and Dragons. He is an avid reader, picking up just about anything recommended to him.

She spent her first childhood years in Klamath Falls, OR then the next 20+ in Norway, where she not only earned Bachelors degrees in History and Comparative Literature and a Masters in English, but also embraced equity, equality and justice as guiding principles of life.  She is passionate about the concept of mind-body-spirit, about herbology and the world we live in. Prior to joining OHSU in 2019, Lynda worked as a contracted administrator, freelance editor, paralegal, and in Social Services and in Health Education for the Klamath Tribes. She continues to advocate for her community, for tribal sovereignty, and health education and equity.  She thrives on building bridges between people/agencies and academia/research, and developing or adapting projects to specific targets. In her free time, Lynda enjoys her little farm, gardening and foraging as well as cooking and crafts.

Prior to coming to ORPRN, Kendall worked at Seattle Children’s Research Institute, coordinating study activities for the ECHO PATHWAYS project, an NIH funded study looking at how environmental exposures effect the health and development of children. Kendall got her BS in Public Health from OSU and her MPH in Community Health Sciences, with certificates in Global and Reproductive Health, from UCLA. Kendall’s passion for health equity and justice, particularly for those most marginalized, lead her to work in public health. She values community based participatory approaches and is excited to continue this work with ORPRN! In her free time, Kendall enjoys getting outside, gardening, reading, spending time with her husband and pets, and cooking.

Robert has a background in epidemiology, and more specifically, cancer and infectious disease epidemiology. More recently, he has been enamored with behavioral health research, mitigating health disparities related to sociodemographic factors, and changing societal norms. Robert has an MPH in Epidemiology from George Washington University, an MS from Hampton University, and his BS from Xavier University of Louisiana. Robert will be working with us remotely from Atlanta, GA. He says what he likes about his position and the field of public health/research is asking the hardest questions to answer which is typically 'why'. Why is 'x' event happening? Why are 'y' people being affected? Why is 'z' place important? He likes asking the why questions because they help get to the root causes of health disparities, and negative societal norms. In doing so, he believes people can work together and shift these dynamics in communities and people hopefully preventing harmful outcomes. He likes to enjoy the outdoors, spend time with friends, and learn new skills. He is currently on a kickball team and is taking Brazilian Zouk dance lessons. When he is not engaged in those activities, he says he'll be woodworking, cooking, or exercising in the gym.

Laura joined ORPRN in 2018. Previously, she worked as a research coordinator on clinical trials and qualitative studies at the University of Washington Medical Center; an administrator at the University of Washington Institutional Review Board; and an administrator at the Group Health Cooperative (Kaiser) IRB. She has a Master’s degree in Demographic and Social Analysis from University of California at Irvine. A resident of Hood River in the Columbia Gorge, she is delighted to contribute to improving the wellness and healthcare of people who live in rural areas. She enjoys serene kayaking, hiking and especially tent camping with her husband and two young children.

Cristina comes to ORPRN from the Oregon Law Center as a paralegal, providing legal resources for tenants facing eviction. Additionally, as a certified Community Health Worker (CHW), she has valuable experience working with diverse low-income populations. Her educational background is in Community Health Education, and she is interested in pursuing an MPH. Cristina's goal is to reduce health disparities, especially among the Latino/Hispanic Community, and her desire to have a role in community-engaged research that further reduces disparities for underserved populations. In her free time, Cristina enjoys spending time with her family, dancing, and – fun fact – did pole vaulting in high school!

Kaitlin (she/her) joined ORPRN in 2026 after almost four years with OHSU's Oregon Clinical and Translational Research Institute as the Community Research Liaison for Central Oregon. Kaitlin moved to Oregon from her hometown in eastern Washington to earn a B.A. in Sociology from Willamette University where she fostered a passion for community service and a budding interest in community health research. She completed her Master in Public Health degree from Oregon State University while working as an Education Program Assistant with the SNAP-Education program through the OSU Extension Service in Deschutes County, where she now lives. Kaitlin enjoys bringing person-centered and strengths-based solutions to community-identified health challenges. To build her skills in public health program planning and evaluation, in 2025, she completed a Professional Certificate in Program Evaluation from the Portland State University Non-Profit Institute. Kaitlin appreciates that public health uses relational approaches to understanding and addressing community health needs and looks for ways to bring community-engaged and participatory-based research methods into her work. Kaitlin is a life-long distance runner and is more than likely training for her next race right now. She also enjoys cooking, reading, and her newfound passion for creating crochet creatures.

Tuesday joined ORPRN in 2019 after serving as a Disease Intervention Specialist with Multnomah County Health Department. She also has served as a Health Educator and Compliance Specialist Lead for the Oregon Health Authority Immunization Vaccines for Children Program and as the HIV Prevention Coordinator for Deschutes County Health Department. She earned her B.S. in Public Health from Oregon State University. She enjoys spending time with her daughter, exploring Oregon with her husband, and going on walks with her two Maltipoos.

Anders joined the ORPRN team on 8/15/2022. He was born and raised in Portland and attended the University of Oregon for his bachelor’s degree, where he was first introduced to sociology. He initially began pursuing a PhD, but after receiving his master’s degree in sociology from the University of Chicago, decided to pursue other avenues of research. After moving back to Portland, Anders began work at the VA where he was introduced to clinical sociology and implementation science. An interest in research that more immediately connected to helping people led him to pursue implementation science and social determinants of health research, ultimately leading him to ORPRN. When not pursuing research, he enjoys reading, writing, the outdoors, and supporting the Portland Timbers and Trail Blazers.

Stephanie joined ORPRN in 2019 after working as a research coordinator in the psychiatry department at OHSU on projects related to long-term opioid use and chronic pain. She has a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Oregon and an M.A. in Counseling Psychology from the Lewis and Clark Graduate School of Education & Counseling. Based in Portland, Stephanie says that working in healthcare research is gratifying because it allows her to be involved in improving the health and wellbeing of Oregonians statewide, and get to know a variety of professionals within the field of medicine. When not at work, Stephanie enjoys running, reading, and spending time with her family.

Prior to joining ORPRN in 2024, Roni worked in a variety of settings providing direct service, program coordination, and community health programming with a focus on serving older adults, adults with disabilities, and family caregivers. Roni is passionate about learning with and from communities to improve health outcomes and has a deep interest in the prevention and management of chronic conditions and health promotion across the life course. Roni holds a B.A. in Sociology from Eastern Connecticut State University, a Masters in Public Health from Southern New Hampshire University and is a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES). In their free time, Roni enjoys cooking, reading, yoga, spoiling their dog, and volunteering with the Circles of Care program.

After 7 years as the Wellness Coordinator at the Eastern Oregon University Student Health Center, Kylie joined ORPRN in 2019. She has a B.S. in Health Promotion and Health Behavior. Working at ORPRN gives her the opportunity to assist clinics with research and quality of care. Because she grew up in Eastern Oregon and is now based in La Grande, she especially values the work ORPRN does to enhance rural healthcare. Being outdoors, photography, hanging out with her German shepherd, and family and friends are all pursuits Kylie enjoys outside of work.

Over the last 10 years, Orianna held a variety of positions that introduced her to many aspects of the rural health care system.  Orianna started in an administrative position at an assisted living and memory care facility. Next, she worked at a FQHC on the Care Coordination team supporting patients and providers, primarily with referrals and community resources.  Most recently, Orianna was the Quality Data Coordinator for a Rural Health Clinic managing a variety of quality metrics, RHC regulations, and working towards a recent designation as a 5-star Patient-Centered Primary Care Home. She particularly enjoys being part of initiatives that focus on patient care, wellness, improving health outcomes in rural communities such as the one in which she lives in and developing processes that allow patients to navigate the health care system with ease. Outside of work, Orianna spends time with her husband, 2 daughters, friends and family. She enjoys being outdoors and doing anything that allows her to enjoy the beautiful landscape in Wallowa County.  Her favorite days are spent in the yard digging in her flower beds and garden and enjoying the sunshine.

Jessica joined ORPRN full time in 2021 after serving as a student research assistant on the Accountable Health Communities project. She holds a B.A. in Communication Studies from the University of Portland, where she did research related to inclusivity and acceptance on campus. She is eager to contribute to the valuable work ORPRN does using a communication lens, and she finds it meaningful to work alongside people who are just as dedicated to inclusivity and equal opportunity within the healthcare realm. Outside of work, Jessica likes to spend time with family, thrift anything and everything, make art and read.

Xaviera Martinez-Ziegenfuss is a Senior Clinical Research Assistant. She has worked at ORPRN since 2018 years and holds a Masters in Public Health from Southern New Hampshire University.. Her focus lies in community-based clinical trials, where has played a key role in planning and implementing recruitment strategies, overseeing student and volunteer teams, and collaborating with partners to ensure successful study execution. Driven by a passion for improving healthcare access in underserved communities, Xaviera has also volunteered as an interpreter and clinic assistant at the Free Clinic of Southwest Washington, where she has been recognized twice with the President’s Volunteer Service Award. Her fluency in Spanish and her Mexican upbringing further strengthens her ability to bridge cultural divides and foster trust within the communities she serves. In her free time, she enjoys travelling to visit her family in Esperanza, Sonora, Mexico, playing Dungeons and Dragons, and spending time outdoors.

Prior to joining ORPRN, Marissa went to Oregon State University for a year and moved back home to Portland, where she completed her education at Portland State University with a Bachelor’s of Science in Public Health: Pre-Clinical sciences. She joined the ORPRN team as a student worker in 2020. Once she completed her Bachelor’s, she became a research project coordinator, entry in 2023. Marissa also has experience as a Medical Technician in a long-term memory care facility. This experience greatly encouraged her interest in going back to school to pursue a nursing career in the future! Marissa values and is passionate about education, promoting equity and healthy living, and advocating to improve the overall health for everyone. Marissa appreciates her position with ORPRN and participating in the ways we can progress equity and optimal health for all people. Outside of work, Marissa enjoys spending time with family and friends, painting, being in nature, and traveling!

James joined ORPRN as an informatician after serving as a consultant on several projects including substance abuse risk screening, workflows for capturing social determinants of health at the point of care, and quality reporting for behavioral health integration. He has over 30 years of experience working with large and small healthcare organizations to implement, use, and optimize a variety of EHR platforms. After 13 years with Cerner, he earned his Ph.D. and completed a post-doctoral fellowship in Clinical Informatics at OHSU before dividing his time between teaching, consulting, and supporting independent medical practices improve clinical quality, patient satisfaction, and clinician experience through the use of health information technology. Most recently, James served as director of clinical informatics with a large independent practice association, providing expertise in health IT, supporting members with quality reporting and incentive programs (MIPS, PCPCH, CPC+, ACO), population health analytics, integrating workflows for behavioral health, interoperability, and extracting and managing clinical data from a variety of EHRs.

After earning a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Oregon State University, Raven worked in public service developing and implementing transportation improvement projects. However, she realized that she liked working on projects that improved the health and accessibility of her community but wanted to focus on more human-centric issues. In pursuit of this goal, she returned to Oregon State University and earned an M.P.H. with a focus on Health Promotion and Health Behavior. Since then, she has worked in basic needs support via food and housing security projects and most recently served as a research project coordinator for a kindergarten-readiness project focusing on social-emotional skills. She is passionate about improving the social and environmental factors that impact health and has enjoyed exploring this work through different lenses. As a lifelong Oregonian, she is excited about this opportunity to help support and improve the health of the broader Oregon community. In her free time she enjoys exploring the outdoors with her husband and dog, snowboarding as much as possible every winter, spending time with friends and family, painting, and reading.

Prior to joining ORPRN, Alex obtained an MPH from Boston University, where she specialized in Community Health Sciences: Assessment, Program Design, Implementation, and Evaluation. While completing her degree, Alex both interned with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health on a home visiting QI project and served as the editorial assistant for a public health journal based at the University of Utah. Working at ORPRN gives her the opportunity to help improve access to care for marginalized communities in rural areas. Outside of the office, Alex enjoys reading, writing, and training for her next half marathon. 

Prior to joining ORPRN, Emily obtained her Bachelor's at the University of Oregon, where she studied Human Physiology and Global Health, and went on to obtain a Master's in Public Health from Portland State University. While completing her degree she was a research coordinator for a nonprofit, ACT For Families, which provides parents and professionals knowledge and experience around family wellbeing. Emily is based in Portland. One thing she loves about the work at ORPRN is that she is surrounded by likeminded people who promote the health and wellbeing of vulnerable populations. Out of the office Emily enjoys doing hot yoga, listening to the podcast “On Purpose,” and spending quality time with family and friends.

Megan brings more than 15 years in healthcare operations management, specializing in fostering collaborative environments, implementing evidence-based solutions, and advancing health equity.  Her professional journey reflects a passion for improving community health outcomes, particularly in underserved and rural settings.  She is dedicated to partnering with clinics and community organizations to create sustainable improvements in primary care delivery and health outcomes across Oregon. Her approach aligns with ORPRN's mission to improve health and equity through education, policy, and participatory research. Being born and raised in Southern Oregon and having returned back to the valley, Megan is inspired by the resilience of rural communities and the potential of collaborative problem- solving to address systemic healthcare challenges. Megan holds deep appreciation for the ORPRN 's efforts to improve healthcare across and outcomes in rural healthcare. Megan enjoys spending time with her family, husband, and kids as well as skiing, hiking, gardening and being outdoors.

Kellee started at OHSU Knight Cancer Institute Clinic in 2021 and joined ORPRN in 2022 as a Clinical Research Assistant. She completed her Associate of Sciences Degree with Honors from Mt Hood Community college completing all her nursing prerequisites and is currently in school to complete her Bachelors in Healthcare Business & Management at Franklin University. She is a former board member for Gresham-Barlow Education Foundation working with children, families & school district professionals. She has a diverse ethnic background and grew up in an immigrant Hispanic family because of her diverse upbringing thrives in multicultural environments and is extremely passionate, empathetic, and has a strong commitment to building relationships with people in her community and the underrepresented population. When she is not working she loves doing family activities with her boyfriend, four kids, and granddaughter. She loves going to the gym, dancing bachata & salsa, yoga, boxing, cooking, trying new places to eat, taking care of her 40 indoor plants, hiking, and any outdoor activities in the sun. 

Kati joined ORPRN in 2021 after managing population health projects at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, focusing on topics ranging from cancer screening and palliative care to adolescent reproductive health. Originally from Panama, she holds a B.A. in Spanish and Psychology with a minor in Latin American Studies from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and an M.S. in Applied Cognition and Neuroscience from the University of Texas at Dallas. In her spare time, Kati enjoys everything BBC and cats, and she is looking forward to exploring Oregon's outdoor activities.

Mellodie worked as a student worker at ORPRN since July 2021 and recently completed a B.S. in Public Health, with a major in Community Health Promotion from Portland State University. She plans to continue her education and pursue an M.P.H. to further study the upstream individual, environmental, policy, and community-level factors shaping health disparities and the health of disadvantaged communities. Melodies’ experience as a student worker at ORPRN has strengthened her general research and administrative skills as well as her ability to support current and future research projects aimed at improving health equity and attenuating health disparities faced by rural Oregonians. She is looking forward to working more closely with and getting to know folks on more of ORPRN’s projects. In her free time, Mellodie enjoys spending time outdoors, snuggling with her cats, watching Star Trek, and trying a hand at new recipes.

Martha began her career at ORPRN in 2017 after having worked for several types of employers, including the CDC, research institutions, and non-profits. She has always focused on helping disadvantaged populations get access to healthcare. She received her M.P.H from Emory University, and her B.S. in Psychology from the University of Oregon. Getting to know the people face-to-face who serve their communities in Oregon is the most rewarding part of her work at ORPRN. When she isn’t at work, she likes to play Scrabble and cuddle with her cats.

Mariana joined ORPRN early 2023 with a BSc in Psychology from Portland State University with honors and certification in Horticultural Therapy through the successful completion of an Internship with Legacy Health at the top 10% of HT students. 
Her more recent professional roles have included ecology education through local nonprofit organizations for youth in the Columbia River Gorge, supporting the formation and startup of a non-profit organization serving Hispanic communities in the Portland Metro area, and work in regenerative and sustainable agriculture. Mariana is drawn to ORPRN’s focused work with rural populations and ethos that build community and relationships. She looks forward to contributing, promoting, and lifting these integral and underserved populations through the many projects and community enhancing opportunities that ORPRN highlights. Living in the Gorge gifts her the opportunity to explore and spend time in natural spaces through hiking, trail running, geocaching, and kayaking. Mariana spends time volunteering as a naturalist for the Nature Conservancy, working with plants and rescue animals, along with her loving husband.

Alisa joined ORPRN in 2015 with a background in human resources and administration from her years at the community mental health agency Morrison Child and Family Services. She holds a B.A. in theater from Portland State University. Alisa is happy that working at ORPRN allows to her use her knowledge and skill set to improve systems and participate in serving communities. Outside of work, she has hiked more than 1,000 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail, sings with the Portland Peace Choir, and enjoys swing dancing.

Mary joined ORPRN in 2019, after working as the Operations Manager for a group of dental practices and coordinating a research network with tribal groups in the Yukon River watershed. She recently earned an M.B.A. in Healthcare from the OHSU/PSU School of Public Health and holds a B.A. in Anthropology from Whitman College. ORPRN is a good fit for her because she has always been interested in the political landscape of rural communities—her work allows her to help communities navigate challenges and improve quality and access to care. Reading, camping, hiking, and baking are activities she enjoys outside of the workplace.

Getsemani is currently a junior at Reed College majoring in Economics. What she likes most about her field is working with her community and helping families. She very much enjoys working with people and finds it incredibly rewarding. In her free time, she enjoys reading Sci‑Fi books.

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Kelli Bosak is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker practicing as a Behavioral Health Consultant (BHC) in primary care on the Southern Oregon Coast since she moved to Coos Bay in 2020. She serves as Co-Director of Integrated Behavioral Health at North Bend Medical Center where she oversees management, mental health and substance use treatment partnerships, and strategic initiatives within integrated care at NBMC’s central and satellite rural health clinics. Kelli has been a BHC since 2015 and is passionate about the primary care behavioral health model because of its ability to increase patient access, decrease stigma, and improve overall health by making primary care medicine more compassionate and meaningful for individuals and families. She is actively involved in advocacy and innovation in Behavioral Health Integration and was most recently honored to co-chair the Primary Care Behavioral Health Special Interest Group of the Collaborative Family Healthcare Association for 2 years. Kelli grew up in Illinois, earned a Bachelor’s Degree in French & Anthropology from the University of Michigan, and graduated with a Master’s Degree in Social Work at the University of Chicago School of Social Service Administration. Kelli has served as a Schweitzer Fellow in Chicago and completed 3 terms as an AmeriCorps Volunteer. She is also a Certified Yoga teacher and is actively involved in efforts to advance social justice and health equity in rural and urban communities.

Keli Dennis was born and raised in Baker County, specifically Richland, Oregon, and completed her B.S. in Business Administration at Eastern Oregon State College in La Grande. She is currently the Chief Operations Officer at Winding Waters Community Health Center in Enterprise, Oregon, and has been involved with healthcare since moving to Wallowa County in 1989. Keli’s first love is her two daughters and their families, followed closely by quilting, gardening, and raising Jacob sheep.  

Brigit Hatch grew up in Corvallis, Oregon and completed a B.S. in nutrition from Cornell University before returning to the Pacific Northwest for medical school. She received a medical degree and master's in public health from Oregon Health and Science University, and then continued on at OHSU to complete dual residencies in Family Medicine and Preventive Medicine. She currently practices at OHSU Family Medicine in Scappoose. In addition to caring for patients, Brigit conducts community health research at OCHIN, where she leads the research program in reproductive and family health. Her research focuses on the impacts of health policies on access to care and health outcomes, particularly among women and children. Outside of work, Brigit can often be found biking long distances, hiking in the snow, wielding power tools, or playing in the garden with her husband and son.

Robert "Robbie" Law was born and raised in Astoria, Oregon, and received an A.B. from Stanford in 1976 and a B.S. from University of Oregon in 1983. Robbie graduated from medical school at OHSU in 1988 and from the OHSU Family Medicine residency in 1991. He practiced at Dunes Family Health Care in Reedsport for almost 23 years before moving back to Astoria in 2013. He and his wife, Tricia, have a daughter, Alison, and two sons, Brian and Duncan. Robbie is active in the Oregon Academy of Family Physicians and has served as President. He is a former board member of the Southwest Oregon AHEC. He enjoys parenting, reading, and volunteering in local schools, serving as a team physician and playing bass with the Highland School Melody Makers. He also plays bass in a local band, the PBA.

Kate McKenna lives and works in Hood River, Oregon, as a family doctor at the local FQHC, One Community Health. She provides obstetrics and pediatric care at Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital and serves as core faculty at the Providence Hood River Family Medicine Residency Rural Training Program. She grew up in the Midwest and received her B.A. in Latin American History from Carleton College. Between college and graduate school, she served in the Peace Corps both in the Pacific Islands and in Guatemala, specializing in community development and infrastructure for family health. Kate graduated from Tufts University Medical School, where she also earned a master's in Public Health and then completed her family medicine residency at OHSU. Her graduate public health thesis was in quality improvement, working with the World Diabetes Foundation on screening and prevention in Guatemala. She is fluent in Spanish and currently treats a majority Spanish-speaking population. Kate loves living in the Gorge with her husband and fellow family doctor, Peter, taking care of the same small community with nature and outdoor adventure at their fingertips. Currently, Kate enjoys white water rafting, ultimate frisbee, and playing fiddle and Irish whistle.

Brenda Riojas is a Physician Assistant at Chemawa Indian Health Center and has recently completed OHSU’s School of Medicine Physician Assistant (PA) Program. She previously worked as a Dietitian with the Navajo Nation prior to completing medical school. Brenda Riojas is a Lieutenant Commander with the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps and has served for over 8 years. She has deployed during COVID-19 and Hurricane Maria missions. She is an active member of the Oregon Medical Association, American Academy of Physician Assistants and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. She enjoys visiting the Oregon Coast and has two cats adopted from the Navajo Nation.

Dan Stein is a physician assistant with a special clinical interest in providing health care for underserved populations. He lives and works in the Rogue Valley in southern Oregon. After earning his BS degree in Forest Ecology from the Evergreen State College in Washington, he completed his Master’s degree in Physician Assistant Studies at OHSU. Dan was awarded a National Health Service Corps Scholarship and fulfilled his commitment at Open Door Community Health Center in rural Northern California for 5 years. He spent the next 12 years at the OHSU Richmond Clinic where he led efforts to improve colorectal cancer screening, hypertension, and expanding hepatitis C treatment. He is now working for La Clinica Community Health Center in southern Oregon leading a new style of team-based care called Primary Care+. In his free time, Dan enjoys skiing, trail running and exploring the rivers of southern Oregon.

Monica DeMasi is the Core Faculty Member for the Providence Family Medicine Residency in Milwaukie. She joined Providence after serving as Academic Site Leader at the Samaritan Health Services Family Medicine Residency for the Geary Street Clinic in Albany, Oregon. She moved to Oregon after nine years seeing patients at the Cambridge Health Alliance with teaching and leadership roles at Harvard Medical School. She received her undergraduate and medical degrees from Case Western Reserve University where she studied medical anthropology and focused on primary care. She completed her family medicine residency at Brown in 2006. She was a senior Innovation Fellow at Harvard Medical School's Center for Primary Care and was the 2014 Eisenberg Family Fellow of the Academy of Medical Education at Harvard Medical School. Monica spent several years as the Scholarly Program Leader at the Center for Primary Care at Harvard Medical School. In 2014, her clinic won the Robert Wood Johnson Project LEAP award as an exemplary Patient Centered Medical Home. Her passions include serving the under-served, quality improvement, immigrant health, and medical education. Monica is fluent in Spanish and Portuguese. She enjoys yoga, reading, hiking and traveling with her husband and two young children.

Robert Jackman is an Associate Professor with the OHSU Department of Family Medicine, and the Medical Director of Clinical Operations at the Cascades East Family Medicine Residency Program, OHSU, located in Klamath Falls, Oregon. He received his undergraduate degree from University of California at Santa Cruz in Biochemistry, and then received his medical degree at the George Washington University School of Medicine. Before completing his family medicine residency at Cascades East Family Medicine, he served in the USNR. While in the navy, he served as an Undersea/Diving Medical Officer and was certified in submarine and diving medicine. He was a surface supplied oxygen decompression diver (hard hat diving with surface decompression in a chamber) billeted to the New London dive locker and salvage team. His passions include serving the under-served, quality improvement, endoscopy in primary care, chronic pain and medical education. He enjoys reading, hiking and traveling with his wife, visiting his two children, and any outdoor activity.

Liz Powers, M.D., works with three physicians and two nurse practitioners at Winding Waters Clinic in Enterprise, Oregon. Winding Waters Clinic has been caring for rural Wallowa County (population 7,000) since 1972. Liz was born and raised in Michigan, receiving a B.A. from Vassar College in 1999 and an M.D. from Stanford School of Medicine in 2003. She graduated from OHSU Family Medicine residency in 2006. Liz has been active in her state and national academies since starting residency. She served on the American Academy of Family Physicians Commission on Rural Health and was a resident delegate to the national Congress of Delegates. She is currently President of the Board of Directors of the Oregon Academy of Family Physicians. Liz, her husband Nic, and sons Malaki and Atticus, enjoy managing their five-acre ranch. They love Wallowa County's offering of backpacking, backcountry skiing, rock climbing, hockey, kayaking, horseback riding and mountain biking. Liz has played the violin since she was four years old. She plays with the Grande Ronde Symphony Orchestra and also plays Irish, Old Time, Bluegrass and Country Western "fiddle."

Jon Schott was born in McCall, Idaho and graduated from high school in Baker City, Oregon. After graduating from Oregon State University, he graduated from Oregon Health Sciences University and completed residency at Idaho State University Family Practice Residency in Pocatello, Idaho. He practiced in Baker City for about 17 years prior to transitioning to St. Luke’s Health Partners in Boise, Idaho in 2016. He currently serves as Chief Medical Officer for St. Luke’s Health Partners, and St. Luke’s Health Plan. He is married to Dawn and has two sons Stephen, and Alexander. He enjoys anything outdoors but loves mountain biking and hunting.

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Jonathan Betlinski, M.D., is the George Saslow Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at Oregon Health & Science University, where he also gets to be Division Head for Public Psychiatry. Among other projects, he serves as Medical Director for the Oregon Psychiatric Access Line about Adults, as Clinical Advisor to the Oregon ECHO Network, as Program Committee Chair for the Oregon Psychiatric Physicians Association, and as Principal Investigator for the HEAL-OR study.  Dr. Betlinski serves on the boards for CareOregon, Columbia Pacific CCO, and Big Lake Youth Camp.  Dr. Betlinski believes in the power of family, community, relationship, diverse perspectives, multi-disciplinary approaches, theater, being outdoors, a good night's sleep, and leaving the world better for having spent time in it.

Laura K. Byerly is a clinician educator and geriatrician at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) in the Division of General Internal Medicine & Geriatrics. She cares for older adults in OHSU’s Internal Medicine Clinic and affiliated post-acute and long-term care facilities. Dr. Byerly focuses on health care education, particularly age-friendly care in rural and underserved settings. She leads the Oregon ECHO Network’s Geriatric Care in an Age-Friendly Health System and Deprescribing in Primary Care programs. As the program director for the HRSA-supported Oregon Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program (GWEP), she drives initiatives to train and improve Oregon’s workforce for holistic, interprofessional care in tribal, underserved, and rural communities.

Patricia (Patty) Carney is Professor of Family Medicine at Oregon Health & Science University’s School of Medicine. She has doctoral training in public health and community medicine and educational psychology. Dr. Carney has studied the medical educational continuum, including pre-matriculation, undergraduate and graduate medical education and continuing professional development of practicing physicians for over 25 years. She has been principal investigator, co-principal investigator or co-investigator of 31 observational or interventional studies and have had continuous NIH support for more than 20 years to study cancer control, health disparities, and physician training. She has over 300 peer-reviewed research publications in these areas. She has mentored dozens of medical students, graduate students, post-doctoral fellows and junior faculty in the development of their research careers.

Deb Cohen, PhD, is a Professor and Vice Chair for Research in the Department of Family Medicine. She received her PhD from Rutgers University. She is a qualitative and mixed methodologist who has a deep passion for primary care. Her research has focused on primary care practice transformation dissemination and implementation, health information technology, comprehensive, whole person primary care and clinician-patient communication. She has served as a principal investigator on a collaborative grant with ORPRN called INTEGRATE-D and co-leads the ACTION IV master contract with ORPRN. She believes, “The ORPRN Core Investigator designation [formalizes] the collaboration that we already have established.”

David Dorr, MD, is a Professor and Vice-Chair of Clinical Informatics within the Department of Medical Informatics and Clinical Epidemiology (DMICE) and Chief Research Information Officer for OHSU. He attended medical school at Washington University and did his residency at OHSU. His work focuses on the needs of vulnerable communities with a sociotechnical and data-driven view; his work with ORPRN has focused on nurse care management, Healthy Hearts Northwest, the integrated care coordination information system, the advance care planning Meta-LARC trial, and the Comprehensive Primary Care (and Plus) projects over the last 10 years. He notes that, “We’ve learned a great deal together about how change can be implemented in ways that improve the quadruple aim (better, more efficient care that improves outcomes for patients and care teams).”

Dr. Brian Frank is an assistant professor and full-time clinician in the department of family medicine at Oregon Health and Science University in Portland, Oregon. Since 2011 he has had the good fortune to provide care to multi-generational families and individuals in all stages of life at the OHSU’s Family Medicine Clinic at Richmond, a federally qualified health center.  Outside of his clinical duties, Dr. Frank leads research to increase employer responsiveness to employees’ social and medical needs by identifying returns on investment for these efforts. He is a current member of the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine’s Action Collaborative on Business Engagement in Building Healthy Communities. He also served as member of the Health Equity Tactic Team for Family Medicine for America’s Health from 2017 through its completion in 2019 and was a 2016-17 Clinical Innovation Fellow with the Oregon Health Authority. Outside of work, Dr. Frank is an avid home cook.  He is rarely happier than when in the kitchen, preparing food for his family and friends.

Brigit Hatch is a family physician with a dual board certification in preventive medicine.  She practices actively at OHSU, primarily at the Scappoose Primary Care location. As a physician she provides wholistic care across the life cycle, with special focus in the care of women and children, and is active as teaching faculty within the Family Medicine residency at OHSU.  As a researcher, Dr. Hatch examines the impact of natural policy experiments on access to care and preventive health outcomes, particularly among vulnerable populations. She also leads statewide intervention work to improve preventive care in Oregon. Outside of work, she is busy with her 3 young kids and can often be found baking treats and wielding power tools. 

Dr. Izumi is an associate professor at Oregon Health & Science University School of Nursing, and Cambia Health Foundation Sojourn Palliative Care Leadership Scholar. She is a nursing and health service researcher in the field of palliative care and gerontology. She has expertise in qualitative methodology and mixed-methods approach, and lately expanding her interest into implementation science to promote practice changes through research applications. Currently she is a Co-Investigator in a PCORI supported study (PI: Totten) comparing effectiveness of implementing advance care planning program into primary care practices, and a PI in a qualitative study exploring health equity in advance care planning funded by Hillman Foundation.

Dr. Erin Kenzie is an Assistant Professor in the OHSU-PSU School of Public Health and has been a member of the ORPRN team since 2020. She earned a PhD in Systems Science from Portland State University in 2021 and has a background in sustainability and the behavioral and social sciences. She conducts research at the nexus of systems science, implementation science, and health disparities. As a co-investigator and previously an analyst for several large ORPRN studies, Dr. Kenzie has utilized her expertise in systems mapping and modeling to develop innovative approaches to support implementation and evaluation to improve health outcomes. Now an early career investigator, Dr. Kenzie is working to develop an independent program of research around addressing the impacts of climate change on marginalized populations in Oregon. 

Eric Simpson, MD, is a Professor of Dermatology at OHSU. He attended the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School and did his residency at OHSU. His work focuses on atopic dermatitis (eczema), a common disease that presents most commonly in the primary care setting. His research aims to find cost-effective methods for preventing eczema and allergies, a goal that resonates with many primary care practitioners and community members in the ORPRN network. He is interested in developing prevention strategies that are feasible to implement in the real-world setting, making ORPRN an excellent fit for a pragmatic trial approach to disease prevention. He believes the quality of the research infrastructure, the clinician investigators, and breadth of the network is unmatched in Oregon and working with ORPRN allowed him to create a team of outstanding study managers, coordinators, and statisticians with an excellent scientific and funding track record, enabling his team to submit several successful NIH proposals.

Annette Totten, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the OHSU Department of Medical Informatics and Clinical Epidemiology and OHSU-PSU School of Public Health. Dr. Totten holds a PhD in Health Services Research from the University of Minnesota School of Public Health, an MPA in Health Policy from the Robert Wagner School of Public Service at New York University and an MA in Modern Languages from Middlebury College. She is a health services researcher and gerontologist, and her research focuses on aging, chronic illness, shared decision making, evidence-based practice and research methodology.

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