SPEAKERS

Lightening Talks

Track 1 Pathways to Care and Community

Michelle Ahmed | Southwest Washington Accountable Community of Health

Michelle brings over a decade of experience in community health and is passionate about improving health outcomes, supporting community health workers, and helping people navigate complex healthcare systems. She has extensive experience working with uninsured individuals and Medicaid populations, with past roles spanning care coordination, patient education, and management of women’s health outreach and volunteer programs. Michelle holds a Bachelor of Science in Health Informatics and is certified as a Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA) and Professional in Healthcare Quality. She is also fluent in Spanish and Russian.

Track 1: Pathways to Care and Community

Lauren M Taylor | Women's Health Equity Advocate

Lauren M Tayor was Principal at venture philanthropy REDF, where she led accelerator and incubator programs for impact entrepreneurs in partnership with government agencies and private foundations. Having unlocked millions of dollars for mission-focused founders, she is now building an innovative approach to financing women’s health equity, braiding public and private funding to launching cutting edge healthcare in the communities where it can have the greatest impact.

Track 1: Pathways to Care and Community

Violet Larry | Alliance of Black Nurses Association of Oregon

Violet Larry was born and raised in Portland, Oregon. Violet received her BSN from Linfield School of Nursing. Violet joined the Multnomah County Health Department as a nurse home visitor in 1990. This is where she found her passion for serving her community. Violet was a part of the Healthy Start Family for 15 years, beginning as a nurse home visitor, and later serving as the Nurse Supervisor and Project Director for the Healthy Birth Initiatives program, until her retirement in 2023. Violet was honored to receive the March of Dimes, Heroes in Action award formerly, "Nurse of the Year" 2 years in a row, 2021 and 2022 . The first for Maternal Child Health and most recently for Equity & Leadership. I'm passionate about my community and feel both honored and blessed to be a part of their lives. I’m proud to say I've been married for 41 years. We are the proud parents of 3 adult children, 5 grandchildren, and 1 granddog, who bring us much joy and laughter.

Track 2 Pathway to Culturally-Rooted Healing

Lai-Lani Ovalles| Chief of People & Culture, Black Pearl Wellness

Lai-Lani has worked in the nonprofit and philanthropy field for many years to engage with diverse communities for social change through cross-cultural collective action. Lai-Lani focuses on cultivating community partnerships and managing BPW operations to ensure that vision and goals are accomplished. She and Sita co-founded Black Pearl Wellness, to center healing and wellness for BIPOC and Queer communities. Lai-Lani is dedicated to working for a more just and racially equitable community and brings this passion to the clinic.

Track 2 Pathway to Culturally-Rooted Healing

Sita Symonette| Black Pearl Wellness

Sita is a Licensed Acupuncturist for 15 years and business owner, providing culturally responsive and high-quality health care to historically excluded communities. Sita is a health equity advocate who is passionate about serving her community. She currently serves as vice chair on the Inatai Foundation board and previously served on Planned Parenthood Federation of America board and Planned Parenthood Columbia Willamette board, where she was the first Black woman and queer person to serve as chair in the organization’s 54-year history.

Track 2 Pathway to Culturally-Rooted Healing

Gemma-Noelani Somol | Doula

Gemma-Noelani Somol is a practicing Doula, serving alongside the Coheart Birth Doulas. Gemma hopes to create a more supportive community around mothers, and families. Gemma is an advocate, and serves in local BIPOC community groups, but is also working as Care and Engagement for Council for the Homeless. To begin building a stronger community, we would need to start with supporting mothers and families, even starting with their birth experience.

Track 2 Pathway to Culturally-Rooted Healing

Tae Sun Kim | Legacy Health, Vice President and Chief Diversity and Health Equity Officer

Tae-Sun Kim, Ph.D., serves as the Vice President and Chief Diversity and Health Equity Officer at Legacy Health System. In this capacity, she leads the organization’s diversity, health equity, and inclusion initiatives, emphasizing the recruitment and retention of a diverse workforce, the integration of targeted education and training to reduce health disparities, and the expansion of healthcare access for medically underserved populations.

Track 2 Pathway to Culturally-Rooted Healing

Rachael Waas Shull | Legacy, Health Staff RN, Charge RN, Clinical Nurse Educator, & Interim Assistant Nurse Manager

Rachael is currently in her 13th year of caring for the obstetric and perinatal patient population as a Staff RN, Charge RN, Clinical Nurse Educator and interim Assistant Nurse Manager for a high-risk labor and delivery unit and family birth center in Portland. She is actively transitioning to the psychiatric specialty, having recently completed an MSN as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with plans to specialize in perinatal mental health. When not working, she can be found cooking, baking, being outside with family and supporting her three kids at various events and activities.

Track 2 Pathway to Culturally-Rooted Healing

Amanda Trujillo | Legacy Health, Quality Improvement Consultant

Amanda Trujillo has been a Quality Improvement Consultant for Legacy Population Health and Legacy Health Partners since 2017. Her prior experience includes supporting 25 primary care practices as an Improvement Coach with Physician Health Partners in Denver and nearly 20 years with Northwest Primary Care where she served as both a clinic manager and project manager.

Presentations

Track 2: Pathway to Culturally-Rooted Healing

Dr. Falguni Shah; Presenting Author: "From Gaslighting to Truthlighting"

Dr. Falguni Shah holds a PhD in Organizational Leadership from Adler University, a Master’s in Community Counseling from Loyola University Chicago, and a Bachelor's in Medicine and Surgery from the University of Mumbai. With over 20 years in healthcare, she blends clinical expertise, systems thinking, and cultural humility, having held leadership roles in community mental health and federally qualified health centers. As a speaker and consultant, she helps organizations strengthen workforce systems and create cultures where people thrive. Grounded in spiritual values and a belief in human dignity, Dr. Shah is driven by justice, equality, and a passion for wellness and travel, bringing heart and purpose to every space she enters.

Track 2: Pathway to Culturally-Rooted Healing

Valentina Pishchanskaya-Cayanan | LMFT, VP DAWN INC, Co-Owner Clarity Therapy Solutions

Valentina Pishchanskaya-Cayanan, LMFT, CIMHP, is a Ukrainian licensed marriage and family therapist with extensive experience in clinical practice, higher education, and nonprofit leadership. She maintains a virtual practice in Oregon and Washington, specializing in anxiety, trauma, life transitions, and multicultural concerns, with a focus on helping clients heal, navigate change, and reclaim their authentic selves. As a tenured faculty counselor at Clark College, she provides psychotherapy, teaches, and develops workshops for diverse and underserved populations, including Ukrainian students. Valentina is also co-owner of Clarity Therapy Solutions, a mental health practice dedicated to serving Ukrainians as well as Eastern European and Central Asian communities. In her role as Vice President of DAWN Inc., she advances humanitarian and medical aid initiatives in Ukraine and supports refugee integration locally. Through her clinical work, teaching, and nonprofit leadership, Valentina is recognized for her commitment to resilience, equity, and culturally responsive, trauma-informed care.

Track 2: Pathway to Culturally-Rooted Healing

Yulia Brockdorf, RD, LD

Yulia is a distinguished professional recognized for expertise in psychotherapy, dietetics, and integrative health. She is co-founder and president of DAWN, Inc., leading trauma psychotherapy, education, and humanitarian aid initiatives supporting Ukraine. An EMDRIA-certified EMDR psychotherapist with advanced trauma training, Yulia is a leading authority on the psychological impact of war, traveling to Ukraine’s front lines to provide medical aid and care to defenders.

Track 2: Pathway to Culturally-Rooted Healing

Sheena Hardy, President | The Melanated Network

A passionate advocate for equity, healing, and community empowerment, Sheena Hardee is the Founder of The Melanated Network, where she uplifts and organizes families of African descent through culturally responsive programs, outreach, and leadership development. As a small business owner in Vancouver, Washington, she also serves her community through Crystal Signature Notary Services LLC, making legal processes more accessible and dignified for everyday people.

Track 2: Pathway to Culturally-Rooted Healing

Nicholas Hayes, CEO | BIPOC Paramedics of Portland

Nicholas Hayes was born and raised the Portland Metro Area. He is an experienced paramedic with a passion for community organizing and service. As founder and CEO of BIPOC Paramedics of Portland, he has created the first (and only) BIPOC-focused EMS scholarship. When not empowering his community, he enjoys spending time with his family.

Track 3: Pathway to a Sustainable Future

Dr. Leila Harrison | Vice Dean for Admissions, Student Affairs, and Alumni Engagement

Dr. Leila Harrison is the Vice Dean for Admissions, Student Affairs, and Alumni Engagement and Associate Professor at the Washington State University Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine. She oversees efforts in these areas as well as student learning services. She has held leadership roles at the regional and national levels for the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) in both the Southern and Western regions through the Committee on Admissions, Enrollment Management Workgroup, and as a Holistic Review Facilitator within the Group on Student Affairs. Overall, Dr. Harrison has been involved in medical education since 2002, mostly within admissions across three public medical schools. Dr. Harrison is Latina and a first-generation college graduate and the first in her extended family to earn a PhD. Throughout her career, she has advocated tirelessly for representation and inclusion within medical education and the healthcare workforce.

Track 3: Pathway to a Sustainable Future

Dr. Debra Jenkins | Share Flame

Dr. Debi Jenkins, MA, MS, PhD (she/her) is the Founder & CEO of Share the Flame LLC™, an ICF Credentialed Coach, trauma-informed practitioner, consultant, and international speaker with over 30 years of experience in sustainable systems change. A trauma survivor and thriver, she is committed to dismantling oppression and fostering healing across personal, workplace, institutional, and societal layers. An award-winning social justice consultant, educator, and author, Dr. Jenkins integrates developmental, liberation, and transformational psychology in her work. Her holistic approach draws on Mindfulness-Based Addiction Trauma Recovery (MBAT-RC), somatic experiencing, psychosynthesis, brainspotting, trauma-informed care, neuro-informed coaching, internal family systems, and cultural somatic abolitionism. She holds degrees in Education (AA, PhD), Human Development (BA, MA), and Psychology (MS). Through Share the Flame LLC™, Dr. Jenkins empowers individuals and organizations to navigate trauma, cultivate resilience, and transform systems of injustice. Learn more at www.shareflame.com .

Track 3: Pathway to a Sustainable Future

Hayley Pickus | Family Initiatives Coordinator at Clark County Public Health

Raised in the Pacific Northwest, Hayley counts among her greatest assets a family full of dedicated public servants. Taught from a young age to repair and improve the world, Hayley has had the opportunity to work at the federal, state and local levels on issues impacting the health and well-being of our environment and diverse communities. She currently serves as Family Initiatives Coordinator with Clark County Public Health, supporting pregnant and parenting families with children birth to age five through the design and implementation of racially-just, equitable, and healthy policies, systems and programs. When not working you can find Hayley helping her four-year-old son finesse his baseball swing or chasing after her one-year-old daughter, soaking up fresh air on a trail or bike, or whenever possible, napping.

Track 3: Pathway to a Sustainable Future

Adiba Ali | Family Initiatives Coordinator at Clark County Public Health

Adiba Ali is an epidemiologist at Clark County Public Health, using population health data to understand the health and social factors that influence health. Adiba provides analytic support to programs across Lifecourse, including maternal and child health, chronic disease, behavioral health and substance use, and injury prevention. Adiba aspires to improve community health through data driven policy and program development, one data point at time.

Panelists & Moderators

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Sesany Feenie-Jones | CEO, Council for The Homeless

Track 1 Pathways to Care and Community

Pathways to Health: Employers' Role in Encouraging Care Access

Sesany Fennie-Jones is the Chief Executive Officer at Council for the Homeless, where she leads strategic efforts to prevent and end homelessness through community collaboration and systemic change. With a background in social services and housing, Sesany has developed and led impactful programs addressing behavioral health, transitional living, and supportive housing. She is passionate about advancing equity, dismantling systemic barriers, and ensuring that safe, stable housing is recognized as a basic human right.

Brittini Lasseigne | CEO, YWCA

Track 1 Pathways to Care and Community

Pathways to Health: Employers' Role in Encouraging Care Access

Brittini Lasseigne is the Chief Executive Officer of YWCA Clark County, where she leads a $8 million nonprofit committed to advancing justice, equity, and safety for women and families. Under her leadership, YWCA has expanded services for survivors of domestic and sexual violence, secured transformational funding, and launched innovative initiatives such as a four-day workweek pilot designed to center staff wellbeing. With a background that blends philanthropy, advocacy, and organizational change, Brittini is passionate about building sustainable systems that not only serve communities but also honor the people who power them. She frequently speaks on equity in leadership, the intersections of health and justice, and the importance of bold, people-centered strategies. A believer in bringing both head and heart to her work, Brittini infuses her leadership with authenticity and energy—whether she’s at the board table, in the community, or cheering loudly for her daughter

Leann M. Caver | CEO, C-TRAN

Track 1 Pathways to Care and Community

Pathways to Health: Employers' Role in Encouraging Care Access

Leann Caver is Chief Executive Officer at C-TRAN, where she leads a team of more than 500 people providing public transportation for our region. Leann has spent more than 20 years in the transportation industry, and is involved in numerous local, regional and national organizations in the industry. She is passionate about empowering people, partnerships, and creating access and opportunities for our community.

Riikka Salonen | BCT Partners

Track 1: Pathways to Care and Community& Final Panel

Pathways to Health: Employers' Role in Encouraging Care Access (Moderator)

Equity and Accountability Panel (Panelist)

Riikka Salonen, M.A., is the managing director of Health and Culture Solutions at BCT Partners, where she advances culturally responsive care and community engagement, strengthens diverse talent pathways, and creates inclusive environments where people can thrive. With more than three decades of experience, she manages the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Think Cultural Health program, which has educated over 1.2 million healthcare professionals on culturally and linguistically appropriate services. Previously, she led DEI and health equity strategies at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) and PeaceHealth and has consulted with health systems nationwide. Internationally, Ms. Salonen is one of 112 experts who authored the Global Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Benchmarks. Locally, she serves on the board of the Southwest Washington Equity Coalition. She holds a graduate degree in intercultural communication and intercultural relations from the University of Jyväskylä, Finland.

Nicholas Hayes, CEO | Black Paramedics of Portland

Final Panel

Equity and Accountability Panel

See Bio above

Dr. Claudine Richardson | Community Engagement Strategist, WA Dept. of Health

Final Panel

Track 2 Group Discussion, Equity and Accountability Panel

Dr. Claudine Richardson serves as the Community Engagement Strategist for the Environmental Health Disparities Map at the Washington Department of Health. They strongly believe in working with and in community for transformative change. They are responsible for non-Tribal EHD Map Community Engagement across the entire state of Washington. Dr. Richardson’s approach to supporting communities stems from believing that you should be informed of the past, listen to the present, and collectively prepare and build a better future.

Posters

Track 1 Pathways to Care and Community

Talia Goldenburg, Luca Artz, and Ida Shapiro, Willamette University Students

Community Asset Map & Directory of Culturally Congruent Health Care Providers

Luca, Talia, and Ida are students from Willamette University involved in leading a Women’s Health Equity Research Project in collaboration with OWEIS that began in the spring of 2025. Bringing in knowledge and expertise from multiple fields, including Data Science, Sociology, Economics, and Women's & Gender Studies, they worked together to catalogue data from listening sessions and research to compile a list of resources, with the end goal of creating a comprehensive Community Asset Map of BIPOC medical practitioners in the Vancouver, WA area. The students are deeply passionate about identifying structural barriers that limit women’s ability to have their basic needs met and improving women’s access to quality healthcare

Track 2: Pathway to Culturally-Rooted Healing

Johanna Inoke | Pacific Islander Community Association of WA

Culturally Specific Care for Pasifika Peoples

Johanna is the Site Manager of the Vancouver site at Pacific Islander Community Association of WA (PICAWA), where it is their mission to provide cultural connection, center community power, and advocate for the wellness of all Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (NHPI) communities in Washington. Johanna has been serving the Pacific Islander community in Vancouver for 10 years and further supports her NHPI communities as a WA Certified Doula. As a Doula, she advocates for healthy and positive birth experience for the mother and family. Second presenter:

Track 2: Pathway to Culturally-Rooted Healing

Angela Willam | Pacific Islander Community Association of WA

Culturally Specific Care for Pasifika Peoples

Angela is the Wellness Navigator at Pacific Islander Community Association of Washington (PICAWA), where she connects families to resources for basic needs and services. Angela served the Pacific Islander community since before her time with PICAWA. She is a role model to many youths as she started as a Youth Navigator and gives great care to all her clients. Angela is also a Doula and has been supporting Pacific Islander mothers in their birthing journeys.

Track 2: Pathway to Culturally-Rooted Healing

Lauren Duffy | WSU Vancouver (Year 3 Med)

Patient Centered Obstetrical Care: Learning From Cultural and Traditional Practice

Trinity and Lauren are third-year medical students at Washington State University. Both graduated with honors from WSU Pullman, where Trinity earned a bachelor’s in biology, and Lauren earned a bachelor’s in biochemistry. Now proud to represent the Cougs as medical students, they have developed a strong passion for female reproductive health and justice, and are committed to providing culturally sensitive, competent care for their future patients.

Track 2: Pathway to Culturally-Rooted Healing

Trinity Wood | WSU Vancouver (Year 3 Med)

Patient Centered Obstetrical Care: Learning From Cultural and Traditional Practice

Track 3: Pathway to a Sustainable Future

Almendra Velazquez-Perez | Fourth Plain Forward, Senior Climate and Health Coordinator

A Path to Climate & Health Adaptation

Almendra Velazquez is a first-generation Mexican-American and environmental justice advocate based in Vancouver, Washington. She serves as the Climate and Health Senior Coordinator at Fourth Plain Forward, where she leads resident-driven climate adaptation initiatives and supports community resilience efforts. With a background in environmental science and deep roots in grassroots organizing, Almendra centers cultural identity and equity throughout her work. She also serves on several community boards, where she uplifts immigrant and frontline communities through advocacy, storytelling, and place-based organizing.

Track 3: Pathway to a Sustainable Future

SW WA Field Organizer with PPAA

Every Body, Every Right: A Movement for Equitable Reproductive Care

No bio available. Please see website instead. https://www.plannedparenthoodaction.org/planned-parenthood-alliance-advocates