Washington State Public Health Association

Washington State Public Health Association Declares Racism a Public Health Crisis and Sets Action Plan for Washington State The role of public health is to prevent illness, injury, and premature death. Over the past century, public health has improved healthy years of life through safe food and water, curbing tobacco use and exposure, access to vaccines, and much more. Public health must be adaptable and nimble if it is to be successful in its mission. As public health acquires data, assesses societal health, and listens to their communities, it has become clear that racism and health inequities are a clear public health crisis. https://lnkd.in/gBtiH8CW

Please join us in congratulating Represenative Paul Harris for receiving the 2024 Laurie Jinkins Public Health Champion Award! Rep. Harris has a long history of taking on tough public health policies and being a champion for public health. During the 2024 legislative session he fought to make the RSV vaccine available all families in Washington State. His voting record demonstrates that he truly does care about the health of the public. We are happy to honor him with this Public Health Champion title! Paul Harris has represented the people of the 17th district for the last 14 years.

Please join us in congratulating Representative Nicole Macri for the 2024 June Robinson Public Health Funding Award! As vice-chair for the House Appropriations Committee, Representative Macri was a huge champion for ensuring there was funding in the 2024 state budget for Foundational Public Health Services, as well as funding for other public health policies such as housing and substance use prevention and treatment. Nicole Macri was first elected to the Washington House of Representatives in 2016, and represents the 43rd legislative district in Seattle. Thank you for your work to protect the Public's health, Rep. Macri!

Please join us in congratulating the winner of the 2024 Secretary of Health Award: Steve Mitchell, MD FACEP! Dr. Mitchell is an Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine at the University of Washington and is the Co-Founder and Medical Director of the WA Medical Coordination Center which was initiated at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The WA Medical Coordination Center works to load balance patient care across the Washington state healthcare system and manage healthcare surge events related to any issue that results in a rapid increase in patient volumes – regardless of cause. The WA Medical Coordination Center is a statewide Medical Operations Coordination Center (MOCC) that has managed nearly 12,000 requests from Washington state hospitals since its inception. As an example of their work as a MOCC, during a 6-week period in the winter of 2022, the WA Medical Coordination Center expanded its operations to manage the unprecedented surge in pediatric patients related to the viral respiratory surge or “tripledemic” in WA state. They successfully coordinated each of the 171 requests for assistance from hospitals that had been unable to transfer acutely ill children to pediatric hospitals – half of whom were critically ill and less than a year old. Dr. Mitchell is an emergency physician who formerly served as the Emergency Department Medical Director at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle for 11 years before taking on his role at the WA Medical Coordination Center. His wife is an internal medicine physician at the University of Washington and together they have 3 teenagers who keep them busy – one of whom just started college at UCLA. Join us for the awards ceremony at the 2024 Annual Conference in Yakima, WA on Thursday, October 10, 2024 at 5:30pm! Umair A. Shah, M.D., M.P.H.

Please join us in congratulating the winner of the 2024 Exceptional Student Award: Mehr Grewal! Mehr Grewal is the Founder and Executive Director of Worth A Shot, a global nonprofit organization dedicated to bridging healthcare disparities and uplifting communities with compassion. Worth A Shot operates in 11 countries, training medical students, organizing community health fairs, donating supplies, and informing communities. Mehr is also a recipient of the Public Health Seattle King County Best Starts for Kids Youth Healing Project Grant. Through this partnership, she organizes and leads "Teen Cafe" groups in partnership with the Bellevue School District and the City of Bellevue. The groups enable teens to build community, learn leadership skills, and connect with mental health resources. Mehr also collaborates with Public Health Seattle King County to conduct multilingual community outreach and vaccination events, enabling thousands of Washingtonians to receive the COVID-19 vaccines. Join us for the awards ceremony at the 2024 Annual Conference in Yakima, WA on Thursday, October 10, 2024 at 5:30pm!

Please join us in congratulating the winner of the 2024 Exceptional Student Award: Kisna Prado! Kisna Prado (she/her/ella) is a Research Coordinator at the Center for Center for Anti-Racism and Community Health (ARCH) and a recent graduate of the University of Washington's Community Oriented Public Health Practice (COPHP) Master's at the University of Washington School of Public Health. She is a first-generation daughter of Central American immigrants from Nicaragua and Costa Rica and grew up in a predominately Mexican and Central American immigrant community in Southern California. As a bilingual, Latina public health professional, she grounds herself in the experiences of immigrant, working class communities like her own and is dedicated to centering the voices of those that have been historically marginalized and silenced. She is passionate about health equity research, Latine health issues, and applying community based participatory research and anti racism principles to her work. Join us for the awards ceremony at the 2024 Annual Conference in Yakima, WA on Thursday, October 10, 2024 at 5:30pm!

Please join us in congratulating the winner of the 2024 Public Health Leadership Award: Priya Lindeen! Priya came to Grays Harbor Public Health after fifteen years of teaching in the Anchorage School District as an Elementary Educator. In her role as a Community Health Specialist, Priya was excited to be able to engage students again by teaching Botvin LifeSkills to 6th grade students at Hoquiam Middle School during the 2023/24 school year. She sees the importance of building a sense of resiliency and self-awareness in youth to balance the mental health and substance use issues that are a concern in the communities of Grays Harbor. As a coalition coordinator for MyTOWN, she works closely with community members to build community/neighborhood attachment and reduce youth substance use. Join us for the awards ceremony at the 2024 Annual Conference in Yakima, WA on Thursday, October 10, 2024 at 5:30pm!

Please join us in congratulating the winner of the 2024 Public Health Leadership Award: Lucas Ivan B! Lucas Ivan Bjorkheim is striving to be a dedicated leader in public health, currently serving on the UW Medicine Transplant Advisory Council at the University of Washington Medical Center. He is also conducting critical medical research at the UW Department of Surgery Mulligan Lab under the mentorship of Dr. Michael S. Mulligan, where he investigates lung ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI). His commitment to health extends to his work with the American Society of Transplantation and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Washington Alaska Chapter, advocating for organ recipients and donors. Lucas has also made impactful contributions through his earlier research with Dr. Sharon S. Laing of the University of Washington School of Public Health, where he analyzed health data related to women’s physical activity in the Pacific Northwest, earning the UW Population Health Initiative award in 2020. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he played a frontline role conducting testing at UW Medicine, for which he was awarded the UW Medicine Austin Went Lambert Award for his outstanding contributions and service. Aspiring to follow in the footsteps of Dr. Mulligan and his scientific mentors, Lucas aims to become both a surgeon and a scientist. His efforts continue to align with the WSPHA’s vision of a healthier Washington for all, demonstrating leadership, research, and advocacy to improve health outcomes across the state. Join us for the awards ceremony at the 2024 Annual Conference in Yakima, WA on Thursday, October 10, 2024 at 5:30pm!

Please join us in congratulating the winner of the 2024 Public Health Leadership Award: Stephen Kutz! Mr. Kutz is a member of Southwest Washington’s Cowlitz Indian Tribe and served on its Tribal Council for approximately 20 years. He is currently employed by the Suquamish Tribe, where he serves as the Health Clinic Director. Mr. Kutz received his Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from Eastern Washington University in 1974 and has worked as a nurse for nearly 48 years. He received his master’s degree in public health from Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine in 1993. He served 20 years on active duty as a nurse in the U.S. Army in most all facets of their health care system, with 13 of those years spent in preventive medicine and community health. He also worked for more than 12 years in a county health department in Washington as director of public health nursing, while also serving as the health department director for eight years. He served the Cowlitz Tribe for almost 16 years as the Clinic Manger, Deputy Director, and Executive Director of Health and Human Services. Mr. Kutz served as the Suquamish Tribal delegate to the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board and has been its delegate to the Health and Human Services American Indian/Alaskan Native Health Research Advisory Council 2008 until 2016, as well as serving as a delegate to the IHS budget formulation committee for 6 years, Indian Health Care Improvement advisory committee for two years, one term as the alternate to the HHS Secretaries Advisory committee, and one term as the delegate to the CDC and is currently on the NIH Tribal advisory committee. He is active in health policy issues at the national, state, and local levels. He also served as a delegate to the Washington State American Indian Health Commission for almost 20 years and currently serves as their Chair. He works on the State Mental Health Committee that is advising the state in its efforts to redesign how Medicaid mental health services are delivered to American Indians and Alaskan Natives. He currently serves (11 years) as the State Board of Health’s delegate to the Governor's Interagency Council on Health Disparities. Join us for the awards ceremony at the 2024 Annual Conference in Yakima, WA on Thursday, October 10, 2024 at 5:30pm.

Please join us in congratulating the winner of the 2024 Adrian Dominguez Health Equity Award: Faisa Farole, LM, CPM, MA-MCHS! Faisa is a remarkable individual with a diverse array of skills and passions. With her master's degree in Maternal Child Health Systems and her licensure as a midwife in Washington state, she is deeply involved in maternal and child healthcare. Leading a solo practice in the only Black-owned birth center in the state highlights her commitment to serving marginalized communities and providing culturally sensitive care. Faisa's dedication extends beyond her practice as she actively mentors aspiring Black midwives, paving the way for the next generation of healthcare professionals. Her nonprofit organization, Global Perinatal Services, demonstrates her commitment to social justice by offering doula services free of charge to low-income, Black, refugee, and immigrant communities. As a doula trainer and certified lactation counselor, Faisa empowers individuals with the knowledge and skills to support mothers during pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding. Her vision of educating women about their birthing options reflects her advocacy for informed decision-making and autonomy in healthcare. Outside of her professional endeavors, Faisa enjoys spending quality time with her family, engaging in outdoor activities like hiking, and fostering meaningful conversations about current events. Her passion for crocheting showcases her creativity and ability to find moments of relaxation amidst her busy schedule. Overall, Faisa Farole is a compassionate leader and advocate for maternal and child health equity. The awards ceremony will be held at the 2024 Annual Conference in Yakima, WA on Thursday, October 10, 2024. Congrats to Faisa!