Meet our 2024-25 Core Team! The Spokane chapter of the HEC brings together students from WSU, UW, EWU, Whitworth, SCC, and Gonzaga.  We are a member of the Spokane Alliance and have teams working on the following issues.

Lead Organizers

Cara Currier, Andrea Scallon

Child Health Action Team

The Child Health Action Team is committed to promoting the health and wellbeing of children in Spokane. We are predominantly focused on affordable child care, and our community partners include Vanessa Behan, Lumen High School, GLOW Children Early Learning Center, and Spokane Alliance. We are excited to build further connections with organizations and individuals who are passionate about child health. Please reach out to Patrick ([email protected]) and Carolyn ([email protected]) if you are interested in learning more.

Language Access

   

Leads: Haneul Ryou, Ashley Chon

The Language Access Team works to lessen barriers to sufficient language access in healthcare settings for non-English language preference individuals in Washington state by engaging with local partners in Spokane and with legislation at the state level. We collaborate with interpretation organizations, health systems, medical school administrations, and community members to understand challenges for these patients. We believe that effective communication lays the foundation of patient safety and care, and this is reflected in our current projects to provide proper training with interpreter services, improve translated public health outreach, and advocate for dual-language prescription labels. We would love to have you join us! Please reach out to Ashley ([email protected]) or Haneul ([email protected]) if you are interested in learning more.

Food Justice

Leads: Beth Stella, Laura Reynolds

The Food Justice Action Team is committed to addressing food insecurity in Spokane through direct community support and educational outreach. We aim to assist with food distribution for vulnerable populations by collaborating with local organizations, and to provide educational programs on topics like the history and context of food insecurity in Spokane, weight bias in medicine, and culturally attuned food practices. Our goal is to promote equitable access to nutritious food and foster a deeper understanding of food justice in our community. Please reach out to Laura ([email protected]) or Beth ([email protected]) if you are interested in learning more.

Harm Reduction

Leads: Kishanee Haththotuwegama, Noushyar Panahpour Eslami

The Harm Reduction Action Team is committed to supporting harm-reduced based community partners in Spokane and engaging future healthcare professionals about the principles of harm reduction to reduce the negative health, social, and legal impacts associated with addiction and drug use. We advocate for policies, programs, and practices that focus on reinforcing positive change and working with people without judgment, coercion, or discrimination. We strive to understand and develop compassion around the realities of social inequalities, including poverty, class, racism, social isolation, past trauma, and sex-based discriminations and how they affect both people’s vulnerability to and capacity for effectively dealing with drug-related harm. If you are interested in learning more about our team's involvement in Spokane, please reach out to Noush ([email protected]) and Kish ([email protected]).

The Harm Reduction team has partnered with Washington Students for Community Health (WSCH) and CHAS Health to develop the homeless accompaniment program

Racial Equity

Leads: Camila Khorrami, Anne Onyali

The Racial Equity Action Team is committed to addressing racial health disparities in Spokane through intentional action, education and advocacy. We advocate for the integration of racial equity discussions into the curriculum, in order to better equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to provide culturally relevant and patient-centered care. Additionally, we aim to provide health services and disseminate health education to underserved minority populations, in collaboration with local community-based organizations. Please reach out to Anne ([email protected]) and Camila ([email protected]) if you are interested in learning more.

Spokane Alliance Delegate

Katie VanBockern

As the Spokane Alliance Delegate, I hope to strengthen our collective efforts to promote health equity and social justice across Spokane County. Representing a diverse coalition of community groups, the Spokane Alliance excels in bridging divides and fostering leadership through direct, relationship-based engagement. I am committed to amplifying voices from every corner of our community and driving actionable change on pressing health issues. By harnessing the power of collaboration and listening to the needs of our community, I believe we can build inclusive, solution-oriented partnerships that address disparities and create lasting impact. Please reach out to Katie ([email protected]) if you have any questions.

College of Nursing Representative

Kanoa Braunger

As The College of Nursing Representative, I work to engage the Spokane College of Nursing in Health Equity Circle events and engagements and also represent the College of Nursing’s values within our core team. I believe that health equity within our community comes from an interprofessional and interdisciplinary approach, and amplifying the voices of those who may not always be heard creates a safer and healthier Spokane. If you have any questions or would like to get involved, please contact kanoa[email protected]

Gonzaga University Representative

Zia Meyers

As the Gonzaga University representative, I bring undergraduate students into the Health Equity Circle community, connecting with the core team and on-campus offices to increase awareness of health disparities and ways to get involved with issues of health equity on and off campus. If you have questions or want to get involved, please reach out at [email protected].