Presented by The CHP Group
In proud partnership with Northwest Regional Primary Care Association
Climate resiliency refers to a community’s ability to anticipate, prepare for, respond to, and recover from the adverse impacts of climate change. These impacts can manifest in various ways, from extreme weather events and rising temperatures to the spread of infectious diseases and altered ecological patterns. Health centers, with their focus on community well-being, are uniquely positioned to address both the immediate and long-term health consequences of these changes.
In an era marked by the escalating impacts of climate change, building resiliency has become a critical aspect of ensuring the well-being of communities around the globe. Community Health Centers are among the frontline responders and innovators in these efforts, playing a pivotal role in enhancing climate resiliency and safeguarding the health of populations.
In this insightful 90-minute conversation, our panelists will delve into crucial topics, including addressing vulnerabilities in physical infrastructure, anticipating the needs of our communities, fostering partnerships to enhance protection for at-risk populations, and emphasizing practical solutions. Furthermore, they will share valuable resources and opportunities available to community health centers, providing essential insights on how we can bolster our climate resilience.
Meet Our Keynote & Panelists
Aparna Bole, MD serves as Special Expert in the Office of the Director at the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, and a Senior Consultant in the HHS Office of Climate Change and Health Equity. She is an Adjunct Associate Professor of Pediatrics at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, and practiced for many years as a primary care pediatrician in Cleveland, Ohio prior to joining HHS. She is particularly interested in the intersection between environmental stewardship, environmental justice, and pediatric public health. Dr. Bole is past chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics Council on Environmental Health and Climate Change, and a former co-chair of the Healthcare Without Harm board of directors. She has previously served in numerous other environmental health leadership roles, including as a member of the State of Ohio’s Lead Advisory Council, the Lead Safe Cleveland Coalition’s steering committee, the Trust for Public Land’s Ohio Advisory Council, and the Ohio Environmental Council’s board of Directors.
Jess Hinshaw is the Director of Environmental Health in the Population Health Division at the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC). In her role, she works alongside community health centers engaging in environmental health work and oversees initiatives that build climate resilience, promote learning about the health impacts of climate change, and address environmental justice issues. Jess’s work has focused on community-based participatory research in public health and environmental health. Before coming to NACHC, Jess held various positions with AMOS Health and Hope in Managua, Nicaragua focused on community based primary health care. She also served as the Health Equity Evaluator at the New Mexico Department of Health in response to COVID-19. In addition to her role at NACHC, Jess leads a course on Monitoring and Evaluation for non-profits and civil society organizations at the United Nations University for Peace, in San Jose, Costa Rica. Jess received her Master of Public Health from Vanderbilt University and is also currently a doctoral candidate at the George Washington University.
Laura Byerly, MD has been with Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center since 1994 and currently serves as the Chief Medical Officer. Dr. Byerly’s medical expertise and practice is focused on family medicine and public health, and she holds a deep commitment to serving the communities of Virginia Garcia.
Dr. Byerly’s expertise is highly valued in the state, during the pandemic she served on the Western States COVID Advisory Committee as only one of two representatives from the state of Oregon – handpicked by former Governor Kate Brown to represent the state. In the past, she has chaired CareOregon’s Quality Improvement Committee and was Co-chair for the clinical oversight group at OCHIN. She has also co-chaired the Yamhill Community Care Organization clinical advisory panel. Prior to joining Virginia Garcia, Dr. Byerly worked at the Portland Adventist Medical Center, St. Vincent Hospital Urgent Care Centers, and in Portland State University’s Student Health Service.
Dr. Byerly obtained her Doctor of Medicine degree from Oregon Health Sciences University, School of Medicine (1990) and completed post-doctoral training (1993) at Oregon Health Sciences University Family Medicine Residency Training Program in Portland, Oregon.
Meet Our Moderator
Seth Doyle is Director of Strategic Initiatives at Northwest Regional Primary Care Association (NWRPCA). In this role, Seth oversees NWRPCA’s community health improvement program and has broad responsibilities related to social determinants of health and health equity, health policy, workforce development, community health workers, vulnerable populations, and public health partnerships.
Seth serves as NWRPCA’s subject matter expert on migrant health and directs the planning for the annual Western Forum for Migrant and Community Health. He also serves on the Agricultural Worker Health Committee for the National Association of Community Health Centers and is a past Chair of this Committee.
In addition to his role with NWRPCA, Seth has served on the board of directors of the Washington State Public Health Association (WSPHA) since 2014 and he is the current President of WSPHA.
Prior to joining NWRPCA, Seth worked as a Health Educator and Case Manager for the Urban League of Rhode Island. Seth holds a master’s degree in Latin American Studies and a public health minor from the University of New Mexico.
