In this episode of What the HEC: Health Education & Conversations, host Dani Gehrke and Marty Carty, OPCA’s Director of Governmental Affairs, trace the Health Center Program back to 1965, when Doctors Jack Geiger and Count Gibson launched the first neighborhood health centers, grounded in community governance, comprehensive care, and a commitment to never turn patients away. The conversation highlights how health centers became a cornerstone of community health, what today’s political environment means for their mission, and the importance of advocacy to sustain care for underserved communities.

About the Guest

Marty Carty, Governmental Affairs Director at the Oregon Primary Care Association, oversees government affairs and policy initiatives for OPCA with responsibility for the organization’s public policy agenda and regulatory engagement on a range of state and federal priorities.

Resources & Links

• Oregon Primary Care Association, www.orpca.org

• Geiger Gibson Program in Community Health, www.geigergibson.publichealth.gwu.edu

• Interested in becoming a CHC advocate? Contact dgehrke@orpca.org

• Sign up for email updates about the podcast here.

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