Ben Danielson, MD, Keynote Speaker

Medical Director, Odessa Brown Children’s Clinic

Benjamin Danielson was in the foster care system as a young child. He spent most of his childhood in a low income neighborhood of Washington DC, and finished high school in rural Montana. Along with two sisters, he was raised by an amazing single mom who instilled in him an appreciation for the value of education and a desire to be a contributing member of the community. In college he decided being a doctor was a good melding of scientific and human service interests. 

After finishing his undergraduate studies in Boston, Dr Danielson’s medical education, residency and career have all been spent in Seattle. Upon completing residency he initially combined a number of professional activities: attending pediatrician at Harborview Medical Center, community pediatrician in a new clinic in West Seattle, directing a teen clinic at Cleveland High School, running a community pediatric sports medicine clinic, and attending physician stints at Seattle Children’s Hospital. Dr Danielson then became the Odessa Brown Children's Clinic's medical director in 1999. As the inaugural Sinegal Endowed Chair since 2005, he tries to uphold the clinic’s enduring tradition of growing wellness through quality care with dignity, community engagement, honoring culture and sustaining trust. 

He continues to regularly attend on the inpatient service at Seattle Children’s Hospital, working mostly with the most medically complex hospitalized children. Dr Danielson also continues to participate in community advocacy and health promotion. He serves on the state’s health benefit exchange, the state’s commission on African American health affairs, King County’s board of health, various boards of philanthropic organizations, and community groups dedicated to health issues. 

Dr Danielson believes that an opportunity to serve an individual or a community is a cherished privilege. He also ascribes to the truism that health is more than healthcare and that any healthcare provider who strives to improve health must be active beyond the realm of their medical practice.

He graduated from Washington State University in 1975 with a degree in communications, and then immediately began working at KOMO Radio as a news reporter and anchor.

Since then, he has worked in Seattle radio and television for 41 years as a reporter, producer, host and executive producer. He has won nine Northwest Region Emmy Awards. In 2013, he was inducted in the National Association of Television Arts and Sciences Northwest Chapter’s Silver Circle for his television work.

Mr. Cerna is a community servant, proudly helping bring breast cancer awareness to “communities of color,” as a Pink Tie Guy for Susan G. Komen Puget Sound. His ongoing service to Seattle’s Latino community includes serving as the co-chair of the Plaza Roberto Maestas Capital Campaign to build a 42 million dollar mixed-use affordable housing community on Seattle’s Beacon Hill. In April, he was featured as the keynote speaker at the Governor’s Summit on Race and Equity and in June, the US-Mexico
Chamber of Commerce NW Chapter honored him for his coverage of Washington State’s Latino Community which included his one-hour documentary Latinos: The Changing Face of Washington.

His favorite story is his profile of World War II veteran Vernon Baker, an African-American soldier who was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. The story explained how segregation and racism denied Baker the military’s highest honor which he finally received fifty years after his battlefield heroics saved countless lives in Italy. The story received a Northwest Region Emmy Award for Outstanding Public Affairs Segment.

We welcome Mr. Cerna to Navigating Cultural Differences as our Master of Ceremonies and panel mode

Alan Chun, MD

Medical Director, International Community Health Services (ICHS)

Dr. Alan Chun was born and raised in Honolulu, and got his medical degree and Family Medicine residency training with the University of Hawaii. He has worked in community health clinics his entire career, having spent the first 12 years at a CHC in Hawaii serving mostly the native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander population. He moved to Seattle over 20 years ago to take on the position of Medical Director at International Community Health Services (ICHS). Here he’s seen the agency grow from one small medical clinic to over 6 sites in King County offering both medical and dental services, as well as other enabling services. These enabling services allow a diverse, mostly Asian immigrant, limited English speaking population to access health care services that would otherwise be overwhelmingly confusing or impenetrable. He is currently the Asst. Medical Director for the International District site of ICHS. 

While he enjoys the broad scope of ages and problems that family medicine presents, he also ended up sub-specializing in geriatrics. He has worked in a PACE (Program of All-inclusive Care to Elders) program locally, and also works closely with Legacy House, an assisted living residence co-located with the ID clinic. His interest in global medicine is also fulfilled working with ICHS’ population that is from many parts of the developing world.

Darlene Eckert, MSW 

Retired, Volunteer Disability Rights Advocate

Darlene Eckert has a Master's Degree in Social Work and is a long-time disability rights advocate.  She has held positions on several disability-related committees in the Portland community.  After receiving her degree from Portland State University in 2007, Ms. Eckert developed a class curriculum on Disability and Gender, which she then taught at PSU for three years.  Her first career, before returning to college, had been in healthcare at Providence St. Vincent Hospital in Portland, Oregon, specifically in Rehab Services.  

Ms. Eckert has lived with a disability since 1954, when she was stricken by the polio virus at the age of three, just six months before the vaccine was released.  

Since retiring in 2011, she has done volunteer work at Oregon Office of Disability & Health (OODH) at Oregon Health & Science University and has worked as a personal advocate for Elders in Action for eight years.  Most recently, Darlene has been working with CARE Oregon on the Give2Get program; the Food RX Program, which distributes food from the Urban Gleaners to six buildings downtown; and the Housing with Services pilot, which responds to the needs of nine low-income buildings housing seniors and people with disabilities.  

She has been both a panel speaker and guest speaker at various conferences over the years.  Ms. Eckert is honored to be here with you today as a member of this important panel of experts.

Olga Gerberg

Program Services Manager, Familias en Acción

For the past twenty years Olga has worked as an advocate for health access serving as a link between healthcare providers and low-income individuals. Olga graduated from la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México in Mexico City as a registered nurse and from Portland Community College as a Chemical Dependency Counselor. As a bilingual and bicultural health professional she has worked with Catholic Charities, El Programa Hispano, and Cascade Management. Currently, Olga works as the Program Service Manager at Familias en Acción. Olga also has extensive experience in working with schools, missionary groups, community service clubs, and with immigrant farm labor families.

Her passion in life is to serve and to empower Latinos through education and support. She believes that education is the best gift we can provide to our community members. Olga currently trains health professionals and community leaders in Palliative Care and Empodérate, a cultural competency program.

Among many accomplishments, Olga is the founder of the first Spanish-speaking Kiwanis community service club in the country. She serves as an Advisory Board member for STOP Colorectal Cancer (CRC) with Kaiser Permanente and Oregon Partnership for Cancer Control (OPCC) Breast Health Task Force. She serves on the Board of Directors for Community Action Center and Human Solutions. Olga is currently on her second 4 year term as a City Council Member for the City of Sandy, Oregon.

Bridgette Hempstead

CEO and Founder, Cierra Sisters, Inc.

Bridgette Hempstead is the Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Cierra Sisters, Inc.

Cierra Sisters, Inc. is an African American Breast Cancer organization which uniquely provides support, education and advocacy about women’s breast and health issues.  Bridgette’s personal, hands-on approach has and is changing the lives of women all across the country. Her determination to educate and empower others comes out of her own experience with breast cancer.  A two-time, 19-year survivor, Bridgette received her diagnosis on her 35th birthday.  At that time, she found no resources for African American women.  Therefore, she became the solution, and Cierra Sisters, Inc. was born.  She found that women’s fear of breast cancer was due largely to the lack of knowledge.  As the late author and entertainer, Earl Nightingale once stated, “Whenever we’re afraid, it’s because we don’t know enough.  If we understood enough, we would never be afraid.”  Inspired by Mr. Nightingale’s words, Bridgette chose the African word, “Cierra,” which means “knowing” to identify the community resource and educational organization which she began in 1996.

Cierra Sisters is helping to change the way members of our community think about cancer by taking the fear out of the word cancer and replacing it with knowledge, which ultimately leads to personal empowerment.  Bridgette has taken a larger step as she has moved her message with a global approach.  Her recent trip to Uganda has brought the message to Africa, and she continues to step strong in the direction to reach men and women globally.

Paul Iarrobino

Owner, True Path Consulting NW

Paul Iarrobino is the owner of True Path Consulting NW. He is an engaging and skilled coach and facilitator, with over thirty years of experience developing and managing community partnerships. He has an extensive background in designing, delivering, and evaluating outreach and marketing strategies. 

He has helped launch several diversity initiatives and trainings to create awareness, acceptance, and advocacy for change. As a storyteller, he helps individuals and groups, small and large, discover their voice for more authentic and meaningful relationships and connections. 

Paul is well known for his leadership and advocacy in the LGBTQ elder community. He is one of the founding members of SAGE Metro Portland, and has received numerous awards for his innovative leadership.

Andrew Kritovich, MA, MHP, LMHC

Clinical Director/Mental Health Therapist, Lutheran Community Services NW

Andrew Kritovich was born in Lviv, Ukraine; he came to the USA as religious refugee in 1999 together with his family. He holds a Master of Arts degree in Counseling Psychology from the Northwest University. Andrew is working for Lutheran community Services Northwest as Clinical Director and he is licensed by the State of Washington as a Mental Health Counselor.

Andrew has more than 20 years of experience working in a variety of settings focusing on counseling, client advocacy and community empowerment for refugees, immigrants, minority population, inmates of the penitentiary system, individuals without permanent housing, victims of the domestic violence, substance abuse and other vulnerable population. Andrew has done individual and group counseling, crisis intervention, legal assistance in immigration issues as well as client advocacy, such as support in obtaining a permanent housing, supplemental security income, and resolving situations where Child Protective Services were involved.

Working for many years with clients of different ethnic, religious and racial backgrounds, Andrew has developed a sensitive multicultural approach in addressing clients’ needs. He is fluent in Ukrainian, Russian and English languages.

Indra Neelameggham

Board Member, Salt Lake Interfaith Roundtable

Indra Neelameggham emigrated from India to the United States in 1983. Her background is mass communication and technical writing, and she has experience in computer programming. She enjoys reading and writing on many subjects. Inherent people skills and any ability to communicate on any subject made her gravitate toward teaching computer technology, which has helped her travel widely.

Those who have heard her lectures and workshops on Indian culture and Hinduism regard her to be truly one of the most knowledgeable persons on these topics in the region. She is a much sought after speaker and panelist on these subjects. Indra has a skillful way of translating deep philosophical concepts into ideas of day to day experience. 

Known as Indra-mami or Indra Aunty to most young people of Indian Heritage living in Utah, she and her husband Neale have been very involved in the Sri Ganesha Hindu Temple and India Cultural Center of Utah located in South Jordan.  She is also very active in matters of concern in the state – in 2013 she was asked to offer a prayer at Utah Governor Gary Herbert’s inauguration, making her the first Hindu and the first woman to offer a prayer at any Utah gubernatorial inauguration ceremony.

She worked very closely with Utah Issues Center for Poverty Research and Action, an advocacy group. She was active with the 3R's Board of the Salt Lake County School system and instrumental in teacher training and pupil awareness on religious diversity and fundamental rights. 

She is currently on the Board of the Salt Lake Interfaith Roundtable and has been active in its affairs since its inception during the Winter Olympics of 2002. Indra also works with various non-profit services including providing translator services and accounting and tax services for refugees.

Kathy Perko, MS, PNP

Program Director, Bridges Palliative Care Program, Doernbecher Children’s Hospital

Kathy Perko received her BSN from the University of Portland, Oregon and started her nursing career at the Children’s Hospital in Seattle.  She spent eight years there, focusing in pediatric oncology with a special interest in children with brain tumors.  She received her MS/PNP from University of California-San Francisco with a focus on supporting children and families through the end of life.

Kathy returned to the Pacific Northwest and has been working in Portland for the past 19 years.  She has transitioned from pediatric oncology to palliative care, and is a founding member and Program Director of Bridges Palliative Care Program at Doernbecher Children’s Hospital.  The Bridges Program sees patients from pre-natal diagnosis through young adulthood.

Kathy is a recipient of a Cambia Sojourns Award.  She is currently serving on the Oregon Palliative Care and Quality of Life Interdisciplinary Advisory Council, representing the needs of children and families.  Kathy is a gifted educator, combining clinical practice and child and family stories to inspire those learning about pediatric palliative care.  She is a frequent speaker for medical and nursing students as well as providing community-based education.  She is on the national faculty for ELNEC and EPEC-Pediatrics.

Alison Perry, MS, LPC

Founder and Executive Director, Central Oregon Veterans Ranch

Alison Perry is a Licensed Professional Counselor and founder of the nonprofit Central Oregon Veterans Ranch. Alison began working with veterans after her brother deployed for the invasion of Iraq in 2003 as an Apache helicopter pilot. She worked for the Department of Veterans Affairs in both Portland and Bend, Oregon for a total of six years. During this time she witnessed the challenges of both urban and rural veterans diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. She served on the PTSD Clinical Team in Portland and started the first group for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans in Central Oregon in 2008. In Central Oregon she also worked closely with Vietnam, Korean and WWII Veterans. This experience increased her awareness of the impact of trauma across the lifespan and inspired her interest in end of life care issues for veterans. 

It was this work that led to Ms. Perry’s vision of Central Oregon Veterans Ranch, a 19-acre working ranch in the heart of Central Oregon that plans to provide end of life care to veterans in an Adult Foster Home, with an active volunteer program engaging veterans from the community in agriculture projects, peer support and accessing resources. Ms. Perry has completed programs with Sacred Art of Living Center in Bend, Oregon, including their Sacred Art of Living and Dying series, facilitated talks with Oregon Humanities in a program called Talking About Dying, and currently works closely with the national organization Opus Peace. 

Ms. Perry has a passion for working with combat veterans and bringing awareness to their unique end of life process and potential for healing. 

Bruce C. Smith, MD, FACP

Executive Medical Director, Regence BlueShield of Washington

Bruce provides medical leadership to ensure clinical integrity and works to improve cost, quality, and outcomes for more than 1 million Regence health plan members across Washington State. He also provides oversight for Government Programs (Medicare Advantage and Federal Employee Programs) for Regence health plans in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Utah and directs the Personalized Care Support program – the health plan’s palliative care program.

Bruce is a graduate of the University of Washington School of Medicine and completed his residency in internal medicine at Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle. He practiced office-based primary care for 20 years as his practice evolved from general internal medicine to full-time geriatrics and palliative care.  He later joined Group Health Cooperative in Seattle leading the medical group for two years before becoming the Medical Director for Government Programs and Network Services. Bruce joined Regence in late 2014 to support their regional Government Programs and Medicare Advantage work and to serve as Regence’s Executive Medical Director for Washington State.  In 2015 he expanded his responsibilities to include management of the Personalized Care Support palliative care program.

He is an active member and participant in a wide variety of work groups and boards for medical organizations (including Center to Advance Palliative Care (CAPC), National POLST Paradigm Task Force and the Washington State End-of-Life Coalition) and is also active in the community with the Boy Scouts of America, Lutheran Outdoor Ministries, and as a medical volunteer.