Christina joined the NoHLA Board of Directors in 2015. Christina collaborated with NoHLA staff and relied on NoHLA’s expertise while she was working on health care reform implementation as the Children’s Alliance’s Health Policy Director. She was honored to join the Board because of their commitment to social justice, undoing institutional racism, and rooting out systemic injustice. These days, Christina works with the 43 federally recognized tribes in Washington, Oregon and Idaho as the Native Dental Therapy Initiative Project Director for the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board. She loves being able to work with and be inspired by tribal leaders and health providers working collaboratively toward better oral health outcomes for their communities. And she is working to create opportunities for underrepresented groups in the health care field. While she isn’t jet-setting around the Pacific Northwest, she tries to keep up with her daughters (10 and 2). Her husband and their senior citizen dog are in the same boat! They all enjoy spending time together outside, and Christina wishes for more time to read and get more sleep (don’t we all?!).

Christina says “Systems change is an all hands on deck thing. And the time I spend at NoHLA will pay off in the end! It’s an investment in the future. That is what motivates me. I feel like I get to hit the problem from two sides.” We’re thankful for Christina’s expertise and enthusiasm for our work!