About Us

Strengthening Oregon’s Safety Net Since 2007

Project Access NOW (PANOW) was founded in 2007 to fill gaps in the healthcare system and provide a “safety net to the safety net.” We have continually adapted to changes in the healthcare landscape, focusing on connecting individuals to care and resources and advocating for systemic solutions.

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Resource navigation services provided annually

Mission and Work

Our Mission

Our mission is to create equitable access to whole person care and social services, and to advocate for systemic change.

Why Our Work Matters

Project Access NOW maintains a network of community resources and partners to connect individuals to the social supports they need to get and stay healthy. This work has involved facilitating donated care, assisting with health insurance enrollment, providing premium assistance, and addressing social determinants of health in community settings.

People First

PANOW has always been focused on providing culturally-responsive services and support for communities traditionally underserved by healthcare. A vital factor in the organization’s success has been that staff are representative of those served.

Meet Our Team

Leadership / Executive Team

Tracy Carver, MPA

President and CEO

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Omar Al Rais, MBA, MBChB

Senior Vice President, Operations

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Myrna Valdez

Director, Programs and People

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Rebecca Raab, MS

Director, Communications

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Program Management

Ranisha Isom

Manager, Insurance Enrollment and Payment Support

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Sandra Rivera

Manager, Community Assistance Program

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Chloe Dominguez

Manager, Program and Office Logistics

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Brennan Universe

Manager, Executive Assistant and Board Affairs

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Meet Our Board

Executive Committee

Jenny Robinson

Executive Director | Legacy Health Partners

Chair

Juan Ugarte

Medical Operations Department Administrator | Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center

Vice Chair

James Harker

Retired Healthcare Executive

Treasurer

Liberty Pertiwi

Director of Primacy Care Services | Samaritan Health Services

Secretary

Meredith Roberts

Senior Director of Strategic Projects | Purchaser’s Business Group on Health

At-Large Members

Anirudh Padmala, MS

Interim Health Center Executive Director | Multnomah County Community Health Center

Jackie Fabrick

Government Affairs Director | Providence

Jeanne Savage, MD

Chief Medical Officer | Trillium Community Health Plan

Jennifer Chi

Director, Digital Experience | CareOregon

Nichole Melvin, MSN, RN, ACM – RN

Chief Operating Officer – Northwest | Kaiser Sunnyside Medical Center, Kaiser Westside Medical Center

Rebecca Ramsay, BSN, MPH

Chief Executive Officer | Housecall Providers

Board and Committee Service

Project Access NOW believes we can improve the health of our communities and more effectively serve our population if we more accurately reflect those we serve. Therefore, the board and committees strive for diversity in representation including employment background, special skills, and demographic factors (race, age, gender, etc.).

With this goal in mind, we encourage applications from people of color, women, and those in the LGBTQIA+ community. The Board Capacity Committee evaluates the current composition of the board and each committee when recommending new members each year.

PANOW Committees

Board Capacity Committee

Phyusin Myint (Chair)
Juan Ugarte
Meredith Roberts

Finance Committee

James Harker (Chair)
Anirudh Padmala
Jeanne Savage
Nichole Melvin
Henry Vera – Providence Health & Services
Dan Valliere – Asian Health and Service Center

Fundraising and Communication Committee

Liberty Pertiwi
Jackie Fabrick
Jennifer Chi
Dianne Danowski-Smith – Publix Northwest PR
Haleigh Gallegos – Samaritan Health
Amanda Watters – NUMN
Shannon Mayfield-Porter – Comagine

Health System Partner Committee

Legacy Health – Justin Huff (Chair)

Adventist Health – Dr. Terry Johnsson
Kaiser Permanente – Alicia Lee, Stephanie Lizza, and Daniel Hannawalt-Morales
Oregon Health and Science University – Kristi Cushman and Laura Suarez
Providence Health & Services – Shelley Yoder and Megan McAninch-Jones
Hillsboro Medical Center – Scott Schwab and Lisa Fischer

Hospital Association of Oregon – Sierra Canfield

Rebecca Ramsay (Board Liaison)

Interested in board or committee service?

Contact us for more information.