WOU Community Health + Polk County COVID-19 Project
The WOU Community Health + Polk County COVID-19 Project is a collaborative effort among community health faculty and students, Polk County Public Health, and other community partners to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Our Goals
Our primary goal is to provide coordinated communication outreach and engagement efforts that ensure vulnerable members of Polk County have access to accurate and timely information to protect their health and safety.
Prepare and coordinate community health student contact tracing team to support Polk County Public Health.
Design and implement health communication and community outreach and engagement strategies for vulnerable populations.
Provide real-time data to support contact tracing and COVID-19 case prevention efforts in Polk County and across Oregon.
Project Milestones
2022
- June The Covid-19 Project reaches it’s 2 year anniversary.
- March Our team partnered with the WOU Library and Art Department to utilize the Communities for Immunity Grant to promote Covid-19 vaccine information through local libraries.
- January – March Our team co-hosted vaccine events throughout Polk County with community partners.
2021
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December 10 Our team hosted the second commuity health fair event, with more information and resources and distributed 503 vaccine doses.
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November 19 Our team hosted a community health fair event and distributed 285 vaccines.
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October 11OPHA invited panel presentation & poster presentations: Data Brief and Family Thrive Kit poster.
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May 27 Our team presents at the WOU Academic Excellence Showcase Presidential Plenary Session.
- January 1 Oregon Health Authority Community Outreach and Engagament funding extended to December 31st.
2020
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October 12Received Outstanding Student Poster Award at the annual Oregon Public Health Association conference.
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July 10Team begins contact tracing for Polk County.
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July 1Received Oregon Health Authority Community Outreach and Engagement funding.
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June 15 Hired project coordinators and first group of contact tracers.
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June 1Signed contract with Polk County to begin contact tracing.
Our Team

Emily Vala-Haynes, PhD, MPH
Project Co-Director

Megan Patton-Lopez, PhD, RDN
Project Co-Director

Maddie Dirren, B.S., WOU Alumna
Project Coordinator

Jenny Leon-Perez, B.S., WOU Alumna
Project Coordinator

McKenzie Fisher
Hometown: Dallas

Val Garibay
Hometown: Salem

Jessica Garibay Ochoa
Hometown: Salem

Blanca Jimenez
Hometown: Portland

Kailey Knospe
Hometown: Salem

Leah Maraia
Hometown: Beaverton

Hannah McCallister
Hometown: Grand Ronde

Fabi Palma Vasquez
Hometown: Eugene

Rebecca Zharkoff
Hometown: Gervais

Emily Synegal
Hometown: Salem

Esmirna Tencos Mendoza
Hometown: Hillsboro

Pricila Tinajero
Hometown: Salem
Former Interns

Sarah Carter

Sonia Castaneda Felix

Adam Chynoweth

Kelli Conopa

Ezra Esch

Gaby Esquivel

Cody Gray

Mariana Guerrero

Sherwine Guillaume

Samantha Harris

Allison Kirk

Rachel Koljesky

Queenie Love Agbayani

Jesus Maciel Abarca

Rosa Magana Solano
Karissa McClanahan

Sarah Meyer

Laura Moran

Krysten Perez

Jackie Rodriguez

Rin Schwanke

Kennedy Suhr

Morgan Stueve
Hometown: Turner