Laurie Wylie, MA, RN, NP, CEO/Executive Director

Laurie has 30 years of experience working in not-for-profit agencies, 25 years of management experience, and 20 years of experience in health policy, government relations and practice issues. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and nurse practitioner credentials from the University of Washington, and a Master from Columbia University. In addition, she is credentialed in community health nursing, nursing administration, and as a school nurse practitioner.

Laurie's experience in adult education also includes staff development for Group Health Cooperative for the consulting nurse system, the Visiting Nurses Association which included designing continuing education programs, as well as meeting the criteria for continuing education certifications. She is a well-received presenter and teacher at local, state and national conferences, and has taught lay and health professional adults, children K-12, and college students. Areas of interest include Board development, customer service, public policy development and systems theory.

Laurie's clinical focus has included rural and urban underserved, primary care, community health, school health and emergency care. She has worked with urban underserved populations, in rural school districts, and in rural community health.

Jodi Palmer, MSW, Assistant Director

Jodi has over 30 years in health and human services planning and administration. Her skills include community mobilization, group facilitation, conflict resolution, and coalition building across a variety of health and human services. In her current position at WWAHEC, she staffs and participates in a variety of community mobilization efforts. She currently provides coalition assistance to the Western Washington Rural Health Care Cooperative, a group of Critical Access Hospitals. Previous to her work at WWAHEC, Jodi managed mental health services for Pierce County where she staffed the County Mental Health Advisory Board. She has a masters degree from the Community Organization and Services Tract of the University of Washington School of Social Work with a focus on planning and administration.

Christine Lindquist, MPH, Program Manager

Christine manages the Volunteer/Retired Providers (VRP) Program, Project H.O.P.E. (Health Occupations Preparatory Experience), and anything else that falls onto her desk. In her previous lives she has worked in women’s reproductive health, served in Thailand with the U.S. Peace Corps, developed an umbilical cord blood bank and worked in Head Start. She holds a BA from the University of Washington and a Masters in International Public Health from Loma Linda University.

Chris is highly motivated to improve health care access across the state, and to ensure equity of care for all patients. She is always happy to listen to your ideas of how WWAHEC programs in this area could be strengthened.

Board of Directors

Myrtle Mitchell, PhD, RN, President

Dean Emeritus, Professional & Technical Education,
Seattle Central Community College
Bellevue

Kennethia Ishman, MS, President-elect

Group Health Senior’s Silver Sneakers Program
Kent

Jim Lowery, Immediate Past President

Project Director, Green Energy
Centralia

Louise Parker, PhD, MS, Secretary

Director of Extension Family Programs
Washington State University
Puyallup

Rosa Franklin, RN

State Senator
Tacoma

Ki Shinn, M.D.

Rural General Internist
Montessano