Staff

Susan Allan, Director
Responsibilities: Provides oversight of activities with federal, state, tribal and local partner institutions in the six northwestern states; connects the Center with other activities and programs within the University; and links Center activities with significant national public health activities and organizations, including public health accreditation, public health systems research, and emergency preparedness.
Background: Dr. Allan has degrees from Harvard Medical School, Harvard Law School and Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health. She is Board Certified in Preventive Medicine and General Public Health. Prior to coming to the Center, she was State Public Health Director in Oregon (2005-2008) and Health Director for Arlington County, Virginia (1987-2005).
Contact: susallan@u.washington.edu 206-616-9245

Luann D'Ambrosio, Assistant Director
Responsibilities: Manages the Center's day-to-day project operations and represents the Center on the national Coordinators Network. In addition she leads the Center's evaluation activities.
Background: Ms. D'Ambrosio has more than 16 years of experience as a public health professional focusing on health promotion and disease prevention education and training programs. Ms. D'Ambrosio received her Master's in Education from Seattle University. Prior to coming to the Center, she was manager of professional education programs at the Harborview Injury Prevention and Research Center, where she designed, coordinated, and evaluated a number of community-based programs.
Contact: ldambr@u.washington.edu 206-543-2659

Fred Abrahamson, Fiscal Advisor and Contract Manager
Responsibilities: Provides fiscal advice and contract management for NWCPHP's investigators, including monitoring grants and the development and processing of all sub-contracts. He also assists the NWCPHP Centers' Operation Manager on various fiscal and budget matters to support all fund sources managed by the Center.
Background: Mr. Abrahamson graduated with a BA in Health Education from Central Washington University. Prior to coming to the University of Washington, Mr. Abrahamson was the Director of Financial services at the Washington State Department of Health, where he worked for 30 years.
Contact: fa@u.washington.edu 206-616-8410

Janell Blackmer, Center Operations Manager
Responsibilities: Provides grant and contract management for NWCPHP's investigators, including fiscal monitoring, grant reporting, subcontract negotiation, and budget development. She also supervises NWCPHP support staff, including the hiring, training and management of regular, hourly, and temporary staff.
Background: Mrs. Blackmer graduated with a BA in Sociology and Mathematics from the University of Washington.
Contact: jla@u.washington.edu 206-616-9414

Rick Bruch, Web Computing Specialist
Responsibilities: Manages the Center Web site; creates and manages Web and online Center educational offerings; provides Web conferencing/iLinc user support.
Background: Mr. Bruch worked for several years in the UW Department of Health Services on academic Web resources.
Contact: rbruch@u.washington.edu 206-543-3696

Lisa Garberson, Evaluation Specialist
Responsibilities: Provides evaluation support for NWCPHP.
Background: Ms. Garberson earned an MBA from Willamette University and a PhD in Research, Evaluation, Measurement, and Statistics from the University of Georgia.
Contact: lgarbers@u.washington.edu 206-616-9567

Katherine Hall, Editor
Responsibilities: Managing editor of Northwest Public Health.
Background: Ms. Hall has worked in the UW School of Public Health since 1999, previously as communication director of the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences. She has three decades of experience as a writer and editor for King County-Metro, a Seattle environmental consulting firm, and newspapers in Georgia, Michigan, New Mexico, and Washington. She is completing her PhD in the UW Department of Communication.
Contact: kjhall@u.washington.edu

Hsio-Ying Lo, Program Coordinator
Responsibilities: Supports the administrative and financial management activities of NWCPHP and its Northwest Regional Network. She also supports center operations, maintains and manages the center databases, and does event planning and coordination.
Background: Ms. Lo is from Taiwan. She majored in accounting in Taiwan and received a certificate of Medical Billing from Edmonds Community College.
Contact: hsiol@u.washington.edu 206-543-3136

Sarah Paliulis, Web Computing Specialist
Responsibilities: Provides support for the NWCPHP Web conferencing/iLinc application and learning management system.
Background: Before joining NWCPHP, Ms. Paliulis worked at the University of North Carolina School of Pharmacy supporting instructional technology and distance learning applications.
Contact: paliulis@u.washington.edu 206-616-9233

Missie Thurston, Public Information Specialist
Responsibilities: Carry out strategic public relations programs, creating communication materials that accurately portray the NWCPHP image, brand and mission.
Background: Ms. Thurston has written and produced for television, radio, print, internet and bound publication. She holds Bachelor's degrees in English Literature and Journalism Mass Communications from St. Michael's College.
Contact: missie@u.washington.edu 206-221-3862

Candace Tkachuck, Research and Training Specialist
Responsibilities: Supports research and training efforts at NWCPHP.
Background: Before joining NWCPHP, Ms. Tkachuck worked for the Department of Health Services as the assistant to the departmental chair. She has also worked in the public school system.
Contact: cyt@u.washington.edu 206-685-2947

Trudy San Jose White, Program Operations Specialist
Responsibilities: Supports the administrative and financial management activities of the NWCPHP and the Northwest Regional Network, including providing logistical coordination and implementation of on-site trainings and meetings.
Background: Ms. White has 17 years experience in the University setting involving event planning, fiscal management, and customer relations.
Contact: sanjose@u.washington.edu 206-685-2931