This year, with Roe v Wade no longer enshrined, we have seen an unprecedented-this-century barrage on comprehensive reproductive healthcare.
People are losing access to the vital cancer screenings, contraception, infection treatment and abortion services that they depend upon.
Planned Parenthood Columbia Willamette held the line. They stepped up, increased capacity and continued to innovate in the ways that they deliver care.
Human Centric Media is especially proud to partner with PPCW in this challenging atmosphere because the story of this team, the way their talents and commitment protect our community, shines so brightly. And while we weren’t surprised to find them resolute, the way this organization has built a culture of resilience, where people start out as volunteers and go on to build decades-long careers, is truly remarkable.
Several members of PPCW’s senior leadership team joined us to reflect on their work.
Chief Development Officer Scott Palmer told us about, as a young man, driving into the city for his first HIV test, and being greeted with an abundance of care and empathy that made him feel more comfortable discussing his sexual health. “It was remarkable and has stuck with me my entire adult life,” he said.
The consistency of this care, the joy PPCW takes in delivering it excellently, seems to be what gives it such staying power.
Chief Medical Operating Officer Dr. Kate Shaw emphasized the vital nature of these services. Medicaid cuts and rising healthcare costs mean that for many people, Planned Parenthood provides their only access to vital, often life-saving support. And that demand is only rising.
The team consistently shared this concern for patients, and a commitment to greeting them with love and understanding. “A place where they feel included .. where they can come and trust that they’re going to get the best care, without judgement .. and they can bring their whole selves,” Dr. Shaw said.
Being PPCW’s President and CEO is Dr. Sara Kennedy’s dream job. “I feel very lucky to be running such a strong, innovative, lifesaving organization.”
She took time to note the reality of Planned Parenthood’s work: that while abortion services are critical, lifesaving and integral to safe obstetric care, they make up only 10% of the org’s total visit volume.
The majority of patients are there for things like cancer screenings, contraception and infection treatment.
Chief External Affairs Officer Christopher Coburn got his start at Planned Parenthood as an outreach educator in Montana. Part of what’s special about PPCW, he explained, is that they get to lead – showing people what it can look like when their focus is matched with supportive laws and a passionate team.
“This moment really calls to us to not only continue to do what we've been doing for 60+ years, but to think about the future, and how to grow to meet the need that we know is there,” Chris said.
Vancouver Health Center Manager Cat Dole acknowledged that while the atmosphere has been extra tense this year, the beauty of the people who choose to work at Planned Parenthood is that they’re built for resilience.
“We have had to be resilient before and we will be resilient again and again and again, even when there’s added stress and tension,” she said.
When you spend time with these people, ask them about what motivates them, and explore the impact of their work, you are filled with the same belief.
Planned Parenthood Columbia Willamette isn’t going anywhere.
It’s fitting for Human Centric Media to join them in this statement today, when so much of what we believe in is on the line. This kind of challenge doesn’t just make people stronger, it shows them who they truly are.
