Expert Resource Directory

Medical Center in Oakland, Kaiser Permanente's first hospital location. He is responsible for tertiary care services planning and development for Oakland's 200,000 health plan members as well as members from around the Northern California region. Preston has been at the Oakland Medical Center for more than 35 years. While maintaining a part-time clinical practice of Obstetrics and Gynecology, he has previously served as Chief of Service and Physician-in Chief before his current position, assumed in 1997. Preston is an enthusiastic cook. He was supported by Kaiser Permanente leadership at Oakland Medical Center to start a farmers market for the benefit of staff, members, visitors, farmers and the surrounding community. The success of this first market has inspired Kaiser Permanente employees at multiple facilities in six states and the District of Columbia to create their own markets. The innovation and spirit of the local facility sponsors has resulted in different market models, community outreach and a program-wide focus on healthy eating. Preston has personally supported the development of many of these markets. More recently, he has worked with Kaiser Permanente and the Community Alliance With Family Farmers to help create a system that sources produce for in-patient meals from small family farmers. He was a member of the 2007-2008 class of Food and Society Policy Fellows.

hundreds of grassroots toxics groups throughout Michigan and the Great Lakes region. She currently directs the Ecology Center's chemical industry initiatives and the Healthy Food in Healthcare Initiative. In her home state of Michigan, Easthope chairs a state-based group focused on Dow Chemical accountability, and serves on the Governor-appointed State of Michigan Green Chemistry Roundtable. She helped launch and serves on the Michigan Healthy Hospital Task Force and spearheaded the founding of the Michigan Network for Children's Environmental Health. A founding member of the international Health Care Without Harm, Easthope directs its work on chemicals policy and co-chairs the Safer Materials workgroup. She is also an active member of the Business NGO Working Group, a member of the Investor Environmental Health Network, and an editor of the New Solutions journal. Easthope holds a Masters Degree in Public Health from the University of Michigan.

as the Community Nutritionist and Native Foods Educator for the Northwest Indian College's Cooperative Extension Department.  As an independent, creative and outspoken American Indian woman, she has developed a new perspective in addressing issues of health and social justice for indigenous peoples.  Her goal is to restore health and well being to her tribe and other Native communities by combining traditional Native food and plant knowledge with modern scientific findings. While studying to be a clinical nutritionist, Valerie began to deepen her awareness and knowledge of the gifts of her Native ancestors. She became less interested in talking about calorie counting, carbohydrates, and protein intake and more driven to get people connected with the source of their foods.  Now, Valerie is committed to creating culturally appropriate health systems in tribal communities and exemplifies dedication to tribal wellness through community-based research that impacts health disparities.  In 2009, she co-authored the book “Feeding the People, Feeding the Spirit: Revitalizing Northwest Coastal Indian Food Culture” which has become a tribute to the movement among tribal people in Western Washington to improve individual, family and community wellness through revitalizing their traditional foods.  From this book, Valerie has developed a basic nutrition curriculum entitled “Honor the Gift of Food” that empowers students to develop their own healthy eating behaviors through sharing modern approaches to a traditional foods diet.  She also creates and designs community gardens as well as researches and writes a monthly column for her blog and community newspaper on local and wild foods of the Pacific Northwest.  In years to come, Valerie will work as the coordinator of the Muckleshoot Food Sovereignty Project to collectively develop innovative and effective ways to build community food security through exploring tribal food assets and access to local and healthy foods. She is a member of the 2011-2013 class of IATP Food and Community Fellows.