Ann Turner, MD Co-Interim Executive Director (she/her)
Ann Turner graduated from the University of Southern California School of Medicine. She is a board-certified physician in internal medicine and hematology-oncology. She was a founder of South Central Family Health Center, a community health center in Los Angeles, where she was medical director and physician for 12 years. In 1994, she moved to Portland Oregon and joined the staff as Medical Director and primary care physician at Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center, serving migrant and seasonal farmworkers and other low income and vulnerable populations. She held this position for 20 years as Virgiinia Garcia grew from one primary care and a small satellite site to 5 primary care and 6 school-based health centers, providing primary care, mental and behavioral health, dental and pharmacy services to more than 40,000 individuals. She served on the Board of Directors of both the Oregon Primary Care Association and Northwest Primary Care Association. She was a longtime volunteer with the Metropolitan Alliance for Common Good, a broad based community organizing group, advocating for health care reform with the State legislature and other social justice issues. Since retirement, she has been an active member of Oregon PSR’s HCAT team, working on the intersection of climate, health and environmental justice. She has participated in writing several reports including Methane Gas: Health, Safety, Economic and Climate Impacts (http://bit.ly/methanereport-2022), and has been a voice in successfully advocating against new fossil fuel infrastructure projects in the Pacific NW. She represents OPSR in a national coalition, FossilFree4Health that is in process of launching a counter marketing media campaign against the fossil fuel industry.
Regna Merritt, PA Co-Interim Executive Director (she/her)
A retired Physician Assistant, Regna built and directed Oregon PSR’s Healthy Climate Program from 2012-2019. She learned valued principles of Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion while on staff. She worked as co-director of the regional Power Past Coal coalition (2017-2019) and served on leadership teams of Stand Up to Oil, Power Past Fracked Gas, and other local coalitions that successfully prevented the development of new fossil fuel infrastructure in the Pacific Northwest. She enjoyed work with elected officials to maintain a stable climate and establish model policies that protect communities. With Kelly Campbell, she received National PSR’s Visionary Leaders Award in 2019. Regna previously served as Executive Director of Oregon Wild.
Samantha Hernandez, Healthy Climate Program Director (she/her/hers) Portland, OR
Samantha joined Oregon PSR’s staff in May of 2021 as our Climate Justice Organizer and transitioned into the Healthy Climate Program Director role in January of 2024. Her efforts are focused on supporting campaigns and coalitions advocating for climate justice and a just transition. Samantha works to support coalitions such as Stand Up To Oil, Build/Shift, and Oregon PSR’s Healthy Climate Action Team. She graduated from Lewis & Clark College with a bachelor’s degree in hispanic studies and environmental studies. After Hialeah, FL, Samantha considers Portland to be a second home. The enriching friendships she has made while interning at local organizations like Portland Harbor Community Coalition, Portland VOZ, and Growing Gardens has greatly informed her perspectives on the importance of frontline community-led action.
Anna Kahler, Communications Manager, (she/they) Portland, OR
Anna (like sauna) joined Oregon PSR in the summer of 2022 as the communications manager. As a deep nerd she has a love for learning new information and sharing her favorite facts with anyone who will listen. She is excited to support the amazing work Oregon PSR does and amplify their messaging to a broader audience. Anna comes to PSR with 7 years of experience in community organizing in Chicago, IL and Portland, OR. Her organizing work is always centered around community members as she finds great joy in uplifting others and bringing people together to create change. Anna graduated from Lewis and Clark College with a degree in Art History and Political Economy. She finds the visual expression of movements for change to be infinitely fascinating and is excited to apply her knowledge and skills to OPSR’s communication campaigns.
Samantha Paladini, Peace Program Manager, (she/her/hers) Portland, OR
Samantha joined Oregon PSR as the Peace Program Manager in August of 2024. Samantha first joined Oregon PSR in the summer of 2023 as the Program Assistant through Quaker Voluntary Service, a yearlong fellowship based around social justice and intentional community. Sam graduated into the pandemic from Whittier College, CA after studying English and Theatre. She spent time as a mentor for students with disabilities, stage manager, and artist’s assistant before she moved to Boston, MA for her first year with QVS. Sam worked in climate adaptation as the Climate Resilience Hubs Program Coordinator with Communities Responding to Extreme Weather (CREW) through the nonprofit Better Future Project. Samantha is looking forward to continuing her work in climate justice and connecting with Portland’s community to actively bring about equitable change.