INTERVIEWS: HPV Awareness Day + New HPV Research (Photo) - 02/18/26

PORTLAND, Ore. (March 2, 2026) ~ March 4 is HPV Awareness Day, a time to highlight cervical cancer prevention and address persistent myths around Human papillomavirus (HPV), vaccination, and cervical cancer screening. Kaiser Permanente Northwest is offering interviews with Amanda Petrik, PhD, a Portland-based researcher whose work focuses on increasing education about the HPV virus, expanding access to HPV prevention, and reducing long-standing disparities in cervical cancer outcomes.

HPV causes cervical cancer and is also linked to six other cancers, including anal, oropharyngeal (mouth and throat), penile, vulvar, and vaginal cancers. The HPV vaccine is an effective cancer-prevention vaccine available today for both females and males. Yet screening gaps remain: more than half of cervical cancer cases occur among people who were never or rarely screened, with lower screening rates in safety-net clinics that serve low-income and racially diverse populations.

“Cervical cancer is largely preventable, but prevention only works if people can access tools that fit their lives,” said Amanda Petrik, PhD, investigator with the Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research in Portland. “Whether it’s expanding HPV vaccination in school-based health centers or offering self-collected screening as an alternative to a Pap test, our goal is to reduce barriers and prevent cancer before it starts.”

Dr. Petrik is a health services researcher with more than 20 years of experience studying health systems, policy, and cancer prevention in real-world settings, including community and safety-net clinics. Her current National Cancer Institute-funded study, STEP-2, is testing FDA-approved HPV self-sampling kits as a cervical cancer screening option for patients who are due or overdue for screening. The study aims to identify the most effective and cost-efficient ways to implement programs that increase screening rates and reduce disparities as the technology rolls out nationally.

Interviews available:

Amanda Petrik, PhD, health services researcher with the Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research, is available for interviews on Tuesday, March 3 from 10 a.m. to noon and Wednesday, March 4 from 9-10:30 a.m. Contact Karen Vitt to schedule. Contact Karen Vitt to schedule.

Dr. Petrik is prepared to discuss:

• How the HPV vaccine protects against HPV virus and multiple cancers

• Who should get the HPV vaccine and when it’s typically recommended (age 9)

• How HPV self-collection (cervical cancer screening) works and why it may improve screening rates

• Disparities in cervical cancer screening and outcomes

• What Cervical Health Awareness Month means for prevention and public health

About Kaiser Permanente

Kaiser Permanente is committed to helping shape the future of health care. We are recognized as one of America's leading health care providers and not-for-profit health plans. Founded in 1945, Kaiser Permanente has a mission to provide high-quality, affordable health care services and to improve the health of our members and the communities we serve. We currently serve nearly 12.6 million members in 8 states and the District of Columbia. Care for members and patients is focused on their total health and guided by their personal Permanente Medical Group physicians, specialists, and team of caregivers. Our expert and caring medical teams are empowered and supported by industry-leading technology advances and tools for health promotion, disease prevention, state-of-the-art care delivery, and world-class chronic disease management. Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to care innovations, clinical research, health education, and the support of community health. For more information, please visit: about.kaiserpermanente.org.

Seeing Clearly: MLK Day Vision Clinics Serve Clark County (Photo) - 01/23/26

VANCOUVER — Heriberto Molina, 63, received a free eye exam and a prescription for new glasses during a Kaiser Permanente MLK Days of Service vision clinic held Thursday, Jan. 22, in Clark County.

Molina was referred to the clinic by Free Clinics of Southwest Washington and attended the appointment with his daughter, Karen Molina, who helped him get there, communicate his needs, and choose his new glasses. Molina's previous grocery store reading glasses were broken and no longer effective, in part because the vision in each of his eyes is different. Molina said he has three of "the best" daughters and smiled as he credited Karen’s help, adding simply, "She loves me."

"We are very thankful for this opportunity to get care that will help me be healthier and improve my day-to-day life," Molina said. "This is a really good thing for the community and for people who don't have the resources for an eye exam. From the minute we walked in, everyone was so helpful and friendly, and we felt very comfortable."

Kaiser Permanente optometrist Dr. Jeffrey Fries examined Molina and determined he has normal age-related vision changes. He prescribed bifocals to help Molina see clearly both near and far.

"Dr. Fries took time to examine me very well, and I really appreciate that," Molina said. "I like to watch sports on TV. Soccer is my favorite. But I was having trouble seeing and reading things every day, like grocery store labels. I try to live my best life. Laughter makes everything better, and being able to see better will help me every day."

Molina's daughter said his wife, Maricela, will be glad he no longer needs to borrow her glasses. "She'd always tell him, 'Go get your own,'" she said.

Fries said participating in the MLK Days of Service reflects why he chose a career in eye care.

"One of the primary reasons I pursued this work was to help others," Fries said. "A day like today is unique, and I feel fortunate that Kaiser Permanente supports community service events like this."

He added that access to vision care can make a meaningful difference in daily life. "Whether it's glasses or a broader medical concern, the care we provide helps patients drive safely, maintain a job, and better enjoy time with their families."

Kaiser Permanente Vision Essentials held three free vision clinics in Vancouver and Longview around the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, as well as three more in Portland, Clackamas, Ore., and Salem, Ore., and was able to offer 161 patients free eye exams, glasses, and prescriptions if needed.

Volunteers Provide 21,000 Meals Across Clark County For MLK Day (Photo) - 01/20/26

On Monday, Jan. 19, Kaiser Permanente marked its 15th consecutive year of service in Clark County on Martin Luther King Jr. Day as part of its annual MLK Days of Service. During the event at the Clark County Food Bank in Vancouver, Wash., 82 volunteers inspected and repacked 25,200 pounds of food, helping provide approximately 21,000 meals for Clark County neighbors experiencing food insecurity.

The Clark County volunteer effort was one of 56 service projects supported by Kaiser Permanente across Oregon and Southwest Washington as part of its 22nd annual MLK Days of Service. In total, more than 600 volunteers participated regionally, contributing time and labor to address hunger and other social factors that affect community health.

“As Kaiser Permanente Northwest marks more than two decades of service on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we are proud to once again invest in our community by helping provide nutritious food to families and individuals facing food insecurity,” said Wendy Watson, president of Kaiser Permanente Northwest.

Food insecurity remains a persistent challenge for many households in Clark County, with access to nutritious food closely tied to long-term health outcomes. Kaiser Permanente’s continued investment in local volunteer efforts reflects its commitment to building healthier communities in Clark County by addressing both immediate needs and the broader conditions that influence health and well-being.