Staff
Sarah Blattler, Operations & Membership Manager | sarah.blattler@oraap.org
" Fairness does not mean that everyone gets the same. Fairness means that everyone gets what they need."
~ Rick Riordan, The Red Pyramid
Sarah coordinates American Academy of Pediatrics state chapter membership and operations. She enjoys networking with members, partners, and vendors who share the OPS mission to promote the optimal health and development of children and youth.
Sarah's background in operations and practice management was strengthened by seventeen years as the owner-operator of a medical massage clinic, and five years as the Marketing Director and Program Manager at a busy Portland physical therapy clinic. She graduated from Whitman College with a degree in Biology. This liberal arts and science education gave Sarah a deep appreciation for creative and critical thinking, and a commitment to lifelong learning.
Kristin Dreves, Adolescent Health Project Manager | Kristin.Dreves@oraap.org
“Let not your heart be afraid to give, for it's only with giving you learn to live”
~ Shahastra, The Magical Rainbow Man
Kristin manages the Adolescent Health Project for the Oregon Pediatric Society. Her primary aim is to promote positive mental health outcomes and prevent teen suicide and substance abuse.
Kristin received a Bachelor’s degree in Film from the University of Southern California and a Master of Public Health from Portland State University. She completed her MPH field experience at Oregon Health Authority, focusing on adolescent health promotion. Prior to OPS, she was the Program Manager for MIKE, a health education and youth development program for low-resource high school youth in the Portland Metro Area.
Kristin is passionate about adolescent health because this is a crucial period of human development. Youth are developing a sense of autonomy and setting up behaviors and attitudes that will influence them as independent adults. Kristin enjoys finding opportunities to empower youth and incorporate youth voice whenever possible, backed by a deep-seated belief that youth are the experts on their own experience and can make meaningful contributions in their community.
This photo was taken on Halloween, when ten year old Kristin decided to dress up as “an adult,” hence the hat, lipstick, and serious expression. Although she wanted to be all grown up at an early age, that didn’t keep her from eating her Halloween pumpkin cookie!
Candace Grimm, Project Coordinator | candace.grimm@oraap.org
“I’ll love you forever,
I’ll like you for always,
as long as I’m living
my baby you’ll be.”
-Robert Munsch, Love You Forever
Candace facilitates the START Program for the Oregon Pediatric Society. She graduated from Portland State University with her degree in Community Health Education and looks forward to expanding statewide community engagement surrounding child and adolescent health.
Prior to OPS, Candace interned for the MIKE Program, a youth-oriented health education program, and volunteered extensively for Be The Match/The National Marrow Donor Program. While living in Germany, she also volunteered with the Global Aid Network (GAiN).
Candace believes that by educating and informing communities of health resources, we can empower them to make lasting healthy choices. Through her work as a youth health mentor, she has seen firsthand the profound effect early intervention has on children and adolescents.
The quote from Robert Munsch’s Love You Forever is especially meaningful to Candace because her mother read the book to her as a child. When she left for college, Candace’s mother snuck a copy with a note into her suitcase. To this day it’s one of her most cherished possessions.
Julie Scholz, Executive Director | julie.scholz@oraap.org
“Now listen, and I’ll tell you something: the day may come when the lions get sick. And if you don’t help the other animals now, the lions may find themselves left all alone when they are in trouble. That often happens to proud people.”
~ Hugh Lofting, The Story of Doctor Dolittle, 1920
Julie brings to OPS professional work experience in nonprofit management; health research and promotion; marketing and public affairs; international video production; and children, youth and adult experiential learning, mentoring, and psychosocial trainings. She attended Lewis & Clark College and U.C. Berkeley for undergraduate studies and went to graduate school when she returned to Portland.
Julie’s goal is for people of all ages and backgrounds to make healthy, informed, and effective decisions by accessing internal and external sources of support. She advocates for positive attachments and resiliency in children to build strong human foundations, and she knows it is possible to overcome adverse childhood experiences. Her professional toolbox includes relationship building and collaboration, training and coaching, strategic planning and communication, enthusiasm, stories, and the power of the imagination.
Julie wishes she remembered what made her child-self smile in delight. The ice-cream truck? Her grandmother’s arrival? Or perhaps she was imitating Jerry Lewis!
