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2026 Keynote Presentations

Wednesday, October 21

Valdez Bravo, MHA, MBA, FACHE 

We are pleased to welcome Valdez Bravo MHA, MBA, FACHE, President of Health Care for All Oregon (HCAO), as a keynote speaker this year. Since joining the HCAO board in 2018 and stepping into the presidency in 2023, Bravo has been a leading voice in the movement to ensure every Oregonian has access to high‑quality, affordable health care. His keynote will examine the momentum behind Oregon’s health care reform efforts, the power of community advocacy, and the partnerships needed to drive lasting change.

Valdez Bravo, MHA, MBA, FACHE (he/him) joined the board of Health Care for All Oregon in 2018 and has served as President since 2023. Valdez holds a Master in Healthcare Administration and a Master in Business Administration from Baylor University, along with a Bachelor in English from Portland State University. He is a Board Certified Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives. Valdez also served in the Army for eight years as a medical equipment repair technician and then worked for the next 18 years at the Department of Veterans Affairs. In 2022, Valdez joined the leadership team of the Multnomah County Health Department where he currently serves as Deputy Director. He believes that all people should be able to receive comprehensive healthcare, including dental and behavioral health, regardless of their ability to pay, as healthcare is a human right.

 

Thursday, October 22

Kelsey Mueller Wendt, MBA

We are pleased to welcome Kelsey Mueller Wendt, MPH, as a keynote speaker this year. A lifelong Klamath Falls resident and advocate for expanding access to care, Kelsey has spent her career strengthening her community's health, vitality, and livability. Through her work at Sky Lakes Medical Center and her leadership with Healthy Klamath Network, the Klamath Trails Alliance, and the Nutrition Oregon Campaign, she has advanced collaborative efforts that support active living and community well‑being. Her keynote will offer insights drawn from her community‑centered work and explore the ideas shaping healthier, more connected places to live, work, and play.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

Kelsey Mueller Wendt, MBA, is an advocate for access to all types of care. Born and raised in Klamath Falls, Oregon, she earned her Bachelor of Science in Population Health Management from Oregon Tech and a Master of Public Health from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Kelsey is committed to improving the health, vitality, and livability of her hometown. Since 2018, she has worked at Sky Lakes Medical Center and has had the opportunity to grow with it. She currently serves as the co-chair of the Healthy Klamath Network, advisory board member for Klamath Trails Alliance, and helps lead work for the OHSU Moore Institute Nutrition Oregon Campaign. Through her leadership and collaboration, she continues to advance community health initiatives and expand access to active transportation throughout the region. Kelsey previously served as a Klamath Falls City Councilor representing Ward 5. She is passionate about making her community a beautiful, thriving place to live, work, and play. Outside of work, Kelsey enjoys spending time outdoors hiking, running, kayaking, biking, and gardening. She treasures time with her husband, their son Luca, and their two dogs.

 

 

Questions?

Please contact Program Associate, Heather Daniel, if you have any questions or would like more information.