Staff

Raquel Bournhonesque, MPH, Co-Director
Raquel received an MPH from Portland State University, where her research and academic work focused on analyzing media coverage of public health issues, and was a founding Board member of Upstream. She worked on food and land-use policy issues at the Community Food Security Coalition in California for five years then went on to work at the Health Promotion & Chronic Disease Prevention office of the Oregon Public Health Division. She is currently focused on Upstream's  tobacco initiatives, strategies to reduce soda consumption, and fluoridation.

Heidi Guenin, MURP, Transportation Policy Coordinator

Heidi earned her Master of Urban and Regional Planning at Portland State University and is pursuing a Master of Public Health at Oregon Health & Science University, where she is focusing on health disparities. She has been advocating for health equity in Portland for the last two years, drawing on her recent education and on her background in writing, economics, and Geographic Information Systems.  At Upstream, Heidi is the go-to staffer for all things transportation-related. Upstream promotes active transportation policy that confronts the intersection of climate change and obesity. Heidi also spear-heads Upstream’s involvement with the Multnomah Food Initiative.

Marah Hall, Campaign Manager

Marah got her start in Oregon politics working as a Campaign Manager for a state house race in a swing district. She went on to work two legislative sessions first as Legislative Assistant to Representative Mary Nolan and most recently as Deputy Legislative Director in the Speaker's office. She also served as Finance Director for Future PAC, the campaign arm of the Oregon House Democrats. Recently, Marah complete the prerequisites for nursing school bringing a health background in addition to policy experience to our team. At Upstream, Marah heads up two of our campaigns - farm to school and childhood obesity.

Doug Lincoln, MD MPH, Policy Fellow OHSU

Doug did his undergraduate work at Brown University before completing his medical degree at Tulane University in New Orleans. Doug also earned his MPH degree at Tulane, concentrating in Community Health Sciences, where he worked on community program development and healthcare policy in post-Katrina New Orleans. Following medical school Doug completed his pediatric residency at Oregon Health and Science University. As a policy fellow, he will be bringing his clinical background and interest in the social and environmental determinants of child health to Upstream's obesity and healthy schools initiative.

Mel Rader, MS MS, Co-Director

Mel earned two Master's degrees: one in nutrition policy, the other in environmental engineering.  He is a former Fulbright Fellow and has several years experience in the non-profit sector working on media relations, fundraising, and grassroots advocacy.  At Upstream, Mel coordinated grassroots advocacy for the 2005 campaign to get junk food out of school and spearheaded the successful menu labeling initiative in Multnomah County. He is currently focused on farm to school and school garden policy, menu labeling , and health and climate change work.

Rachel Smith, Program Assistant
Rachel recently received her bachelor's degree from Carleton College where she majored in sociology, focusing on the dynamics of the urban environment through a social justice lens. She has had experience with non-profits working to promote community development and urban gardening and has also honed her administrative skills through her work at a college admissions office, a green building company, and a public health clinic.