Staff Biographies

The CCHCP team is staffed by a talented group of of individuals. These individuals have constructed significant relationships with leaders and members of numerous communities within King County, Washington State, public agencies, and health care institutions.

Ira SenGupta, MA

Executive Director, Cross Cultural Health Care Program

Ira SenGupta, CCHCP's Executive Director, has developed and conducted over 2,000 hours of trainings in cross cultural issues for health care providers in the past year alone. Ira's skills are informed by her experience conducting cultural competency assessments of healthcare institutions and in facilitating and managing major cultural competency initiatives, coalitions, and training programs. A leader in her own community, Ira has extensive experience working with ethnically diverse communities, and has gained a deep understanding of community perspectives on health care.

She has lead several community-based research projects and was the principal investigator on developing a compendium of best practices for the CLAS (Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services) standards for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Minority Health. She also served on the National Committee for Cultural Competence and the Committee for the Development of Cultural Competence Curriculum and Training Modules for Primary Care Physicians. She is currently collaborating with Education Network to Advance Cancer Clinical Trials (ENAACT) to develop and pilot cultural competency training for cancer clinical trial providers to enhance recruitment and retention of minority communities in cancer clinical trials. 

Ira's research experience in cross-cultural issues and cultural competency in healthcare, and dynamic training and facilitation skills have made her a key resource for cultural competency training and assessment in healthcare settings nationally. She brings to her workshops a genuine enthusiasm for the subject, a wealth of stories and information, and an energetic style.

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Annette Anderson

Director of Operations, Cross Cultural Health Care Program

Annette Anderson is the current Director of Operations at Cross Cultural Health Care Program in Seattle, Washington.  In addition to overseeing operations for the organization, Annette's work includes focusing on regional and national health policy.  She is working with regional partners to shape policies that will improve access to health care and improve health outcomes for underserved populations in the State of Washington.  Before joining CCHCP in 2005, Annette was with the Washington State Democrats and served as the Chief of Staff. Her degrees in Political Science and Political Theory are from the University of Pennsylvania.

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Anne G. Turner, MLIS

Director of the Northwest Resource Center on CLAS and Health Disparities (NWRC)

Anne Turner, MLIS, is the Cross Cultural Health Care Program's research librarian.  She is leading the development of the Northwest Resource Center on CLAS and Health Disparities and is working to create further resource center offerings to meet the needs of our widespread base of users, with a focus on utilizing technological options to help broaden services.  Anne also provides information services to CCHCP staff and community partners. 

Anne has worked as reference librarian for the Sno-Isle Library System, and has provided bibliographic research services to health care professionals and consultants.  She has also worked with medical library professionals at NW Hospital and Bastyr University, and has contributed to information behavior research efforts at the University of Washington. She received her Masters of Library and Information Science from the University of Washington's Information School.  Anne's professional background also includes work in IT and web development.

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Rose Long

Director of Bridging the Gap Medical Interpreter Training Program

Rose Long is the Director of our acclaimed Bridging the Gap medical interpreter training program. Rose has a long and varied history of working in the community in interpreting, community health education, community building, and outreach. Over the years she has developed, implemented, and administered robust training and health programs for multiple community-based organizations. Her most recent project, the Healthy Homes and Community Project, was a community-based participatory research project with Neighborhood House in the redeveloped High Point community of Seattle. This project focused on empowering communities and environmental justice.

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Tara Kelly, MA

Program Development Coordinator

Ms. Kelly performs analysis of qualitative and quantitative data for various CCHCP assessments.  She is currently developing a strategic plan for updating CCHCP publications and medical glossaries.  Ms. Kelly has an extensive background in research which she now draws upon as she initiates and coordinates research that supports publications and CCHCP programs.  In past projects Tara has examined traditional medicine and ethnobotanical practices in Cameroon Africa, Oaxaca Mexico, and the Pacific Northwest.   Presently Tara assists in researching health education strategies for reaching limited English proficiency populations.  Ms. Kelly holds an MA in Medical Anthropology from S.O.A.S. of the University of London and is a Fulbright alumnus.