Keynote Panel Speakers

BJ Cummings

BJ Cummings manages community engagement for the University of Washington's EDGE Center (Interdisciplinary Center for Exposures, Diseases, Genomics and Environment). She has worked in the environmental field in Seattle for 25 years, serving as the director of Sustainable Seattle, Duwamish River Community Coalition, and Puget Soundkeeper Alliance. She is author of The River That Made Seattle: A Natural and Human History of the Duwamish, and has been awarded the River Network’s national River Hero award for her work leading community-based clean up and restoration of the Duwamish River.

Taryn Palmer

Taryn Palmer is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist based in Twin Falls, Idaho. Taryn studied dietetics at both Utah State University and The Ohio State University, and graduated with a BS in Medical Dietetics from Ohio State in 2009. Since then she has worked in a variety of nutrition related fields including public health, clinical and community nutrition. She is currently a PRN dietitian for a home health company and contributes to a variety of other nutrition and wellness related projects. She has a passion for dismantling diet culture and teaching others, especially women, the power and lifelong wellness found within the parameters of Intuitive Eating. Taryn and her husband, Ryan, spend the majority of their time chauffeuring their five daughters to various activities and love to escape to a sunny trail or beach as often as possible.

Ariana Golchin

Ariana Golchin is a board-certified PA working within PA education as an Assistant Clinical Professor at Idaho State University. She has a diverse skillset, in-depth training and experience in a variety of clinical settings. Ariana dedicates much of her time outside of work educating the community and presenting nationally on the prevalence and importance of mental health due to her commitment to implement longlasting change. She has a passion for leading projects that promote mental health advocacy and destigmatization. Ariana currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Association of PAs in Psychiatry (APAP), in addition to serving as an ambassador for the NCCPA (The National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants).