Meet the Staff
The PHPDA team is made up of five (5) employees working daily to make positive impacts to our region in need of equitable access to health. This flexible team finds creative ways to tackle challenges with the support of the Governing Council, grantee partners, and community who are leading the way.
Virgil Wade, MBA (he/him)
Executive Director
Virgil Wade is the Executive Director at PHPDA as of May 2023. He has served over 20 years in various leadership positions for tribal governments. Mr. Wade was the Operations Director for Chief Seattle Club and prior to joining the Club, he served on the Casino Arizona/Talking Stick Resort Board of Directors. He currently serves on the Pawnee Nation Tribal Development Corporation Board of Directors. Throughout his career, Mr. Wade has been a strong advocate for Indigenous people’s rights.
Mr. Wade earned his B.A. in History from Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ and an MBA from the University of Arizona in Tucson, AZ.
206.588.4777 (ex.1) | v.wade@phpda.org
Christina Bernard, MPA (she/her)
Finance & Program Director
Christina Bernard was hired as the Finance and Program Analyst in June 2010. She has served on the Boards of the Fremont Community School and The Mockingbird Society. She has experience in nonprofit management and analysis at the local, national, and international level. While a student at the University of Washington, she worked as a Research Assistant focused on performance measurements and environmental policy in local governments. She also created a program evaluation plan for a multi-year project conducted by a coalition of several local nonprofits. Prior to moving to Seattle in 2007, she worked on fundraising and development at Fairvote, a nonprofit dedicated to electoral reform. Previously, she spent three years at the World Health Organization in Geneva, Switzerland, where she worked with medical, technical and statistical specialists to produce epidemiological estimates for the Global Burden of Disease project.
Ms. Bernard graduated with a Master’s of Public Administration from the University of Washington and a Bachelor of Arts in Government from Harvard University.
206.588.4777 (ex.2) | c.bernard@phpda.org
Mallory Fitzgerald (she/her)
Grants & Program Specialist
Mallory Fitzgerald joined PHPDA in 2016 and has served as the Grants & Program Specialist since 2018. In this role, she oversees a diverse portfolio of grants focused on improving health access and equity for underserved communities in King County. Her responsibilities include evaluating proposals, monitoring program and financial performance, and providing technical assistance to grantees to ensure impactful service delivery. Mallory is committed to advancing PHPDA’s mission through the strategic management of the Health Equity Fund Grant Program, program development, and cultivating strong partnerships with nonprofits, community organizations, and funders. She is passionate about leveraging data and storytelling to amplify grantees’ work and raise awareness of critical health disparities.
Outside of work, Mallory actively engages in equity-focused initiatives and community service. She is a member of the PEAK Grantmaking Pacific Northwest Chapter, a regular blood donor with Bloodworks Northwest, a volunteer with organizations like Northwest Harvest Food Bank and the Ronald McDonald House, and has served as a Care Team Member at Carnival Corporation.
206.588.4777 (ex.3) | m.fitzgerald@phpda.org
Whitney Regan (she/her)
Grants Coordinator
Whitney Regan previously worked at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation as an Administrative Assistant/Catering Coordinator. She is passionate about health equity, social justice, and supporting local art. During her undergraduate studies at Western Washington University, she volunteered at Allied Arts of Whatcom County where she supported local art events, assisted in their gallery, and built strong community relationships. Her past experience sparked her interest in nonprofit work.
Mrs. Regan graduated with a BA in Art History from Western Washington University.
206.588.4777 (ex.4) | w.regan@phpda.org
Brenda Hernandez, MPP (she/her)
Executive Assistant
Brenda is the Executive Assistant at PHPDA. Brenda has five years of experience supporting c-suite executives at nonprofit organizations, law firms, and a federal government agency. Prior to joining PHPDA, she was the Executive Assistant and Board Liaison to the CEO of the DC Primary Care Association.
Brenda earned her Bachelor’s in Political Science from Southern Illinois University and her Master’s in Public Administration and Policy from American University. In 2023, Brenda was recognized as a HSF Scholar by the Hispanic Scholarship Fund.
206.588.4777 (ex.6) | b.hernandez@phpda.org
Email grants@phpda.org for grants-related matters and publicrecordsrequests@phpda.org for public records requests.
