Katia Worley

Katia Pōhaikealoha Worley, MPH, is the Coordinator for the Hawaiʻi Department of Health, Office of Health Equity. Previously, she served as the State Opioid Project Director for the Hawai‘i Department of Health focusing on Native Hawaiian and Indigenous health, increasing access to substance use services, and expanding cultural, harm reduction, and telehealth resources. Prior to that, she served the patients on Kalaupapa, Molokaʻi where more than 8,000 people with Hansen’s disease were exiled.  Katia is a Native Hawaiian, Marshallese, and Creek Indigenous woman born and raised on the Island of Oahu. She has a passion for Native Hawaiian and Indigenous health, addressing multifaceted public health issues through a culturally safe and interdisciplinary approach, and navigating the ever changing public health landscape to promote wellness for her lāhui (community).