Who We Are

We are students, health educators, doctors, nurses, researchers, professors, community leaders, and citizens from all walks of life who share a commitment to public health in Oregon. Our membership includes individuals and organizations in regions across the state, providing OPHA with a strong combination of grassroots support and technical expertise. We succeed by bringing together the power of our members with community organizing, coalition building, public and professional education, and advocacy. Founded in 1944, OPHA is an affiliate of the American Public Health Association, the largest public health association in the nation.

Our Mission

The Mission of the Oregon Public Health Association is to protect and promote the health of all Oregonians, to educate and support public health workers, and to advocate for just and equitable health policies.

Our Vision

We believe that every Oregonian should have the opportunity to live a healthy life.

The Challenge

• More chronic and preventable disease - Baby boomers may be the first generation to live less healthy lives than their parents even though we are spending more on individual health care than ever before.
• Health care that emphasizes treatment rather than prevention - Nationwide, 95% of health spending goes toward medical care and biomedical research and only 5% to public health and disease prevention.
• Rising health care costs - The skyrocketing costs of health care threaten to bankrupt businesses, causing some companies to cut employees and reduce benefits. Poor health puts Oregon's economy in jeopardy.
• Lack of investment in public health in Oregon - Oregon ranks 47th in the nation in per capita funding for public health. Local health departments in Oregon lack resources to provide essential public health services, with a capacity shortfall of over 40% between what is available now and what is needed.

The answer to these problems is not more expensive technology and more intensive treatment. We need to prevent disease, to keep people from getting sick. We need public health! Support for public health is an investment that protects our health, our economy, and our future.

Our Work

We strive to ensure all Oregonians have quality public health services and policies that protect, promote and preserve their health, regardless of who they are or where they live. Our focus areas include :

• Health Policy and Advocacy - OPHA members from across the state and from diverse disciplines work together to identify the most pressing health problems facing Oregonians and to craft solutions that have broad support. We mobilize communities and educate leaders so that public policy in Oregon supports health.
• Public Health Leadership and Learning - OPHA has hosted Oregon's annual public health conference for over 60 years, offering cutting edge research and analysis of issues by leaders in the field. In addition, OPHA members and sections support a variety of educational and training opportunities throughout the year.
• Networking and Building Partnerships - Public health is a uniquely diverse field, encompassing interests ranging from transportation planning and urban development to farming and food policy, to environmental regulation and rural health. As a membership association, OPHA provides a unique opportunity for people representing the broad spectrum of institutions, organizations, and communities across Oregon to unite around our common interest in promoting health.

Our History

OPHA was founded in 1944 by a coalition committed to the promotion of public health in Oregon and was incorporated as a 501(c)3 charitable nonprofit association in 2000. We are an affiliate of the American Public Health Association, the largest association of public health professionals in the nation.

For over 65 years, OPHA has been Oregon's public health leader, bringing together professionals and volunteers to speak and act for health in Oregon.