This is Public Health

The opportunity to live a healthy life is a human right. Every Oregonian deserves to live in a safe and healthy place with access to the resources and information they need to actively participate in decisions that affect their wellbeing. Those places are created and protected by public health.

A passion for prevention drives our work. As public health professionals, we educate about nutritious food and physical activity and ensure all Oregonians have access to  healthy options where they live, learn, work and play. We inform them about the dangers of tobacco, alcohol and drugs, and teach them how to improve their children’s health. We advocate for, and help write the policies that make our streets, buildings, parks, schools and neighborhoods safe and active for everyone regardless of their race, ethnicity, sexual orientation or income status.

Welcome New Board Members

November 21, 2023

A warm welcome to the new members of the OPHA Board of Directors! We are excited to have their leadership, wisdom, and expertise as we work to promote and improve public health across Oregon.

Chantell H. Reed, President-Elect
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Jessica Barker, MPH, Director at Large
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Laura Daily, MPH, Director at Large
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Annette Marcus, MSW, Director at Large
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Stacy Brubaker, LCSW, Region 2 Director
Region 2: Coos, Curry, Douglas, Jackson, Josephine and Lane counties.
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Amber Henderson, Region 4 Director
Region 4: Baker, Crook, Deschutes, Gilliam, Grant, Harney, Jefferson, Klamath, Lake, Malheur, Morrow, Sherman, Umatilla, Wallowa, Wasco, and Wheeler counties. 
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Gregory Sebastian, Healthy Environments Section Representative
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Taryn Eudaly, Disability Section Representative
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OPHA Welcomes New Executive Director, Elisabeth Hartner, MPH

October 9, 2023 - The Oregon Public Health Association announces that Elisabeth Hartner, MPH, has been selected as the new Executive Director. The Executive Director is responsible for the  successful leadership and management of OPHA in accordance with its mission, strategic priorities, and the goals that are established by the Board of Directors.

 “We are thrilled to name Elisabeth as OPHA’s new Executive Director and are excited for her leadership and vision in this role,” says Phyusin Myint, the President of OPHA. “We wanted to ensure that our new director brings both a strong background in public health and understands Oregon’s diverse communities. Elisabeth has the experience of partnering with community stakeholders and county leadership, in addition to working with communities both in rural and urban contexts. We were impressed with her commitment to action in health equity and we are looking forward to her guidance and collaboration with our Board and OPHA membership.”

Elisabeth brings a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to equity to this meaningful role and will continue to emphasize authentic, relationship-based partnerships in her work.

“When we come together to innovate, it’s essential that there is a felt sense of safety in being able to speak honestly,” shares Elisabeth. “My vision is for the leadership guiding health policy in Oregon to be truly representative of the diverse cultures and communities across the state.” Elisabeth is interested in highlighting the expertise of community-based and culturally specific organizations and those providing direct services, such as community health workers. “I hope to create a platform for inclusive public health leadership that offers authentic, community-led solutions to advance equitable health policy.”

Elisabeth has a wide array of experience implementing health initiatives across Oregon, including in rural areas, through her work in early care and education. She has additional experience in local government, where she emphasized building partnerships with underserved communities. Elisabeth has championed Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in all of her roles. As a contractor for Centro Cultural de Washington County, she oversaw logistics for two community forums on equity, which supported the historic passage of the county’s equity resolution.

“We are so excited to have Elisabeth join OPHA as our new Executive Director,” reflects Tamara Falls, the President-Elect of OPHA. “Elisabeth brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in the field of public health and health equity. She is a wonderful collaborator who cares deeply about the health and well-being of our community members.”

Elisabeth holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Western Washington University and a Master of Public Health in Global Maternal and Child Health from the Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine.