2021 OPHA Conference Highlights  

OPHA would like to give special thanks to the 2021 Conference Sponsors & Exhibitors for their generous support!

The Annual OPHA Conference & Meeting is the premier event for Oregon’s public health professionals, showcasing the latest in public health research and trends, focused learning sessions, thought-provoking speakers, and plenty of networking opportunities. Nearly 400 public health professionals and students attended this two-day educational and networking event. Public Health Practitioners, Physicians, Administrators, Dental Professionals, Nurses, Educators, Policy Makers, Researchers, Non-profit leaders, CCO Executives & Partners, and Students all gathered virtually the second time to learn about and discuss the latest research, programs and developments in Oregon public health. 

The Annual OPHA Conference & Meeting always offers a variety of topics to choose from. In addition to the four keynote presentations  there were more than 50 presentations on a variety of areas in public health, facilitated discussion forums, and an interactive poster session. Sessions covered a wide variety of topics, including: Health Equity, COVID-19 response, Trauma and Gun Violence, Child and Adolescent Health, Mental Health,  Structural Racism, Latinx Health, Rural Health, and much more. 

View the OPHA 2021 Program here!


Want to learn more or see what you missed at OPHA 2021? 

Keynote Presentations 

DEI and Public Health: Implications for Leadership

Presented by James L. Mason, Ph.D.Chief Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Officer CareOregon

“If You Can Read This, I Am Evidence”: Poetry as Antiracist + Decolonizing Praxis for Health Equity Knowledge + Action

Presented by Ryan Petteway, DrPH, MPH Assistant Professor,OHSU-PSU School of Public Health.

Finding our way from here – Trying to look ahead while exhausted and overwhelmed

Presented by Charlie Fautin, RN, MPH, Retired local public health administrator

Syndemics: Understanding COVID-19 and its companions

Presented by Emily Mendenhall, PhD, MPH,Professor, Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University

Plenary Panel 

Improving Health through the Planned Environment: A Call to Action on Health, Climate, and Equity

Presented by

  • Mathew J. Martinson, P.E., BCEE, U.S. Public Health Service; Chief, Permitting, Drinking Water and Infrastructure Branch, US Environmental Protection Agency, Region 10. 
  • Vivek Shandas, PhD, Professor, Toulan School of Urban Studies and Planning, Portland State University. 
  • Perry Hystad, PhD, Associate Professor, College of Public Health and Human Sciences, Oregon State University. 
  • Robert L. Bertini, PhD, School Head and Professor, Civil and Construction Engineering, Oregon State University

Presentation Slides

A big thank you to all the presenters at the 2021 OPHA Annual Conference & Meeting! There were a broad range of interesting topics discussed during this year's concurrent sessions. Some presenters have chosen to share the slides from their presentations and will be posted here as we receive them.


OPHA 2021 Association Awards

Congratulations to this year's award winners!

Lifetime Achievement: Suzie Kuerschner, M.Ed.

Policy Champion: Oregon Recovers, Mike Marshall, Executive Director

Emerging Leader Award Sabrina Garcia, PWS

Champion for Healthy Environments Award:  Regence Blue Cross Blue Shield of Oregon 

Health Equity Champion: Jonathan Garcia, PhD

Outstanding Student Poster Awards: Mandana Masoumirad, MA  and Satyasandipani Pradhan, MHA