Oregon Public Health Association (OPHA) records, 1999-2013

The Oregon Public Health Association (OPHA) was founded in 1944 and incorporated as a non-profit organization in 2000. OPHA is an affiliate of the American Public Health Association (APHA) and serves the state of Oregon by bringing together public health professionals, including doctors and nurses, educators, and researchers to engage in professional development, advocate for public policy, and reach out to local communities in order to improve the public health of Oregonians. The organization operates primarily through volunteer work by its members and is led by a board of directors. In the early 2000s, a part-time Executive Director and Program Associate were also hired to oversee operations of the organization. OPHA consists of 9 committees and 8 sections. Sections such as the Nursing or Health Education and Promotion Sections, enable members interested in or involved with specific issues or disciplines to work together.

Major activities of the organization include the OPHA Annual Meeting and Conference held in Corvallis, Oregon on the Oregon State University campus; OPHA board member meetings and retreats; Legislative Visit Day; and a quarterly newsletter, "The Probe." OPHA also collaborates with other health related organizations, such as the Northwest Health Foundation, Upstream Public Health, and Community Health Partnership. Major issues focused on by the organization include dental health, gun safety, and accessible health care.

[Source: OPHA website, www.oregonpublichealth.org]