Oregon Public Health Association

We are excited to welcome Kelsey Mueller Wendt, MPH, as a keynote speaker this year! A lifelong Klamath Falls resident and advocate for expanding access to care, Kelsey has spent her career strengthening her community's health, vitality, and livability. Through her work at Sky Lakes Medical Center and her leadership with Healthy Klamath Network, the Klamath Trails Alliance, and the Nutrition Oregon Campaign, she has advanced collaborative efforts that support active living and community well‑being. Her keynote will offer insights drawn from her community‑centered work and explore the ideas shaping healthier, more connected places to live, work, and play.

Kelsey Mueller Wendt, MPH, is an advocate for access to all types of care. Born and raised in Klamath Falls, Oregon, she earned her Bachelor of Science in Population Health Management from Oregon Tech and a Master of Public Health from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Kelsey is committed to improving the health, vitality, and livability of her hometown. Since 2018, she has worked at Sky Lakes Medical Center and has had the opportunity to grow with it. She currently serves as the co-chair of the Healthy Klamath Network, advisory board member for Klamath Trails Alliance, and helps lead work for the OHSU Moore Institute Nutrition Oregon Campaign. Through her leadership and collaboration, she continues to advance community health initiatives and expand access to active transportation throughout the region.

Kelsey previously served as a Klamath Falls City Councilor representing Ward 5. She is passionate about making her community a beautiful, thriving place to live, work, and play. Outside of work, Kelsey enjoys spending time outdoors hiking, running, kayaking, biking, and gardening. She treasures time with her husband, their son Luca, and their two dogs.

🎉 Early Bird Registration is OPEN! 🎉
🕒 Register now to secure the best rate! Early bird pricing ends August 31st!
🔗 Learn more & register today ➡️https://www.oregonpublichealth.org/2026-registration-and-rates

We are pleased to welcome Valdez Bravo MHA, MBA, FACHE, President of Health Care for All Oregon (HCAO), as a keynote speaker this year. Since joining the HCAO board in 2018 and stepping into the presidency in 2023, Bravo has been a leading voice in the movement to ensure every Oregonian has access to high‑quality, affordable health care. His keynote will examine the momentum behind Oregon’s health care reform efforts, the power of community advocacy, and the partnerships needed to drive lasting change.

Valdez Bravo, MHA, MBA, FACHE (he/him) joined the board of Health Care for All Oregon in 2018 and has served as President since 2023. Valdez holds a Master in Healthcare Administration and a Master in Business Administration from Baylor University, along with a Bachelor in English from Portland State University. He is a Board Certified Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives. Valdez also served in the Army for eight years as a medical equipment repair technician and then worked for the next 18 years at the Department of Veterans Affairs. In 2022, Valdez joined the leadership team of the Multnomah County Health Department where he currently serves as Deputy Director. He believes that all people should be able to receive comprehensive healthcare, including dental and behavioral health, regardless of their ability to pay, as healthcare is a human right.

🔗 Learn more & register today ➡️https://www.oregonpublichealth.org

🎉 Early Bird Registration is OPEN! 🎉

🕒 Register now to secure the best rate! Early bird pricing ends August 31st!

Join us for the 82nd Annual Public Health Conference—the premier event connecting health professionals and leaders across Oregon and the Northwest!

✨ Keynote speakers on vital public health themes
📊 Oral & poster presentations on cutting-edge research
🏆 Awards ceremony honoring public health advocates
🤝 Exhibitor hall for networking & professional opportunities

🔗 Learn more & register today ➡️https://www.oregonpublichealth.org

⏰ There’s still time! Abstract submissions for OPHA’s 82nd Annual Conference are due by July 12th at midnight.

If you have work, research, or community initiatives to share, we’d love to include your voice in this year’s conference. Submit your abstract and help shape the conversations that move public health forward in Oregon.

To submit: https://www.oregonpublichealth.org/2026-call-for-abstracts

FLASH ALERT!

Health Care for All Oregon (HCAO) has a time-limited opportunity to get a discounted media sponsorship on Oregon Public Broadcasting - but the catch is we must lock it in before the end of the month!

In the Portland Metro alone, OPB has 900,000 weekly listeners.

This will help more Oregonians learn about HCAO and the call to join the movement for universal health care in our state. This is a great way to help HCAO become a household name.

If HCAO can raise $2,000 between now and then, we are going to go forth with an ad buy.

$2,000 is the minimum, and for every $80 we raise, that's another 16-second sponsorship ad all across Oregon on OPB's many local stations. We also can be featured on OPB's website during the sponsorship period.

Here's the link to donate: https://lnkd.in/g_i9Papy

Join OHSU for a lunchtime learning session!

📅 Wednesday, June 10
⏰ 12–1 PM
💻 OHSU is hosting a virtual training on Skin Cancer & Melanoma.

Check out the flyer, scan the QR code to register, and feel free to share widely. Hope to see you there!

HCAO is partnering with East Portland Indivisible to bring you 7 days with 7 demonstrations of why health care is broken and why we fight for universal health care.

Join them throughout the week for one of their many educational events. This will be followed up by a candle light vigil for all those who have or will lose their lives due to Medicaid funding cuts.

Lastly, rally with them on June 7th, 3pm at Dawson Park for an hour of inspirational speeches, next steps and also a little bit of fun.

For more info: https://www.hcao.org/sevendays

No Infants Developed Measles After Utah Prophylaxis Regimen After a large-scale exposure, health department developed a protocol for statewide use

Businesses play a powerful role in shaping the conditions that allow communities to thrive — factors like workforce stability, economic vitality, and local policy. Yet they’re often left out of public health partnerships, and that’s a missed opportunity.

Launching today, our research-based toolkit, on Engaging Business Leaders in Public Health Partnerships, gives public health professionals a practical roadmap to understand what matters most to private sector leaders and how to engage with them effectively.

Read the toolkit: https://lnkd.in/eJR7me4C

Get ready for a day of learning, connecting with other advocates and inspiration that will project us forward into the future where we win universal health care for all Oregonians. Below you will find information you need for the day of the conference.

Register Here: https://lnkd.in/gZWd9kqX

When to Meet: May 30th, 2026. Doors open at 8am. Conference agenda of events runs from 8:30am-4:30pm.

Breakfast and Lunch: A very light, continental breakfast will be provided with coffee and tea. For lunch we will provide sandwiches/chips and fruit to volunteers for free. Please fill out the following form about dietary requests: https://lnkd.in/gcTXYvcW

Where to Meet: Our conference is located at PSU, Hoffmann Hall located at: 1833 SW 11th Ave, Portland, OR 97201. The closest intersection to the hall is off of SW Montgomery and 12th street.

Where to Park: We do not have reserved parking for this event. It has been recommended that our guests park in Parking Structure 3. The rate for the entire day is $6. Please let us know if you need to be reimbursed for parking.

Conference Program: Please find the conference program, and more information here:
https://lnkd.in/gRB9ZjrX