The Oregon Policy Scholars Program (OPSP) is a leadership and advocacy development program for Oregon family medicine residents, medical students involved in FMIGs, and FMR faculty members who are “interested novices” when it comes to policy development.
“My participation in the Oregon Policy Scholars Program was enriching and transformative. I came away with foundational knowledge about state and federal legislative systems and a clearer understanding of how I can effectively advocate for policies that support patients and physicians. A highlight of the experience was conceiving and writing a policy resolution which was later adopted by the OAFP. This would not have been possible without guidance from mentors in the Policy Scholars program.” – Rishi Seshadri, MS-3 at Oregon Health & Science University
“I learned how to draft, modify and formally present resolutions; these skills are invaluable for future advocacy efforts so I’m grateful for the information, strategies and connections I was able to develop from being one of the 2022-2023 OAFP Policy Scholars.” – Faarina Khan, MD; PGY-3, Chief Resident at Roseburg Family Medicine Residency
“Through policy scholars I was exposed to various facets of how legislation plays a crucial role in the delivery of healthcare. Through policy scholars, I was able to attend a day on the Hill in Salem Oregon to visit our state representatives and the AAFP day on the hill in Washington DC.
One example of what I gained through these experiences was sitting in on healthcare committee hearings while in Salem. One bill presentation remains very impactful. A prior bill had sunset in regards to mandating insurance coverage of prosthetic devices. The bill had initially passed quite some time ago but expired without renewal. Multiple people from the state were there in support of the bill. A woman who happened to be from my home town shared her experience. She was a bilateral lower extremity amputee and since prosthetic coverage was no longer mandated by law, her insurance company would not provide coverage for her lower extremity prosthetics. Her current ones were outdated and needed replaced but out of pocket this would be financially prohibitive (roughly 30k for each prosthetic). There was easily 4-5 more examples of how this law directly impacted peoples lives. (Another example was a farmer had his arm crushed while working and as insurance won’t cover his prosthetic, he remains without one to this day which resulted in multiple surgeries that impacted his quality of life).
I believe policy scholars gave me the introduction and eventually the skills needed to advocate for my patients at a legislative level in the future. The process of learning that world is daunting but through policy scholars I was able to gain a strong fund of knowledge regarding how these processes work. It also gave me the confidence to advocate for my patients in the future when needed.” – Ryan Reeser, DO; ’23 Graduate of Samaritan Health FM Residency Program
2024 – 2025 Cohort Application Process is Open
The Oregon Policy Scholars Program endeavors to:
Selected medical students, family medicine residents, and residency faculty from programs around the state will participate in a series of trainings and events. Armed with this preparation, they will be equipped, encouraged, and supported in their advocacy on behalf of OAFP and family medicine, and prepared to carry on their advocacy efforts in their future careers.
It is anticipated that residents may participate as part of their capstone projects for graduation and to help with sustainability of the program. Participants are expected to participate to the extent possible with OAFP advocacy activities such as Lobby Day, and to share advocacy tips and learnings with their peers.
Virtual classes will take place in the evening on the second Tuesday evening, most months between October 2023 and May 2024.
Curriculum will be developed by OAFP staff and ORCA-FM advisors in consultation with experts from (but not limited to):
In order to ground the participants with a thorough understanding of the issues important to family medicine, the program content will include briefings and instruction on key issues that OAFP advanced in our most recent legislative session in 2023, and that we will advance in the “short” session in 2022. The group will also engage in the policy- making process for OAFP and AAFP through the state-level Congress of Members.
Topics we will explore may include:
OAFP staff and contract lobbyist, and other partner representatives as needed. We will engage speakers from the health care and policy community as appropriate for events.
Residents:
(Oby) Obiageri Egeolu, MD (Roseburg FMR)
Jack Kennady, DO (Providence Hood River FMR RT)
Jessica Osborn, MD (OHSU Hillsboro FMR)
Catherine Reid, DO (OHSU Hillsboro FMR)
Tiantian White, MD (OHSU Portland FMR)
Students:
Viviane Cahen, MS-3 (OHSU School of Medicine)
(Manny) Emmanuel Greenberg, MPH, MS-3 (OHSU School of Medicine)
Jolene Gremel, MS-3 (OHSU School of Medicine)
Carol Newton, MS-3 (OHSU School of Medicine)
Jonathan Sisley, MS-3 (OHSU School of Medicine)
Dominic G. Tapia, MS-4 (OHSU School of Medicine)
Residents:
Eric Ardman, MD (OHSU Portland FMR)
Emily Dollar, MD (OHSU Portland FMR)
Faarina Khan, MBBS (Roseburg FMR)
Alyssa Morrow, DO, MPH (OHSU Hillsboro FMR)
Emily Mountz, DO (OHSU Cascades East FMR)
Ryan Reeser, DO (Samaritan FMR)
Catherine Reid, DO (OHSU Hillsboro FMR)
Students:
Stephanie Alden MS-2 (OHSU School of Medicine)
Emily Burney MS-3 (OHSU School of Medicine)
Mabry Gentry OMS-3 (WesternU/COMP-Northwest)
Marie Piatski MS-3 (OHSU School of Medicine)
Rishi Seshadri MS-2 (OHSU School of Medicine)
Residents:
Brooke Bachelor, DO, RN (OHSU Portland FMR)
Paola L. Candia, DO (Providence Hood River FMR)
Alix J. Cooper, MD (OHSU Cascades East FMR)
Sarah de Forest, MD (Samaritan FMR)
(Gaby) Gabrielle Kelly, MD (Roseburg FMR)
Iman N. Malik, MD (Providence Oregon FMR)
Ryan Nesbit Deane, MD (OHSU Portland FMR)
Justin J. Santos, MD (OHSU Hillsboro Health FMR)
Logan Smestad, MD (OHSU Cascades East FMR)
Students:
(Sammy) Samantha Clark (OHSU School of Medicine)
Rachel Gantz (Western University/COMP-Northwest)
(Ann) Chatrathip Nasongkla (Western University/COMP-Northwest)
Anna Persmark, MPH (OHSU School of Medicine)
Residents:
Madeline Bierle, MD (Providence Hood River FMR)
Ben Colburn, MD (OHSU Portland FMR)
Lily M. Cranor, MD (OHSU Cascades East FMR)
Jordan Hoese, MD, MPH (OHSU Cascades East FMR)
Hannah Kadavy, MD (Providence Oregon FMR)
Justin Lee (OHSU Portland FMR)
Fernando Polanco, MD (Providence Hood River FMR)
Simran Waller, MD, MPH (Roseburg FMR)
Jenny Wooley, MD (OHSU Cascades East FMR)
Students:
Bryce Beatty (Western University/COMP-Northwest)
Kellie Ann Gaura (Western University/COMP-Northwest)
Jordan Gemelas (OHSU School of Medicine)
Alison Schlueter (OHSU Hillsboro Health Rotation)
Linh N. Taylor (OHSU School of Medicine)
Faculty:
Molly Fauth, MD (Providence Hood River FMR)
Holly Hofkamp, MD (OHSU Portland FMR)
Mary K. (Kay) Nordling, MD, FAAFP (OHSU Health Hillsboro FMR)
Click HERE to learn more about our 20-21 Oregon Policy Scholars.
By September 5, 2024
Please write a brief (100 – 200 words) bio and interest statement laying out who you are, why advocacy is of interest to you, and what issues are of most interest to you. You will also be required to gain permission from your Program Director to participate in the program.
Click HERE to download the application. You must email the completed form to Louisem@oafp.org by September 5, 2024.
