Government Relations

Philip Schmidt (he/him), the Government Relations Director, joined OHA in March 2020, and almost immediately began work on the COVID response in communications. Later he supported the Health Policy & Analytics Division and Medicaid/Oregon Health Plan with communications. Earlier, among other things, he worked on Capitol Hill for a Puerto Rican Member of Congress from New York, first as communications director and later as deputy chief of staff. After his time in DC, he moved back home to Oregon and worked at the state hospital association for several years. Phil holds a bachelor's degree in both history and international affairs from Colorado College and a master's degree in international affairs from George Washington University. In his spare time, he bikes, skis, hikes and camps with his young daughters and wife.

Phone: 503-383-6079

Em Droge (she/they) has dedicated her career to fighting for social justice and health equity. She brings a background in food justice, social work, community advocacy, and strategic communications to her role as a Senior Policy Advisor on the Government Relations team. She was most recently a Health Promotion Strategist in the Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention (HPCDP) Section. She managed the Smokefree Oregon brand and all commercial tobacco communications work in an effort to shift policies, systems, and environments to address commercial tobacco-related health disparities. Emily has been with Oregon Health Authority since 2021. They earned their Masters in Public Health from New York University and a Bachelors of Science in Nutritional Science from University of California, Berkeley.

Phone: 971-409-3449

Bobby L. Green Sr. joined OHA at the creation of the agency in 2010. Prior to coming to OHA, he served as the Legislative Affairs Liaison for the Association of Community Mental Health Programs. He began at OHA as the Local Government Affairs Director, and also served several positions on an interim basis: Deputy Director of the Public Health Division, Chief Operation Officer, and Deputy Director of the Medicaid/Medicare Division. He was a Eugene City Councilor from 1989-1994, and County Commissioner for Lane County from 1994-2008. He was a board member of the Association of Oregon Counties, including President in 2007. Bobby has a bachelor's degree in English/Literature from the University of Oregon. In his spare time, he enjoys his three grandchildren and film studies.

Phone: 503-947-2349

Matthew Green (he/him) joined Government Relations as a senior policy advisor in January 2019. Among other things, he leads much of the GR team's training and communications work, including regular outreach with external partners. Matthew came to OHA from the Washington State Department of Health, and brings years of experience in public health, media relations and government affairs. A former newspaper journalist, legislative aide, and political campaign manager for several elected officials, he also served as an elected City of Olympia council member. Matthew holds a bachelor's degree from The Evergreen State College and a Master of Public Policy from Harvard University.

Sarah Herb (she/her) joined OHA in April 2023 as the executive support specialist for the Government Relations team. Prior to coming to OHA, Sarah worked as the executive search and events specialist for the Oregon School Boards Association. She graduated from Oregon State University with a bachelor's degree in natural resources and watershed management.

Email: Sarah Herb
Phone: 971-372-9887

John Inglish (he/him) was a healthcare service provider for over ten years, practicing occupational therapy in clinical and educational settings. Subsequently, he worked in disability law and policy, representing clients in healthcare and education matters, and engaged in local, state, and national policy work. John also worked at the Oregon Department of Education, where he oversaw safe and healthy schools initiatives, managed the state mediation program for special education, and served as a county liaison. Most recently, John directed the Conflict & Dispute Resolution program at the University of Oregon School of Law. He holds a Master of Public Policy & Administration and a Juris Doctorate, both from the University of Utah. In his spare time he skis, climbs, plays guitar in local bands, and spends time with his wife, three sons, and two dogs.

Government Relations contact for: Medicaid, Education, Home & Community-Based Services, Ombuds

Phone: 971-393-3860

Robert Lee is deeply passionate about healthcare policy with over 17 years of government affairs, healthcare administration, and policy experience in private, public, non-profit and consulting industries. Previously, he served as the Quality Management Director of Standards & Compliance at the Oregon State Hospital where he successfully oversaw regulatory, policy, and compliance efforts. Robert holds advanced degrees in both Political Science and Public Administration from Portland State University, earned numerous professional certificates, and served as adjunct faculty at the PSU Hatfield School of Government teaching on healthcare policy analysis & development. In his spare time, he serves on his local school board, explores the mountains of the Pacific Northwest, and maintains a competitive team of spoiled sled dogs.

Government Relations contact for: Behavioral Health, Tribal Affairs

Phone: 503-490-6180

Marybeth Mealue (she/her) has been with OHA and the State of Oregon since 2019. Marybeth has a background in project management, partner engagement, and strategic communications work. She has dedicated her time at OHA to improving systems and elevating community voices. Before joining OHA, Marybeth worked as a personnel and office manager for four prominent newspapers in the mid-Willamette valley. Marybeth was born and raised in Oregon and has a bachelor's degree in history and international studies from George Fox University. In her free time, Marybeth enjoys time with her family and going to Disneyland.

Email: Marybeth Mealue
Phone: 503-490-8100

Megan Sanders (she/her) joined OHA as a legislative analyst in October 2024. She supports Government Relations’ community engagement strategies. Her previous work focused on the social determinants of health and crime. She recently supported several research projects on law enforcement and firearm laws with the University of Chicago and the University of Colorado. In her home state of Colorado, she worked on private grantmaking to behavioral health nonprofits and various health and safety bills during the 2020 legislative session. Megan completed her master’s in public policy with a certificate in health policy at the University of Chicago and received her bachelor’s degree in international relations from the University of Puget Sound. In her spare time, Megan enjoys cooking and finding Oregon’s best hikes and coffee shops.  

Email: Megan Sanders
Phone: 971-372-0768