About the Health Equity Committee
The Health Equity Committee (HEC) was established by the
Oregon Health Policy Board (OHPB) in 2017.
The purpose of the Health Equity Committee is to coordinate and develop policy that proactively promotes the elimination of health disparities and the achievement of health equity for all people in Oregon. Achieving health equity is a priority for the OHPB, the Oregon Health Authority and the Governor.
In addition, the Oregon Health Authority has adopted health equity as one of its core values and committed to its strategic goal of eliminating health inequities by the year 2030.
OHA and OHPB Health Equity Definition
Oregon will have established a health system that creates health equity when all people can reach their full health potential and well-being and are not disadvantaged by their race, ethnicity, language, disability, age, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, social class, intersections among these communities or identities, or other socially determined circumstances.
Achieving health equity requires the ongoing collaboration of all regions and sectors of the state, including tribal governments to address:
- The equitable distribution or redistribution of resources and power; and
- Recognizing, reconciling and rectifying historical and contemporary injustices.
View Presentation to OHPB on Definition
Key HEC Documents
HEC Community Advisory Letter: Gender Affirming Care
Are you interested in joining the Health Equity Committee?
Applications for the Health Equity Committee will be reviewed when recruitment reopens in 2026.
If you are interested on serving in the Health Equity Committee, more information about the HEC recruitment process is available below. If you have any questions please email the Health Equity Committee at
ohpb.healthequitycommittee@odhsoha.oregon.gov
HEC Public Meetings
The HEC holds public meetings Bi-monthly (every other month) on the Second Thursday of the month. See "Upcoming Meetings" tab on the right for meeting schedule.
Meeting ID: 161 380 3089
Passcode: 695539
Please contact Health Equity Committee staff at the Equity & Inclusion Division at (971) 227-3944 or email
ohpb.healthequitycommittee@odhoha.oregon.gov if you need accommodations to attend or participate in the meeting. We also accept all relay calls or you can dial 711 for assistance.
Public Comment Information
If you are a member of the public interested in providing public comment please email your request to HEC staff at
ohpb.healthequitycommittee@odhsoha.oregon.gov or send a Teams message during the meeting. Please note that the HEC welcomes public comment. We have allocated time after each agenda item for the public to participate. Comments are limited to 2 minutes per-person and are subject to time availability.
Written public comments may also be submitted by e-mail to
ohpb.healthequitycommittee@odhsoha.oregon.gov.
Comments should be limited to 1,000 words and be submitted 24 hours in advance of the meeting in order to ensure timely distribution to committee members.
Any materials provided to Committee members become public documents.
View Archived Meetings