Joe Page, ’23, MPH ’24, is the health care policy fellow for U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse. Joe pursued the college’s accelerated master of public health program, earning his bachelor’s degree and MPH in five years.

What inspired or interested you about health policy? And why did you choose OSU and the College of Health? 

For as long as I can remember, I've been an avid follower of all things political — a passion that became particularly centered around the politics of health care.

I was excited that OSU offered an undergraduate program in health policy through the lens of public health praxis. A strong understanding of public health principles is so important in shaping the laws and policies that impact our health and well-being.

Shortly after starting my undergraduate program, I knew I wanted to continue studying with the fantastic faculty in the College of Health and applied to the MPH program on an accelerated track.

The health policy faculty in the college provided exemplary instruction and mentorship as I navigated the policy issues that most interested me. The connections and relationships I have developed with them are possible because of the welcoming and friendly atmosphere of the College of Health, and I'm so glad to have been able to spend the last five years there.

Did you have to overcome any challenges in your academic journey? 

I feel fortunate that my academic career went largely unchallenged. That's not to say that there weren’t some stressors along the way.

I was an out-of-state student from Nevada, which means the cost of tuition is significantly higher than for Oregon residents. I was grateful as an undergrad that I had some scholarships and support from my family to cover those costs.

Entering my graduate program, however, I was a bit nervous because all the scholarships I had received as an undergrad were no longer available to me as a graduate student. I was very lucky that through some faculty connections, I was able to secure a graduate assistantship to fund my studies.

Did you participate in campus or community clubs or organizations?

Throughout my time at OSU, I tried to include myself in as much of campus and community life as I possibly could.

I enjoyed going to the Oregon Legislature to testify and lobby in support of issues related to health care, higher education and anything else I care about.

I served on the Board of Directors for The Beaver Caucus, the legislative advocacy branch of the OSU Foundation, as well as on the board for the Pacific Coast College Health Association.

I was involved in ASOSU (the student government at OSU), including serving as the Student Fee Committee Chair, where I oversaw the student fee budget of almost $33 million.

I represented both undergraduate and graduate students on the University Budget Committee since 2021, and on the Faculty Senate Budgets and Fiscal Planning Committee since 2022.

I was also fortunate to advocate for students on the Student Health Advisory Board and the Athletics Advisory Board.

I'm so thankful that OSU has so many opportunities for students to get involved in serving their community and that I was able to participate in as much work as I did. 

Did you participate in research? If so, what did you learn from the experience? 

As an undergraduate, I wrote my Honors College thesis on the intersection of politics and health outcomes in Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act. This was my first foray into more substantive research.

I think one of the biggest things I learned was about enhancing my own writing abilities. I had the honor of working under the mentorship of Steph Bernell, associate professor in the College of Health and associate dean of the Graduate School. Under her guidance, I was able to learn a great deal about academic writing and how to continue growing that skill in graduate school.

Did you complete an internship? If so, where and what did you learn from the experience? 

I completed an internship with the Oregon Medical Association as their medical-legal intern.

In this role, I helped the OMA develop resources for their members about setting up medical-legal partnerships in their practices, connecting with state and federal medical-legal partners to learn more about the structure and benefits of medical-legal partnerships, and assisted with other health policy work.

Did you receive a scholarship? If so, how did it affect your life and your studies?

I received the 2022-2023 Health Systems and Policy Master of Public Health Scholarship during my senior year, which helped me afford the cost of graduate-level courses while an undergraduate student.

Can you tell us about your experience at Oregon State?

I truly loved my OSU experience. Even through the pandemic and living on campus during a year of isolation, OSU has been one of the best places to call home.

The university and the college create such welcoming and friendly environments and offer a great deal of support for students.

The academic advising in the College of Health is some of the most robust and structured across campus and is enormously helpful as students transition to life at OSU.

The faculty who supported me in my academic career are some of the kindest and brightest people I've ever known — specifically Annie Hommel, my major professor and fellow health policy geek — and I'm grateful to know the relationships I have cultivated with them will continue.

What are your public health career aspirations? 

I’m currently a health care policy fellow in the office of U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse at the United States Senate, where I’m applying my background in health law and policy to tackle the issues most important to Sen. Whitehouse, including payment reform and the opioid crisis. 

I also plan to study and sit for the LSAT and apply to law schools to begin fall 2025. I plan to attend law school and specialize in health law before embarking on a career journey at the exciting intersection of health care and the law. 

I hope to work for the federal government and help write legislation, or become a prosecutor for health finance-related crimes, including fraud and abuse and other unjust actions that hurt health care consumers.