Elizabeth Steiner Hayward, M.D. was appointed to be State Senator from the Democrat Party representing District 17 in NW Portland/Beaverton, Oregon. With strong support from her district, she returned to the Senate in 2012 and has been serving in that role since. Her primary areas of concern and expertise include creating an affordable healthcare system, improving education statewide, improving the economy for small and local businesses and building a balanced state budget. She serves in leadership as Co-Chair of the Joint Ways and Means Committee and as a member of the Joint Capital Construction and Legislative Audit Committees.
Dr. Elizabeth has an undergraduate degree from the University of Chicago, a medical degree from the University of Massachusetts and moved to the northwest to complete her Family Medicine Residency at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU). Prior to becoming a Senator, she was a primary physician for countless individuals and families, eventually becoming involved in caring for the entire state by influencing statewide care and policy standards. Still today, while not at the Capitol in Salem, she works at Oregon Health & Sciences University teaching medical students and residents as an Adjunct Associate Professor in the Department of Family Medicine.
As a citizen, community involvement has always been a key priority for her. While her children were in school, she volunteered at the school, served as a Girl Scout Troop leader and camp physician. She remains on the Catlin Gabel Board of Trustees. Elizabeth is also very active with board or clergy search committees within her synagogue congregation, Neveh Shalom. Senator, Doctor Elizabeth has three grown daughters.
