About Deb Patterson
Senator Deb Patterson is a healthcare leader, public servant, and longtime advocate for Oregon families. She has proudly represented Senate District 10 since 2021, which includes South and West Salem, Monmouth, and Independence. With a deep commitment to service, she brings compassion, expertise, and a strong sense of justice to her work in the Oregon State Senate.
Before entering the Legislature, Deb spent decades advancing community health. She served as Executive Director of the International Parish Nurse Resource Center, equipping nurses worldwide to deliver health education and advocacy. She also led Northwest Parish Nurse Ministries in Portland, served as Vice President of a children’s health philanthropy focused on early childhood interventions, and held a senior leadership role in a multi-hospital health system in the Midwest, overseeing community benefit programs.
Serving Oregon with Vision and Compassion
Deb has chaired the Senate Committee on Health Care since 2021 and also serves on key committees related to business, early childhood, housing, and revenue. Previous committee work has focused on natural resources, emergency preparedness, wildfire recovery, and veterans' affairs. Her additional appointments to statewide commissions reflect her broad focus on equity and wellbeing, including the Oregon Commission on Women, the Governor’s Commission on Senior Services, the Oregon Hunger Task Force, the Capitol Planning Commission, and the Oregon State Capitol Foundation. Before her election, she chaired the Marion County Health Advisory Board and served on both the Oregon Disabilities Commission and the Oregon Nursing Home Administrators Board.
Rooted in Community, Focused on the Future
Deb holds a Master of Health Administration (MHA) from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, and Doctor of Ministry (DMin) from Eden Theological Seminary.
In the Senate, she champions access to health care, affordable housing, quality public education, and climate action. She is working to eliminate health inequities, expand childcare and workforce training programs, support small businesses, and create clean energy jobs that pay living wages.
An ordained minister
An ordained minister in the United Church of Christ for more than 30 years, Deb has served congregations in Missouri, Illinois, and Oregon. She is the proud mom of two young adults, one of whom has special needs. Her husband, Professor Stephen Patterson, holds the George H. Atkinson Chair of Religious and Ethical Studies at Willamette University.
State senators serve in their state's upper legislative chamber. Responsibilities include drafting and voting on state laws, representing their district, confirming gubernatorial appointments, and shaping the state budget. State senators typically serve longer terms than state representatives and represent larger districts. State legislation covers education, healthcare, infrastructure, criminal justice, and taxation.