September 1, 2026
Meet the members of our Board and staff, and get to know the people behind our mission! These blog and social media posts give you an inside look at the incredible individuals who guide our mission and shape the work we do. Next up we have Suman Malempati, MD, JD, the current Chief of Staff at the Office of Oregon State Representative Willy Chotzen. Dr. Malempati brings a unique perspective to the OPS Board after transitioning from clinical medicine into law and policy. We asked Dr. Malempati to talk about what drew him to OPS, what drives his advocacy work, and a few lighter questions just for fun.
Question: If you played professional baseball, what would be your walk-out song (title and artist, if possible)?
Answer: Well, I play softball now, and my walk-up song is Come Down by Anderson Paak.
Question: What do you love about being a part of OPS?
Answer: I have mostly been away from medicine for the past 8 years as I now work in law and policy. I still have a passion for issues of children’s health and well-being. I love the opportunity to reconnect with old colleagues who are passionate about making sure children in Oregon are healthy and safe.
Question: What book are you reading right now?
Answer: My Year Abroad by Chang-Rae Lee
Question: If you weren’t doing your current profession, what would you do?
Answer: I once thought about becoming a middle school math teacher, so maybe that?
Question: What are your hopes and dreams for OPS in the future?
Answer: I hope OPS can increase its presence at the State Capitol and champion some legislation that makes Oregon a better place for children.
Question: What’s your favorite children’s book?
Answer: On the Day You Were Born, by Debra Frasier
Question: What children’s issue are you really passionate about?
Answer: My main focus is inequality. I am passionate about working towards where every child has an equal opportunity to be safe, to be mentally and physically healthy, and to achieve success as they grow up.
Question: What’s your favorite children’s movie?
Answer: Probably the Despicable Me movies
Question: What was your favorite subject in school? Why?
Answer: Math and History (at different times). I think because in their ways both subjects help me make some sense of what is an otherwise inscrutable world.
Question: What are your hobbies?
Answer: Reading (mostly fiction); all kinds of sports–more watching these days than playing, though I like to play almost everything; the outdoors.
Question: What is your favorite part about your job?
Answer: Most of my working life, I have been able to feel like I was making a difference in people’s lives, though it was one individual at a time. Now, I like that I can take a broader approach at developing laws and policy that hopefully make the world a healthier, safer, and more equitable place for everyone.
Question: What did you want to be when you were growing up?
Answer: When I first met my wife, she asked me if I had always wanted to be a doctor. I replied that as a kid, I wanted to be Dr. J (and she didn’t know who or what I was talking about). My dream growing up was to play in the NBA!
Question: What was your favorite afterschool snack?
Answer: I was a latchkey kid, so I used to make my own “pizza bread” with white hamburger buns, spaghetti sauce, and kraft “cheese” slices.
We appreciate Dr. Malempati taking the time to share his story with us. From his years in medicine to his current work shaping law and policy, it is clear that improving children’s lives has always been important. We are so grateful for his perspective on the OPS Board and his vision for a stronger legislative presence on behalf of Oregon’s kids. You can learn even more about Dr. Malempat in this more in-depth, member spotlight.
Feeling inspired and want to get involved too? There are plenty of ways to get more involved with OPS — whether that’s joining a committee, attending an upcoming event, or simply connecting with a community of providers who share your values. Contact us to learn more.
