Craig Mosbaek, MPH
Summary
Experienced behavioral health policy leader with over two decades of experience advancing system performance across state government, Medicaid policy, and public health. Combines deep expertise in policy development, data driven analysis, and equity focused system design to strengthen behavioral health financing, workforce capacity, and accountability. Proven ability to translate complex evidence into actionable strategies that inform funding decisions, legislative priorities, and implementation at scale. Trusted advisor to senior leaders and policymakers, known for collaborative leadership, clear communication, and delivering measurable impact in complex policy environments.
Overview
2026
2026
years of professional experience
Work History
Behavioral Health Equity Analyst
Equity & Inclusion Division, OHA
2022 - Current
- Collaborated cross-agency to design and advance community-driven prevention, treatment, and recovery strategies addressing mental health, substance use disorders, and broader behavioral health needs across Oregon.
- Conducted fiscal and policy analysis to inform allocation of Oregon Opioid Settlement funds, supporting data-driven spending decisions impacting multi-million-dollar public health investments.
- Led a comprehensive cost study to assess statewide unmet substance use disorder needs, producing estimates used to guide strategic planning, resource prioritization, and service expansion.
- Supported development and implementation of initiatives to recruit, retain, and diversify the behavioral health workforce, aligning workforce capacity with community and system-level demand.
- Developed and operationalized performance metrics to strengthen accountability, transparency, and outcomes measurement across the behavioral health system.
Economist & Health Policy Analyst
Oregon Health Authority
2019 - 2022
- Forecasted COVID-19 hospitalizations statewide to assess impacts on hospital capacity, supporting real-time planning and resource allocation across Oregon’s health system.
- Led development of a wage analysis study to evaluate compensation increases for behavioral health providers, informing workforce stabilization strategies and policy recommendations.
- Implemented REALD (race, ethnicity, language, disability) data collection standards, strengthening health equity reporting, data quality, and compliance across programs.
- Researched and authored the 2021 Health Care Workforce Needs Assessment, including an in-depth analysis of behavioral health workforce supply, demand, and capacity gaps.
- Analyzed health and fiscal impacts of legislative proposals, including behavioral health bills, to inform policymaker decision-making and budget considerations.
Research Associate
Center for Evidence-based Policy, OHSU
2015 - 2019
- Performed comprehensive medical and policy evidence searches to support coverage policy decisions for state Medicaid programs, synthesizing findings used in formal evidence reviews.
- Conducted policy research and in-depth interviews with Medicaid staff across multiple states, incorporating cross-jurisdictional perspectives into coverage and technology assessment analyses.
- Supported evidence-based coverage determinations by summarizing clinical effectiveness, safety, and cost considerations for review by state decision-making bodies.
- Managed client relationships and coordinated workflows for contracted projects with the Oregon Health Evidence Review Commission (HERC) and the Washington Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Program, ensuring timely and accurate deliverables.
- Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to align research outputs with Medicaid policy standards, stakeholder expectations, and regulatory requirements.
Mosbaek Consulting
President
2011 - 2015
- Forecasted 20-year nursing care demand for Oregon veterans, developing population-based projections to support long-term planning and resource allocation.
- Analyzed school nutrition policies across all 50 states as part of a comprehensive Health Impact Assessment, identifying policy variations and potential health outcomes.
- Conducted survey research with legislative staff to assess health policy priorities, decision-making needs, and trusted information sources.
- Delivered consulting support across multiple client projects, translating complex data and policy findings into clear, actionable insights.
- Collaborated with clients and stakeholders to ensure analyses aligned with policy objectives, timelines, and real-world implementation considerations.
Public Health Fellow in Government
American Public Health Association (APHA)
2010 - 2011
- Conducted legislative research across three major policy areas (health, banking, and education), including analysis of the Affordable Care Act and the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.
- Supported development and oversight of federal legislation, contributing research and analysis used throughout the legislative lifecycle from drafting through implementation monitoring.
- Analyzed policy issues to inform lawmakers on regulatory intent, implementation considerations, and potential impacts.
- Monitored implementation of enacted legislation to support oversight efforts, identify gaps, and flag emerging policy or compliance issues.
- Collaborated with legislative staff and policy stakeholders to ensure research aligned with legislative priorities, timelines, and oversight objectives.
Senior Research Analyst
Program Design and Evaluation Services
2005 - 2009
- Co-authored an evaluation report for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation assessing strategies to support global tobacco control initiatives, informing philanthropic investment considerations.
- Analyzed the cost-effectiveness of tobacco cessation advertising, evaluating performance across media types to assess impact on tobacco quit line call volume.
- Conducted key informant interviews and comprehensive literature reviews to evaluate evidence-based strategies for reducing tobacco use among low socioeconomic status populations.
- Developed program reports, fact sheets, and public-facing materials for policymakers and the general public, translating technical findings into accessible insights.
- Published evaluation findings in peer-reviewed journals and presented results to public health and policy stakeholders to support evidence-informed decision-making.
Board member and Board Chair
Upstream Public Health
2003 - 2009
- Co-founded a nonprofit public health organization advocating for evidence-based population health policy and served as Board Chair, providing strategic leadership during organizational growth. Led and supported two successful state legislative campaigns resulting in the adoption of menu labeling requirements in chain restaurants and nutrition standards for foods sold in schools.
- Oversaw nonprofit governance functions, including staff management, budget oversight, Board facilitation, and grant writing to support funded staff positions.
- Coordinated legislative advocacy efforts by developing campaign strategy, presenting policy testimony, and engaging directly with elected officials and stakeholders.
- Advanced population health policy initiatives through coalition-building, policy analysis, and sustained engagement with public-sector decision makers.
Research Analyst
Oregon Public Health Division
1994 - 2004
- Conducted research and analysis supporting chronic disease prevention initiatives across three priority areas: tobacco control, breast and cervical cancer screening, and diabetes prevention and control.
- Created and managed a multi-state learning collaborative, the Western States Tobacco Evaluation Consortium, facilitating shared evaluation practices and cross-state knowledge exchange.
- Designed survey instruments and managed end-to-end data collection to support program evaluation and performance measurement.
- Analyzed evaluation findings and authored reports, translating data into actionable insights for public health practitioners and policymakers.
- Presented research and evaluation results to diverse stakeholder audiences to support evidence-based decision-making and program improvement.
Founding President
Portland Farmers Market
1991 - 2002
- Founded and scaled the Portland Farmers Market, creating a community-centered marketplace supporting local farmers and access to high-quality fresh produce.
- Grew the market over a 10-year period to serve 10,000+ customers per week and generate $1M+ in annual vendor revenues, earning recognition as the world’s best farmers market by Delta Sky Magazine.
- Led day-to-day operations, including staff and volunteer management, facilitation of Board of Directors meetings, and organizational governance.
- Negotiated vendor and service contracts, made strategic budgeting decisions, and implemented systems for financial tracking and fiscal accountability.
- Built strong community partnerships and operational processes to support long-term sustainability, vendor success, and consistent customer experience.
Research Manager
Oregon Criminal Justice Council
1987 - 1994
- Designed and directed research supporting state sentencing policy, including the development of Oregon’s Felony Sentencing Guidelines, to inform consistent and evidence-based judicial decision-making.
- Assessed the impacts of legislative proposals by conducting prison population forecasts, supporting long-term corrections planning, and budget considerations.
- Produced annual policy evaluation reports analyzing inequities in sentencing practices, identifying disparities, and informing policy discussion.
- Presented oral and written findings to policy councils and state legislative committees, translating complex analysis into actionable insights for decision-makers.
- Collaborated with legal, policy, and research stakeholders to align analyses with statutory requirements, policy goals, and implementation realities.
Education
MPH, Biostatistics And Epidemiology
Oregon Health & Science University
Skills
- Strategic thinking
- Clear written communication
- Public speaking
- Stakeholder engagement
- Cross-functional collaboration
- Leadership influence
- Relationship building
- Active listening
- Problem-solving
- Critical thinking
- Adaptability
- Decision-making under uncertainty
- Ethical judgment
- Cultural competence & inclusivity
- Facilitation & meeting leadership
- Negotiation & consensus-building
- Accountability & reliability
- Time management
- Mentorship & coaching
- Emotional intelligence
- Systems thinking
Accomplishments
Public Health Fellow in Government, American Public Health Association
Joe Weller Guardian Award (for work and mentoring in tobacco control)
Mayor’s Spirit of Portland Award (for founding the Portland Farmers Market)
Joe Weller Guardian Award (for work and mentoring in tobacco control)
Mayor’s Spirit of Portland Award (for founding the Portland Farmers Market)
Core Competencies
- Policy development
- Program evaluation
- Synthesis of complex information
- Team building and leadership
- Project planning and management
- Strategic planning
- Research methodology
- Comprehensive evidence reviews
Key Achievements
- Shaped statewide behavioral health policy and funding decisions by leading analyses for opioid settlement investments, workforce stabilization, and system performance metrics that improved accountability and equity.
- Delivered high-stakes forecasting and economic studies, including COVID-19 hospitalization projections and behavioral health wage analyses, enabling senior leaders to act decisively under pressure.
- Authored and led comprehensive workforce and system assessments used by policymakers to guide long-term planning across Medicaid, behavioral health, and public health systems.
- Translated rigorous evidence into actionable policy through trusted partnerships with legislators, agencies, providers, and community stakeholders, influencing implementation at scale.
- Built and led mission-driven organizations and cross-sector initiatives, managing teams, budgets, and governance while advancing durable policy wins through research, advocacy, and consensus-building.
Selected Publications
- Mosbaek, C., et al. Oregon’s Health Care Workforce. Oregon Health Authority, 2021.
https://www.oregon.gov/oha/HPA/HP-HCW/Documents/2021-Health-Care-Workforce-Needs-Assessment.pdf - Obley, A., Mosbaek, C., King, V., & Livingston, C. Community Health Workers for Patients with Chronic Disease. Center for Evidence-based Policy, OHSU, 2019.
https://www.oregon.gov/oha/HPA/DSI-HERC/EvidenceBasedReports/CHW-Multisector-Report-Final.pdf - Mosbaek, C., Woods, T., & Harrod, C. Non-Opioid Analgesics for Patients with Acute or Chronic Pain: Effectiveness and Policies. Center for Evidence-based Policy, OHSU, 2017.
- Obley, A., Mosbaek, C., King, V., & Livingston, C. Coverage Guidance: Urine Drug Testing. Center for Evidence-based Policy, OHSU, 2017.
https://www.oregon.gov/oha/HPA/DSI-HERC/EvidenceBasedReports/CG%20Urine%20Drug%20Testing.pdf - Mosbaek, C., Chaloupka, F., Kawachi, I., et al. Considering the Health Impacts of Tax Reform in Oregon. Mosbaek Consulting, 2017.
https://www.nationalacademies.org/event/12-17-2017/docs/D1126FC9580456512AA79D75CE9D0614A54C74604D86 - Mosbaek, C., Hackett, R., & Harrod, C. Long-Term Use of Vivitrol to Prevent Relapse to Opioid Use Disorder: Effectiveness, Guidelines, and Policies. Center for Evidence-based Policy, OHSU, 2016.
- Obley, A., Mosbaek, C., King, V., & Livingston, C. Multisector Interventions for the Prevention and Treatment of Obesity. Center for Evidence-based Policy, OHSU, 2016.
https://www.oregon.gov/oha/HPA/DSI-HERC/EvidenceBasedReports/Evidence-review-Multisector-Interventions.pdf - Luck, J., Yoon, J., Bernell, S., et al. The Oregon Public Health Policy Institute: Building Competencies for Public Health Practice. American Journal of Public Health, 105(8), 1537–1543, 2015.
https://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/10.2105/AJPH.2015.302677 - Rumptz, M., Mosbaek, C., Maher, J., Harrelson, D., Boysun, M., & Reid, T. Innovative Approaches to Reducing the Tobacco Burden Among Low Socioeconomic Populations in Washington: Implications for Program Planning. Washington State Department of Health, 2008.
- Mosbaek, C., Austin, D. F., Stark, M. J., & Lambert, L. C. The Association Between Advertising and Calls to a Tobacco Quitline. Tobacco Control, 16(Suppl 1), i24–i29, 2007.
http://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/content/tobaccocontrol/16/Suppl_1/i24.full.pdf
Selected Publications
- Mosbaek C. Behavioral Health Wage Study. Oregon Consumer Advisory Council-Peer Support Committee. 2022.
- Mosbaek C. Health disparities among veterans in Oregon. Oregon Public Health Association Annual Meeting. 2014. https://www.oregonpublichealth.org/assets/2014_Conference/2014_Presentation_Slides/opha%20-%20veterans%20-%20mosbaek.pdf
- Mosbaek C. What do legislative staff think about public health issues? American Public Health Association. 2013. https://apha.confex.com/apha/141am/webprogram/Paper277825.html
Objective
To lead and advance state behavioral health policy and system performance initiatives at NASHP by translating rigorous evidence into practical, equity-driven strategies that strengthen financing, workforce capacity, and accountability across state health systems.
Timeline
Behavioral Health Equity Analyst
Equity & Inclusion Division, OHA
2022 - Current
Economist & Health Policy Analyst
Oregon Health Authority
2019 - 2022
Research Associate
Center for Evidence-based Policy, OHSU
2015 - 2019
Mosbaek Consulting
President
2011 - 2015
Public Health Fellow in Government
American Public Health Association (APHA)
2010 - 2011
Senior Research Analyst
Program Design and Evaluation Services
2005 - 2009
Board member and Board Chair
Upstream Public Health
2003 - 2009
Research Analyst
Oregon Public Health Division
1994 - 2004
Founding President
Portland Farmers Market
1991 - 2002
Research Manager
Oregon Criminal Justice Council
1987 - 1994
MPH, Biostatistics And Epidemiology
Oregon Health & Science University