Rep. Dr. Megan Srinivas Brings a Public Health Lens to the Iowa Legislature

By Sarah Evans

For Rep. Dr. Megan Srinivas (D-IA-30), the connection between public health and public policy is personal—and urgent. As an infectious disease physician serving rural Iowa, she witnessed how legislative decisions shape her patients’ health long before she ever considered running for office.  

“At first, I tried to advocate from the outside—sharing data, telling my patients’ stories, hoping lawmakers would listen,” Srinivas said in an interview with Future Caucus. “But eventually, I realized that if I really wanted people to understand what my patients were facing, I needed to be at the table. I could be their voice.”  

Born and raised in Iowa, Srinivas left the state to pursue her education, earning degrees from Harvard University, the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, and the University of North Carolina. But after completing her training, she returned home—committed to improving healthcare access in the communities that shaped her.  

Even while serving in the legislature, Srinivas continues to provide direct patient care. At one point, she was the only infectious disease doctor covering a vast region—on call 24/7 for 28 straight days.  

“Some days in the hospital were 10 to 16 hours long, and even overnight, I was still the one they called,” she said. “There were nights I’d get up and drive back in if someone needed me.”  

Her work as a physician informs her perspective as a lawmaker—but so does her research. Srinivas studies how policy impacts health outcomes, from reproductive healthcare access to disease prevention. One of her recent studies examined how abortion restrictions in Iowa correlated with an increase in sexually transmitted infections. Another explored how community-driven public health initiatives improve diagnoses.  

“It’s really the politics of it all that determines what people can truly access—and how they can live healthy lives,” she said.  

Before her election, Srinivas saw how systemic barriers—far beyond the walls of a hospital—shaped her patients’ health. While many of their stories were connected to healthcare policy, just as many were about economic survival.  

“There’s only so much I can do as a doctor,” she reflected. “If my patient can’t afford gas to get to an appointment, if they’re worried about feeding their family or making rent, writing a prescription for blood pressure medication isn’t going to solve the problem.”  

Now, as a state representative, Srinivas feels the impact of tackling those challenges head-on. The work can be demanding, but moments of progress keep her motivated.  

“Being in this space, having real conversations, and hearing experts raise issues I hadn’t even considered—it’s those moments that rejuvenate me,” she said. “They remind me why I’m here: to advocate for my community.”