Oregon's nursing pioneers will be honored this week as the Oregon Health & Science University School of Nursing celebrates a century of existence. During an awards ceremony on Thursday, April 28, the OHSU School of Nursing will honor 10 individuals (and in one case, a couple) who helped establish Oregon as a national leader in nursing education. The awards ceremony will take place at 5 p.m. during a gala event at the Portland Art Museum. 

Individuals to be honored this week include:

Thomas Aschenbrener

Aschenbrenner is being honored for exceptional leadership in advocating for nursing, for supporting nursing education, and for a longtime commitment to public health in Oregon.

David Gilbert, Ph.D.

Gilbert, a former president of Eastern Oregon University, championed the nursing Ph.D. program through the Commission of Higher Education in Oregon.

John and Betty Gray

John, an industrialist who with his wife, Betty, who has since passed away, supported the construction of the current OHSU School of Nursing building in Portland. The couple also supported nursing scholarships professorships, and efforts to advance health care in rural Oregon.

Sen. Mark Hatfield

As governor and then senator, Hatfield led the advancement of health sciences within Oregon, including roles for nurses and nursing.

Gretchen Kafoury

As a political leader and advocate for human rights, Kafoury helped nursing by supporting advanced practice nursing, prescriptive authority for nurse practitioners and other social causes.

Gov. John Kitzhaber

Gov. Kitzhaber is being acknowledged for helping to establish the roles and functions of nurses throughout his governorship and beyond. This included supporting nursing’s contribution in the Archimedes movement and promoting advanced practice nursing.

Sen. Jeff Merkley

Sen. Merkley is being honored for initiating in the U.S. Senate the nursing caucus, which promotes understanding, and advocacy for nursing in all forms of health-related education.

George Passadore

Pasadore is being honored for envisioning the construction of the OHSU School of Nursing on the Portland campus and generously appealing to others to support the effort.

Susan Pasarow

As a community activist and benefactor, Pasarow enacted her mother Clare’s vision and advanced scholarships in support of nursing education.

Donna Shalala, Ph.D.

Shalala has contributed greatly to the future of nursing through her work on the Institute of Medicine report and to nursing leadership through the American Academy of Nursing.