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OHSU’s Zach Harris and Andrew Watson among Portland Business Journal’s 2017 ‘Forty under 40’ awardees

Andrew Watson
Andrew Watson, Ph.D., C.L.P.(OHSU)
Zach Harris
Zach Harris, M.B.A., F.A.C.H.E. (OHSU)

Nominated by their peers and honored by virtue of their professional accomplishments, and community and civic involvement, OHSU’s Zach Harris, M.B.A., F.A.C.H.E., and Andrew Watson, Ph.D., C.L.P., have been named to the Portland Business Journal’s 2017 “Forty under 40” class.

“It's an honor to both be recognized amongst a group of exceptional professionals, and to work for an organization where I can develop personally and professionally while improving health for all Oregonians,” said Harris, 32, director of ambulatory care at OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital.

Since joining OHSU in 2014, Harris has directed multiple clinic enhancement projects across the ambulatory enterprise, including initiatives to increase employee efficiency, ensure quality and safety, reduce the cost of care and improve the overall patient experience. Active in the community, Harris is a member of the Maybelle Center for Community board of directors, which has been serving residents of Old Town and downtown Portland for over 25 years, with one simple idea: no one deserves to live in isolation.

Critical to the successful commercialization of biotech innovation at OHSU for more than 10 years, Watson, 39, has helped launch multiple start-up companies based on OHSU technologies, including recently acquired TomegaVax. Since becoming the director of OHSU Technology Transfer in 2012, the department has nearly doubled its yearly license agreements and seen a 30 percent growth in invention capture.

“It is incredibly gratifying to see the benefits of my team’s work come to fruition for the betterment of society,” he said. “I’m very proud to have been selected for this honor, and to be so supported by OHSU and our local business partners. My colleagues and I are excited to be a part of this thriving community.”

Outside of the office, Watson serves as Cub Master of a local Cub Scout Pack.

More than 400 young professionals were nominated for inclusion in the 2017 “Forty under 40” class. Harris, Watson and their fellow honorees will be featured at a luncheon in downtown Portland June 23.

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