The exterior of OHSU on a crisp fall morning. (OHSU/Christine Torres Hicks)
As Oregon Health & Science University grappled with a number of challenges in 2024, the state’s only academic health center also doubled down on its fundamental mission to improve the health and well-being of people in Oregon and beyond.
OHSU takes on the most complex health care cases from across the region, while also educating the next generation of scientists and health care professionals and driving leading-edge scientific discoveries related to human health.
Steve Stadum, J.D.
“The impact OHSU’s 22,000 members have had on the health and well-being of Oregonians and beyond is undeniable,” said Steve Stadum, J.D., interim president of OHSU. “We have, and continue, to face many challenges and have had to make some very difficult decisions. But we remain resolute in support of our core missions of patient care, research and education. That has resulted in another year of extraordinary discoveries and accomplishments, meaningful contributions to the community, and significant philanthropic gifts.”
In 2024:
- An Oregon family made a record $16 million gift to OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital to establish a comprehensive clinic for children with pediatric neuromuscular disorders.
- After being recognized with the prestigious Lasker Award and National Medal of Technology and Innovation in 2023, David Huang, M.D., Ph.D., was named a 2024 Oregon History Maker.
- With community partners to expand the region’s health care workforce, OHSU launched a new nursing program in Bend and Central Oregon’s first family medicine residency program.
- OHSU research on vaccines made international headlines, with progress on a universal flu vaccine and finding that switching arms for two-dose vaccines improves effectiveness.
- OHSU started the regulatory process to integrate with Legacy Health — another step toward creating a new OHSU with an expanded system of care and locations. The integrated system will position the state’s only academic health center to best improve patient access and outcomes, place more students and trainees in clinical settings, and offer more opportunities for clinical research.
Following is a selection of OHSU innovations and accomplishments during 2024:
Accomplishments
OHSU sees the most complex cases from throughout the region, and clinicians continue to lead new innovations in improving the health and well-being of patients in Oregon and well beyond.
- ‘Life-changing’: OHSU patient on the mend following medical mystery
- 9-year-old speaks for the first time after rare, complex surgery
- OHSU implants Oregon’s first wireless, dual-chamber pacemaker
- OHSU leads national effort to define, evaluate standards for respectful maternity care
- OHSU opens centralized command center for statewide coordination of patient care
- OHSU Doernbecher fetal surgeons perform region’s first in-utero spina bifida repair
- OHSU patient bound for Paris to compete in Paralympics
- Small robot makes big difference for cochlear implant patient
- OHSU teams diagnose, treat young child with mysterious, potentially deadly condition
- New nursing program helping grow Central Oregon workforce
- Central Oregon’s first graduate medical education program launches
- OHSU partners with CareOregon to launch Oregon’s only preventive medicine residency
- New clinic recognizes trauma around childbirth, provides specialized care
- Participants of pioneering CRISPR gene editing trial see vision improve
- OHSU Doernbecher program helps parents hold, bond with NICU babies sooner
- New mom says her preemie son ‘saved my life’
Discovery
OHSU scientists operate on the leading edge of research, and in 2024 researchers published important findings ranging from next-generation cancer treatments to new avenues for treating alcohol use disorder.
- Brain’s waste-clearance pathways revealed for the first time
- Switching arms improves effectiveness of two-dose vaccinations, OHSU study suggests
- OHSU researchers identify gene that could be key to future HIV vaccine
- AI has perfect detection rate for severe cases of condition that causes blindness in preemies
- OHSU researchers confirm cumulative, brain-wide effects of ADHD
- New therapy shows promise in improving appetite, quality of life for patients living with cancer
- OHSU study in neurosurgery patients reveals numerical concepts are processed deep in ancient part of brain
- OHSU marks 15 years supporting pregnancy research
- Oregon Poison Center sees dramatic increase in young children exposed to fentanyl
- OHSU study finds big jump in addiction treatment at community health clinics
- Investment in pediatric emergency care could save more than 2,100 young lives annually
- Natural compound found in flowers halts progression of MS, some cancers
- Study shows promise for a universal flu vaccine
- Center for Experimental Therapeutics translates lab discoveries to treatments
- OHSU study finds significant gaps in menopause care for Oregonians
- Research sheds light on new strategy to treat infertility
- OHSU researchers discover link between proteins in tears, pain after eye surgery
- Study: Single experimental shot reduces HIV levels 1,000-fold
- New drug makes exercise, everyday tasks easier for people with common heart condition
- OHSU study: Women veterans at higher risk for repeat suicide attempts
- Hormones associated with body composition during pregnancy linked to infants’ mental health
- Study suggests staying current with COVID-19 vaccinations helps combat emerging variants
- OHSU study highlights disparities in mental health outcomes among immigrants before, after birth
- New drug combinations could improve therapies for breast cancer, other aggressive cancers
- OHSU study finds unhealthy air quality from wildfires may impact fertility treatments
- Imaging at OHSU: Scientists use advanced imaging in the fight against cancer
- OHSU, EMS partnership aims to improve health outcomes for babies who experience cardiac arrest
- Cannabis, nicotine use during pregnancy increases rate of infant death fourfold
- OHSU-developed vaccine shows promise for cancer prevention
- White, pink noise improve focus for children with ADHD, OHSU study shows
- Vitamin C boosts placental health, changes gene activity in smokers
- New gene therapy research offers hope for people with chronic kidney disease
Community impact
As the state’s academic health center, OHSU is a statewide resource for all Oregonians, from the coast to the high desert of Central Oregon to the Owyhee country in Malheur County.
- OHSU Knight Cancer Institute helps address cancer-related needs across Oregon
- OHSU, food pantries work together to address food insecurity among patient families
- Tribal program takes addiction treatment on the road
- OHSU grows neuro-oncology expertise for patient benefit
- OHSU offers new treatment for deadly skin cancer
- Walking, reminiscing benefit brain health in older Black adults
- Training program helps Portlanders find new careers in health care
- ‘Star Wars guy’: OHSU oncology CNA brings patients smiles, camaraderie
- OHSU expands access to life-saving naloxone for young people
- The dermatologist will see you now — at free skin checks around the state
- OHSU program helps with life challenges so families can focus on healing
- New mobile eye clinic means more vision-saving care
- Pandemic raised food, housing insecurity in Oregon despite surge in spending
- OHSU aims to reduce differences in how men, women experience, are treated for pain
- Crisis intervention program leverages social media to reduce suicide risk
- Supporting cancer needs at the community level
- OHSU Casey Eye Institute focuses on nearsightedness
- Telehealth plus local peer support boosts treatment success for hepatitis C in rural patients
- OHSU tests CRISPR gene-editing technology to treat deadly heart condition
- New approach to defibrillation may improve cardiac arrest outcomes
- OHSU study: Telehealth builds autonomy, trust in treating addiction
- Residential addiction treatment for U.S. teens is scarce, expensive
- ‘Symptom science’ aims to ease burden of cancer treatment
- OHSU project seeks to put people at the center of health care
- Two years post-Roe: OHSU stands firm on commitment to reproductive health equity
- Newborn, aunt benefit from continuum of OHSU cleft lip, palate care
- OHSU-designed metric aims to improve social-emotional health services for young children
- OHSU files notice with OHA to become one public university health system
- Expanding cancer services through projects identified by communities across Oregon
- OHSU expands addiction training reach by nearly 65%
Accolades
OHSU scientists and clinicians were recognized for being among the most accomplished in their respective fields. Their expertise and commitment attracted investment and philanthropy.
- OHSU receives $16.4 million to advance mental health care for children
- Roseburg-based Ford family makes $16 million gift to OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital to advance research and treatment of pediatric neuromuscular disorders
- Two OHSU researchers receive prestigious Cancer Moonshot Scholars Award to advance cancer research, innovation
- OHSU experts elected to the National Academy of Medicine, one of the highest honors in the fields of health, medicine
- Prestigious award seeks to advance new avenue of addiction treatment
- OHSU awarded over $2 million to support research of heavy menstrual bleeding
- $1 million donation to OHSU will help address local cancer needs across Oregon
- OHSU co-founded company, Autobahn Therapeutics, attracts $100 million investment
- PNW research institutes awarded $2.5 million in federal funds to advance health equity through research with rural primary care practices
- OHSU scientists awarded funding to extend leading-edge research
- OHSU’s David Huang, M.D., Ph.D., named 2024 Oregon History Maker
- OHSU named 2024 LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Leader
- Doernbecher Freestyle celebrates 20 years, unveils new designs from six young patients