Accolades: Awards, honors and appointments April
Stephen David publication in Nature Neuroscience
Stephen David, Ph.D., professor of otolaryngology in the OHSU School of Medicine, is a senior author of a publication in Nature Neuroscience.
He, along with Jereme Wingert, a Ph.D. student in behavioral and systems neuroscience, are co-first authors of “Convolutional neural network models describe the encoding subspace of local circuits in auditory cortex.” Satyabrata Parida, a postdoctoral scholar in otolaryngology, is also a coauthor.
“We have developed a new method for characterizing computations captured by an artificial intelligence model trained to predict neural activity,” David said. “Applying this method to neural data recorded from auditory cortex during sound presentation reveals nonlinear computations by local neural circuits to detect precise patterns in natural sound stimuli. This method is widely applicable to understanding neural systems that integrate complex, multi-dimensional signals.”
This method helps in understanding neural systems that integrate complex, multi-dimensional signals.
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George Keepers earns Faculty Senate Leadership Award
George Keepers, M.D., professor of psychiatry and department chair of psychiatry in the OHSU School of Medicine, received the OHSU Faculty Senate Leadership Award at the Feb. 20 Distinguished Faculty Awards celebration. The award recognizes a faculty member who leads by example and demonstrates significant contributions toward advancing the university’s mission.
Keepers is the Elda V. Carruthers Professor as well as director of the OHSU Adult Attention Deficit Disorder Clinic. He joined the OHSU faculty in 1981 and has chaired the department of psychiatry since 2001.
One of the country’s leading authorities on schizophrenia, Keepers chaired a writing group through the American Psychiatric Association that developed updated treatment guidelines for the condition in 2021. In 2024, he chaired the practice group that developed treatment guidelines for borderline personality disorder.
Six faculty members from across OHSU were honored during this year’s ceremony. With support from the OHSU Foundation, award winners receive a certificate and a $3,500 check. Their names will also be engraved on a memorial plaque for permanent display.
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Mary Tanski elected to American Board of Emergency Medicine board
Mary Tanski, M.D., M.B.A., professor and chair of emergency medicine in the OHSU School of Medicine, has been elected to the Board of Directors of the American Board of Emergency Medicine, or ABEM. Tanski, who begins her term in July, brings her expertise and leadership to this national role.
An ABEM-certified emergency physician, Tanski also serves as faculty in the university’s Division of Management and as co-fellowship director for the Emergency Department Administration Fellowship. In addition, she also is president-elect of the Association of Academic Chairs of Emergency Medicine.
Tanski has been an active ABEM volunteer, serving as an oral examiner and contributing to health care administration, leadership and management item writing, as well as serving as a case developer and team lead for the ABEM Certifying Exam.
ABEM President James D. Thomas said Tanski’s experience and leadership will help advance the organization’s mission to support ABEM-certified physicians and uphold high standards in emergency medicine.
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Alan Teo awarded grant to study suicide prevention among veterans
Alan Teo, M.D., M.S., professor of psychiatry in the OHSU School of Medicine, has received a $1.5 million federal grant to expand research aimed at helping loved ones support suicide prevention among military veterans.
Teo and his research team will conduct a randomized controlled trial testing an online intervention that is designed to help family members and friends talk with veterans about safely storing household firearms. The study will evaluate whether a series of training videos that are part of a program called “Worried About a Veteran” can improve behaviors related to secure firearm storage.
Researchers will also study how widely the videos spread when shared on the social media platform Reddit, measuring real-world engagement and reach. The effectiveness of the video-based training will be compared with more traditional approaches, such as distributing firearm safety brochures.
The project addresses a growing public health concern. Firearms are involved in about 71% of veteran suicides, and many veterans report storing guns loaded and in unlocked spaces. Research shows that reducing access to lethal means during periods of crisis can significantly lower suicide risk.
The “Worried About a Veteran” program uses short, personal video stories told from the perspectives of loved ones. The videos demonstrate how to start conversations about suicide risk, encourage safer firearm storage, and connect veterans to additional help, including the Veterans Crisis Line.
While loved ones often play a key role in encouraging veterans to seek help, resources designed specifically for them remain limited, Teo says. By evaluating the program and testing its dissemination through social media, the research team said it hopes to identify new ways to expand suicide prevention efforts and promote safer firearm storage among veterans and their families.
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Jen DeVoe, Anthony Cheng co-edit book on COVID-19 pandemic experiences
Jen DeVoe, M.D., professor of family medicine in the OHSU School of Medicine, and Anthony Cheng, M.D., associate professor of family medicine in the OHSU School of Medicine, co-edited the book Primary Care in a Public Health Emergency: Lessons from the Front Lines of the COVID-19 Pandemic.
They say the book serves as a playbook for primary care teams and practice leaders navigating public health crises. It shares untold stories of primary care physicians’ contributions during the COVID-19 pandemic and offers historical context to strengthen responses to future pandemics.
Primary Care in a Public Health Emergency features perspectives from primary care leaders nationwide, including several from OHSU. Along with DeVoe and Cheng, contributors include: Sean Robinson, M.D., Richard Moberly, M.D., Rebecca Cantone, M.D., Sonja Likumahuwa-Ackman, M.I.D., M.P.H., Shelby Lee Freed, M.S.N., F.N.P. - B.C., Brian Garvey, M.D., M.P.H., Emily Myers, M.D., Joe Skariah, D.O., Johanna Warren, M.D., Tamar Wyte-Lake, D.P.T., M.P.H., Deborah J. Cohen, Ph.D., Steffani Bailey, Ph.D., Nathalie Huguet, Ph.D., and Brian Park, M.D., M.P.H.
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Michael Hutchens, Adam Munhall publish research
Michael Hutchens, M.D., M.A., professor of anesthesiology and perioperative medicine at the OHSU School of Medicine and Adam Munhall, B.S., senior research assistant in anesthesiology, are authors of a study on crush syndrome treatment recently published in Communications Medicine.
Crush syndrome is characterized by hyperkalemia, acidosis, hypocalcemia and acute kidney injury. It is the second-most common cause of death following earthquakes and a frequent cause of critical illness and death after burns, blasts, prolonged immobility and armed conflict. First described in victims of the London Blitz in 1940, the condition develops when toxins released from crushed muscle impair kidney function, leading to fatal cardiac complications hours to days after rescue. There currently is no specific treatment, and supportive care is often burdensome or unavailable in disaster and conflict settings, contributing to high mortality.
Building on prior work showing benefit in genetically altered mouse models and supported by a $2.7 million U.S. Department of Defense grant, the Hutchens lab collaborated with the OHSU Department of Surgery’s Trunkey Center to test cilastatin sodium in a combat-relevant animal model. Experimental models were conducted at the center, with study design and analysis led by the Hutchens lab.
The team demonstrated that cilastatin, an already approved drug, significantly reduces lethal hyperkalemia, protects kidney function and improves recovery following crush injury. These findings support moving toward a clinical trial and represent a pivotal step toward the first specific treatment for crush syndrome. If translated to humans, cilastatin could be deployed in austere environments where current care is not feasible, with the potential to save lives in disasters and conflicts worldwide.
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OHSU primary care practices earn OHA excellence recognition
OHSU is pleased to announce that all its primary care clinics have achieved Tier 5 status, the highest recognition level awarded by the Oregon Health Authority’s Patient-Centered Primary Care Home, PCPCH, program. Tier 5 designation recognizes excellence in primary care through the delivery of comprehensive, coordinated, equitable, high‑quality care that integrates behavioral health services.
In addition, OHSU Primary Care Clinics at South Waterfront, general pediatrics, and the Center for Women’s Health have earned the PCPCH Health Equity designation. This distinction is a significant achievement and reflects the sustained commitment and impact of OHSU’s primary care teams. Statewide, fewer than 5% of PCPCH‑recognized clinics have attained this designation, underscoring the importance of this accomplishment.
The PCPCH program is part of Oregon’s broader efforts to achieve better health, better care and lower costs for all. The program works in collaboration with community partners to establish standards for high‑quality primary care and certifies practices that meet those standards as recognized PCPCHs.
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Robert M. Orfaly named American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons education council chair
Robert M Orfaly, M.D., MBA, FRCS(C), professor and quality medical director of OHSU orthopaedics and rehabilitation and a shoulder and upper extremity surgery specialist, has been selected by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, or AAOS, to lead the academy’s education portfolio. The AAOS Education Council oversees the development and delivery of online and in‑person learning resources, including student and resident education programs, self‑assessment examinations, publications and meetings spanning all areas of orthopaedic surgery. This work is supported by academy staff and more than 800 volunteer members.
Orfaly has provided longstanding leadership to the AAOS, including service on the board of directors; chair of the board of councilors; chair of the Membership and Leadership Development Committee; and mentor for the AAOS Leadership Institute. From 2021 to 2025, he served as editor‑in‑chief of AAOS Now, guiding the academy’s flagship member publication through significant advancements, including the launch of the Bone Beat podcast.
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Ronald Sakaguchi elected president of National Honor Dental Society
Ronald Sakaguchi, D.M.D., Ph.D., M.B.A., dean of the OHSU School of Dentistry, was elected supreme chapter president of Omicron Kappa Upsilon, the national honor dental society. He was elected during the organization’s general business meeting on March 22 at the American Dental Education Association Conference in Montreal, Canada.
Sakaguchi will serve a one-year term as president. Founded in 1914 at Northwestern University, Omicron Kappa Upsilon is among the highest honors in dental education, recognizing the top 12% of each graduating dental class for academic excellence and leadership.
Sakaguchi was also inducted as a fellow of the International Colleges of Dentists and the Pierre Fauchard Academy during a ceremony at the Oregon Dental Conference on April 9 in Portland.
Fellowship in the International College of Dentists recognizes dentists who demonstrate outstanding professional achievement, service and dedication to advancing the profession worldwide. The Pierre Fauchard Academy honors dental leaders for professionalism, integrity, ethics and public service to oral health care. Fellows are role models who advance dentistry to the highest level, support and honor colleagues for their distinguished work, and provide excellence in education.
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Michael Cohen earns prestigious grant from The G. Harold & Leila Y. Mathers Foundation
Michael Cohen, Ph.D., professor of chemical physiology and biochemistry in the OHSU School of Medicine, has secured a three-year, $700,000 research grant from The G. Harold & Leila Y. Mathers Foundation.
This highly competitive national award will support Cohen’s research on a little‑understood biological “tagging” system that enables proteins to communicate and respond. The findings could uncover new avenues for treating inflammation, cancer and neurodegenerative disease.
The Mathers Foundation is a prestigious funder of high‑risk, high‑reward basic scientific research. Its mission is to advance knowledge in life sciences by supporting innovative basic science projects with the potential for translational applications. The Mathers Foundation-funded work is a collaboration with OHSU researcher Jonathan Pruneda, Ph.D.’s lab.
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Yali Jia, Thomas Hwang publish study on early detection of retinal neovascularization
Yali Jia, Ph.D., professor of ophthalmology and biomedical engineering in the OHSU School of Medicine, and Thomas S. Hwang, M.D., professor of ophthalmology in the OHSU Casey Eye Institute, recently reported a new approach for detecting and monitoring retinal neovascularization using widefield optical coherence tomography, or OCT, angiography in research published in the journal Optica.
Vision loss from diabetic retinopathy is often preventable if retinal neovascularization is detected early.
The study, which included Jinyi Hao, research associate, introduces a fully automated, deep-learning framework that detects and quantifies retinal neovascularization directly from widefield OCT angiography images without requiring complex retinal layer segmentation. This work highlights the potential of combining widefield OCT angiography with artificial intelligence to improve early screening and clinical management of diabetic retinopathy, a leading cause of preventable blindness worldwide.
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Hiroyuki Nakai to present at symposium
Hiroyuki Nakai, M.D., Ph.D., professor of molecular and medical genetics in the OHSU School of Medicine, has been selected as a presenter for the Science2Startup 2026 Symposium. Nakai was chosen in recognition of his work on adeno-associated virus, or AAV, gene therapy for kidney diseases through NeoSakura BTX, Inc., a startup company he founded. NeoSakura BTX is engineering novel AAV technologies to advance gene therapy for renal indications, addressing a field in which effective gene delivery to the kidney has long been a major challenge.
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Division of Nephrology receives $2.3 million in new research funding
The OHSU Division of Nephrology in the Department of Medicine has secured a total of more than $2.3 million in new research funding, underscoring the division’s growing impact on kidney and cardiovascular research. The awards, four from the American Heart Association and one from the National Institutes of Health, include support for three junior faculty members and one postdoctoral trainee, funding a diverse portfolio of projects aimed at advancing the understanding and treatment of kidney disease.
Congratulations to:
- Jessica Bahena Lopez, MD, Ph.D., postdoctoral scholar
- Ryan Cornelius, Ph.D., assistant professor
- Joshua Curry, M.D., Ph.D., clinical instructor
- Jessica Hebert, Ph.D., assistant professor
Collectively, these grants support research examining how kidney health influences outcomes across the lifespan and in a wide range of clinical conditions. Funded projects explore how maternal kidney injury can lead to long-term health consequences in offspring; how cardiac arrest contributes to acute kidney injury; and how certain cancer therapies cause kidney damage. Additional studies focus on the kidney’s essential role in regulating calcium and potassium levels in the blood, which are critical to heart function and overall cardiovascular health.
Funding comes from major organizations, including the National Institutes of Health and the American Heart Association, reflecting the strong cardiovascular relevance of nephrology research.
Together, these awards highlight the Division of Nephrology’s commitment to advancing innovative, high-impact science and mentoring the next generation of investigators, while strengthening OHSU’s leadership in research at the intersection of kidney disease and cardiovascular health.
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Jaqueline Mutai named American Association of Immunologists Public Policy Fellow
Jacqueline (Koko) Mutai, Ph.D., a postdoctoral scholar in the lab of Brandon Wilder, Ph.D., was selected by the American Association of Immunologists, or AAI, as one of 10 scientists nationwide for its Public Policy Fellows program. The program engages early career researchers in science advocacy and policy training. Mutai will serve a one-year fellowship beginning May 1, which includes a combination of in-person and virtual training, and culminates in a lobbying trip to Washington, D.C.
As a Kenyan native who studies malaria vaccines in the Wilder lab at the OHSU Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute, Mutai brings a global perspective to science policy and advocacy. Her work highlights how vaccine research can benefit the U.S. directly through improved immunologic design, while also improving the health and well-being of communities most impacted by infectious disease worldwide.
“I am honored to have been selected as a fellow in the AAI Public Policy Fellows Program,” Mutai said. “As an African scientist working at the intersection of immunology and vaccinology, this opportunity is particularly meaningful to me because it provides a platform to better understand how science policies in the Global North shape research priorities and public health outcomes in the Global South.”
Through the fellowship, Mutai hopes to raise awareness of how funding and policy decisions affect low- and middle-income countries, strengthen her ability to communicate scientific evidence to policymakers, and contribute to conversations that advance equitable global health.
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Recognize team or individual achievements with OHSU Accolades
Every day, OHSU members do amazing things. We want to celebrate the significant achievements of OHSU members, units, and programs, such as awards, grants, appointments, publications, and public recognitions. We publish these announcements regularly on OHSU Now and OHSU News: Awards and Accomplishments to celebrate with all 27,000 of our members and our community. Nominate yourself, a colleague or any OHSU member using this Accolades intake form. Submissions edited for length and clarity.