OHSU’s and UC Davis’ joint COMPADRE program, which aims to transform both graduate medical education and health care in Southern Oregon and Northern California, is mentioned during a roundtable discussion on improving rural health care.

An essay published on Ruffwear shares the touching story of a hospital volunteer and his therapy dog, known at OHSU for bringing a calming and joyful presence to patients and staff.

OHSU is mentioned in a New York Times story on U.S. hospitals beginning to charge patients for exchanging electronic messages with their providers. To both help patients receive the best and most appropriate kind of care for their specific situation as well as to help providers better balance patient care responsibilities, OHSU began a pilot in September 2022 that involves billing some patients for the time it takes clinicians at two outpatient clinics to respond to more complex inquiries that are submitted through the OHSU MyChart electronic health portal.

Researchers at OHSU are contributing to an international clinical trial exploring possible treatments for Alzheimer’s, specifically focusing on earlier intervention. The AHEAD Study looks at the treatment of a drug called Lecanemab, which could delay memory decline before symptoms of the disease appear.

A partnership between OHSU and Sky Lakes Medical Center will allow for expanded physician resident training in Klamath Falls, thanks to new Medicare funding. The partnership is an important step toward improving access to primary care and mental health services in the region.

OHSU and Oregon State University researchers are developing a new approach to gene therapy for inherited forms of blindness that uses lipid nanoparticles to deliver gene-altering mRNA.

News briefing held by Oregon Health Authority cites Jan. 6 statewide forecast by Peter Graven, Ph.D., predicting a small increase in the number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 due to the XBB.1.5 variant.

Free OHSU skin cancer screening was available at the Salem Kroc Center’s annual health fair.

A state lawmaker has introduced a bill proposing state oversight, in additional to existing federal oversight, of ONRPC. Peter Barr-Gillespie, Ph.D., said: “We seek to foster a culture of excellence across all missions, and in doing so, provide the information necessary to reinforce and strengthen our commitment to quality, safety and service to all Oregonians. We also strive to provide a workplace and learning environment that is safe and welcoming for all. As Oregon’s academic health center, we are continually learning and working to identify opportunities for improvement.”

A state lawmaker has introduced a bill proposing state oversight, in additional to existing federal oversight, of ONRPC. Peter Barr-Gillespie, Ph.D., said: “We seek to foster a culture of excellence across all missions, and in doing so, provide the information necessary to reinforce and strengthen our commitment to quality, safety and service to all Oregonians. We also strive to provide a workplace and learning environment that is safe and welcoming for all. As Oregon’s academic health center, we are continually learning and working to identify opportunities for improvement.”