Justin Regner, M.D., is interviewed by KPTV-TV and KOIN-TV about OHSU’s field surgical team, which was dispatched from the hospital via Life Flight on May 24 to extricate a climber trapped under a boulder on Mount Hood.

President Shereef Elnahal, M.D., commits to expanding the NICU as the university’s top health system capital priority in a forthcoming strategic plan.

In an Everyday Health story about a rare condition in which the pituitary gland in the brain produces too much growth hormone, Maria Fleseriu, M.D., says, “Persistent acromegaly refers to continued evidence of disease immediately after surgery, indicating that excess growth hormone production was never fully controlled.”

Willamette Week writes about a nationwide decline in the use of electroconvulsive therapy, or ECT, despite the fact that it’s generally considered safe and effective in the treatment of certain conditions, including catatonia.

McKnight’s Senior Living covers new research about assisted living centers being acquired through leveraged buyouts. Lead author Paula Carder, Ph.D., says owners are selling to private equity firms because they want to retire, regulations have become too cumbersome or debt is overwhelming.

In a Nature story about new research in mice raising the possibility of improving treatment of stroke by sharply lowering body temperature, Shaun Morrison, Ph.D., says such drugs could one day extend the window of time for people with stroke to receive treatments that restore blood flow before too much damage is done.

The Portland Business Journal reports that the OHSU board of directors approved an annual operating budget targeting a 0.8% operating margin, reversing a planned deficit over the previous two fiscal years. Jeffrey Jones, chief financial officer, says, “This is not a budget filled with cuts.”

In a Medscape story about the dangers of private equity in healthcare, Donald Sullivan, M.D., says, “Clearly, we’re in need of innovation, different funding models,” however he said a more affordable and sustainable healthcare system for patients may be “antithetical” to private equity’s mission to generate profits.

A KOIN-TV story highlights Knight Cancer Institute research that finds Oregon consistently reports higher rates of melanoma than the national average. Anna Bar, M.D., says: “Nobody really knows why we have a high rate of skin cancer, but there could be several factors involved.”

At his monthly media availability June 16, Shereef Elnahal emphasizes the Doernbecher NICU expansion project is a “top capital priority [for OHSU], full stop.”