A national study led by Sue Flocke, Ph.D., found that routine tobacco use assessments plummeted by 50% during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and did not return to pre-pandemic levels. Flocke says: “We know that a large portion of people who use tobacco do want to quit, but the vast majority of them do not have access to or do not use available resources. Health care providers can provide access to a wide variety of resources, including referral for tobacco cessation counseling and prescriptions for FDA-approved tobacco cessation medications. A successful quit attempt typically requires many tries — that’s why these discussions are so important.”

An OHSU research team confirms discontinuing use of THC can at least partly reverse its negative effects. Jamie Lo, M.D., says: “These findings are important because we can now more confidently assure patients that by abstaining from THC for at least four months, the impacts of THC on male fertility can be partly reversed.”

An OHSU research team confirms discontinuing use of THC can at least partly reverse its negative effects. Jamie Lo, M.D., says: “These findings are important because we can now more confidently assure patients that by abstaining from THC for at least four months, the impacts of THC on male fertility can be partly reversed.”

In a Willamette Week article, OHSU is mentioned as a stakeholder in House Bill 2697, which would make Oregon the first state to codify nurse-to-patient ratios for hospital settings, alleviating staffing shortages.

Jennifer H. Huang, M.D., and co-authors describe how research has shown most cases of post-vaccination heart inflammation, or myocarditis, have been mild and respond well to treatment, and how the overall myocarditis risk is significantly higher after COVID-19 infection.

March is Sleep Awareness Month and health experts say Americans are not getting enough of it. Kimberly Hutchison, M.D., says, "Because we live in this accomplishment-driven culture, it results in people sacrificing sleep in order to get other things done."

Amanda Bruegl, M.D., is the 2023 recipient of the prestigious Outstanding American Indian/Alaska Native Women’s Health Care Clinician Award, also known as the William H.J. Haffner AI/AN Women’s Health Award.

OHSU School of Nursing alum Erin Collins, M.N.E., RN, has launched the Peaceful Presence Project, which views compassionate end-of-life care as a basic human right, and is creating a social death care movement through education for clinicians, volunteer-based programs and an innovative concept called end-of-life doulas.

A MIM Software press release announces its software is in the majority of health care facilities designated as Radiopharmaceutical Therapy Comprehensive Centers of Excellence by the SNMMI, including OHSU. Erik Mittra, M.D., Ph.D., says, "Dosimetry for radiopharmaceutical therapies is an increasingly important tool that will allow us to be more proactive with complex patient treatment decisions. We are excited to start providing this service to patients."

U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden hosts a press conference on abortion access with several speakers, including Maria Rodriguez, M.D., and Alison Edelman, M.D. Rodriguez says, “We know that taken together, it is the most effective way to help with miscarriage management as well as abortion. We do not need judges, lawyers and politicians practicing medicine without a license in Texas or anywhere else in our country.” Edelman says, “If the judge says that mifepristone is illegal, we are going to provide care no matter what. For individuals in Oregon, I think it is just a catastrophe to think that someone in another state would think we cannot make choices for ourselves and not make choices with our health care providers.”