OHSU and the greater community mourn the passing of Albert Starr, M.D., a giant in the field of cardiovascular medicine whose groundbreaking career spanned more than half a century. Steve Stadum, J.D., says, “Albert Starr embodied the highest qualities of a physician, an innovator and a teacher. Through his commitment, he touched the lives of hundreds of thousands of patients and families over the years."

In a letter to readers, the president of Strategic Health Care Marketing tells the origin story of the Nike Doernbecher Freestyle program, a partnership that has raised more than $40 million over 20 years to advance Doernbecher's mission.

The Food for Health Network, established this fall as a collaboration between OHSU Doernbecher’s Nourish team and the Portland Open Bible Community Pantry, works to ensure families discharged from Doernbecher have access to healthy, culturally appropriate, fresh food to help them heal.

A Knowable Magazine story about clusters of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, highlights research from Peter Spencer, Ph.D., noting: "To Spencer, the parallel between the ALS clusters in Guam and around Montchavin is inescapable: a poisonous natural foodstuff ... a toxin consisting of a hydrazine or hydrazine metabolite that chemically alters DNA ... eventual neurological disorder."

Roseburg philanthropists Cheryl and Allyn Ford donate $16 million to establish a comprehensive clinic for children with pediatric neuromuscular disorders. Erika Finanger, M.D., says, “For years I have dreamed of a one-stop clinic where kids and their families can access all the right people and services in one place and in one day. Thanks to this incredibly generous gift, that dream will soon come true.”

Nutraceutical Business Review covers OHSU research that reveals how vitamin C helps offset decreased placental blood flow found in pregnant mothers who smoke. Eliot Spindel, M.D., Ph.D., says, “It is important to note that some, but not all, abnormalities were prevented by vitamin C intake.”

In an article on treating graft-vs-host-disease in patients who need stem cell transplants, Shannon Palmer, Pharm.D., says, “Our goal is to spare steroids as much as possible. The problem is that no alternatives we have tried so far are both less toxic and as effective at reducing the symptoms of this disease."

Maureen Baldwin, M.D., and team are awarded more than $2 million in research funding from the NIH to better understand treatments for heavy menstrual bleeding in people with chronic bleeding disorders — conditions that have been historically understudied. She says, "A variety of treatment options for heavy menstrual bleeding exist. However, few studies are focused on those with bleeding disorders, which makes it challenging for providers to offer truly informed decision-making. This work will allow us to determine the benefits and expected outcomes of treatment options for this population, which has been systematically excluded from previous trials."

Roseburg philanthropists Cheryl and Allyn Ford donate $16 million to establish a comprehensive clinic for children with pediatric neuromuscular disorders. Erika Finanger, M.D., says, “For years I have dreamed of a one-stop clinic where kids and their families can access all the right people and services in one place and in one day. Thanks to this incredibly generous gift, that dream will soon come true.”

Media outlets cite OHSU research that hypothesizes exposure to cycad seed toxins can eventually lead to ALS-PDC, a rare, progressive neurodegenerative disease.