In a story about a growing nursing labor gap and nursing schools not being able to admit all qualified applicants due to resource limitations, Susan Bakewell-Sachs, Ph.D., R.N., says: “With the pandemic ushering in a period of unprecedented change and innovation in higher education, schools of nursing moved decisively to adapt their programs to ensure a steady supply of nurses needed to join the fight against COVID-19."

In a story about endogenous cannabinoids, or natural molecules made in the human body that are similar to the molecules found in marijuana, Susan Ingram, Ph.D., describes how certain cannabidiols, also known as CBDs, might work as a chronic pain treatment and how they hope more “gold standard clinical studies” will be conducted as more states legalize marijuana.

More than 120,000 initial doses of the Pfizer BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine for children should be available in Oregon by early next week.

In a story about Oregon hospitals continuing to experience high patient demand despite declining COVID-19 case counts, Renee Edwards, M.D., says: “The volumes we’re all managing on a daily basis would have been crisis-level and unimaginable pre-pandemic."

Fitch Ratings has assigned an AA- rating to the bonds OHSU will issue to support its Hospital Expansion Project, as well as its outstanding bonds.

Modeling by Peter Graven, Ph.D., shows approval of COVID-19 vaccines for children ages 5 to 11 will help slow the transmission of the disease, and his Oct. 28 modeling indicates Central and South Central Oregon were lagging behind the rest of the state in terms of reduced hospitalizations.

An opinion piece by Esther Choo, M.D., and others argues for removing all requirements to receive the antiviral drug molupiravir, which they describe as being too high of a barrier for people of color and with low incomes, to create more equitable access to the treatment.

Ajit Jetmalani, M.D., tells the Oregon Capital Chronicle/Salem Reporter: "Programs where children went to stay for care started having Covid outbreaks, and they started to have dramatic challenges with staffing. The staff would get sick, and they’d have to shut down beds. The program would then hemorrhage funds because they only make money if they have children in their program. This happened across the board in terms of intensive services for kids.”

Danny Jacobs, M.D., is a member of the American Association of Medical Colleges’ board of directors.