Ohsu Week

“Health literacy” describes a person’s ability to understand and process health information — and it’s deeply affected by the complexity of the message, the physical and emotional state of the listener, and much more. OHSU’s Creative Director Megan Pugmire and Family Medicine Physician Cliff Coleman are both deeply involved in work that’s focused on improving health communications. The two of them sat down to talk about what staff members at OHSU can do to present complicated information in a way that makes sense for all. Guests include: • Megan Pugmire, Creative Director, OHSU Marketing • Cliff Coleman, Associate Professor of Family Medicine and Clinical Thread Director for Professionalism, Ethics, and Communication, OHSU School of Medicine

Employee benefits are one of the most important aspects of a person’s employment, and are often a factor in the decision to join or stay with an organization. OHSU will hold its annual Open Enrollment beginning October 21st, when employees have the chance to choose a benefits package that best meets their needs. Guests include: Andrea Cahoe Supervisor, HR Service Center

On Sunday, Oct. 27, OHSU, Portland Fire and Rescue, American Medical Response and Portland Police, will participate in a full-scale active shooter simulation exercise. Practice and preparation for the worst could save lives and improve OHSU’s ability to respond. Tom Forsyth Training Lieutenant, OHSU Police Heath Kula Chief, OHSU Police, Director, Public Safety Susan Ferguson Health Care Emergency Manager

The Pacific Northwest Transplant Bank, based at OHSU, is part of a national network that collaborates with hospitals to bring organ and tissue donations to the recipients who need them. Executive Director Mike Seely shared with us some of the meaningful stories that have kept him going over 28 years with OHSU – and how we can register as donors ourselves. Guests include: Mike Seely outgoing executive director, Pacific Northwest Transplant Bank

The Spark Health Evaluation program is a starting point for understanding your health and what risk factors you may face. Spark offers anyone who completes a Spark Health Evaluation free enrollment in a Health Enhancement Program. Guests include: Kimberly Regner Program Technician Beth Kempton Senior Research Associate

In May, nearly two thirds of OHSU employees shared their voices in the 2019 employee survey. In August, those results were shared with leaders. And by October 31, those leaders will share the department's results with their teams. All of this leads to action planning as a team, which needs to be completed by the end of January. Guests include: Katy Fonner Senior Organizational Development Consultant

Investigation and discovery drive OHSU’s research environment — and bringing those discoveries to people who need them. Strengthening that path from the research lab to the clinic is where research meets human health. Guests include: Jonathan Jubera – Project Manager, OCTRI Melissa Mudd – Research Associate, OCTRI

As health disparities in underserved communities grow, the Youth Engaged in Science, YES! Program, strives to expose underrepresented students to science, scientific research and careers in related fields. The goal is to get kids excited about science through education, mentorship and hands-on experience to end health disparities in underserved communities. Guests include: Binyam Nardos - Post Doctoral Scholar, Behavioral Neuroscience Anita Randolph - Post Doctoral Scholar, Psychiatry Research Damien Fair - Associate Professor, Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychiatry, Associate Scientist, Advanced Imaging Research Center

OHSU’s faculty senate is made up of thirty-one senators representing twenty-seven hundred OHSU faculty members. Senators are elected by their respective schools or units to be a voice of the faculty. Guests include: Karen Eden – President of Faculty Senate, Professor Medical Informatics & Clinical Epidemiology Kristina DeShazo – Senator, Director of Collection Management, OHSU Library Terri Holter – Faculty Senate Administrative Assistant

OHSU employees purchase over 13,000 TriMet passes each year. This year, OHSUians are moving to the HOP Fast pass. Learn more about why OHSU is making this transition, how you can get your HOP pass and the future of commuting to OHSU with the new SW Corridor light rail line - this week on OHSU Week. Guests include: Jenny Cadigan – Transportation Program Manager Charlie Gannon – Commute Coordinator

Employees are entitled to a reasonable break time to express breast milk for their nursing child. OHSU’s Workplace Expression of Breast Milk Advisory Committee or WEBMAC has worked with OHSU to designate several locations to give mothers a private place to breastfeed or pump breast milk. The committee is also available for support and advice. Guests include: Joanne Edwards OHSU Childbirth/Parenting Educator

A new book written by Dr. Alisha Moreland-Capuia, takes her work and research with young people in the Multnomah County Juvenile Justice system and as a practicing psychiatrist to focus on trauma-informed practices and the role in improving the health of individuals while creating positive system change. Guests include: Dr. Alisha Moreland-Capuia, assistant professor of psychiatry, OHSU School of Medicine, and executive director of the OHSU Avel Gordly Center for Health and Healing.

Working in health care involves more than providing patients with medical care and services; it also involves experiencing emotions that can be very difficult to process. Schwartz Rounds – which are new to OHSU – provide a forum for caregivers and others to share their feelings, their experiences and their vulnerabilities, and to help each other work through the process of healing the pain. Guests include: • Fernando Serna, Chaplain • Bob Macauley, Medical Director, Pediatric Palliative Care

Doing work you love is a key ingredient in a long, satisfying career. No one knows this better than Robert Watzke, a professor in the OHSU Casey Eye Institute. Dr. Watzke joined OHSU as a full professor in 1984 after a 30-year career in Iowa. He recently retired but is still involved in teaching residents. Guests include: Dr. Robert Watzke - OHSU Casey Eye Institute

OHSU’s Ambulatory Care division has seen a steady rise in patient visits over the years. That growth – coupled with the convenience that consumers now expect – has led to an intensive project to make it easier for clinic patients to see the providers they need. Guests include: Kevin O’Boyle - Vice President, Ambulatory Care

As medical students, Elena Griffin and Jennifer Thompson wanted to help other parents and parents-to-be find information and resources for their families. Together, with the help of several OHSU leaders and the Affirmation Action and Equal Opportunity Department, they developed a webpage that serves as a touchpoint for students or employees who are pregnant or parenting. It has information about benefits, options, rights, protections and policies. You can find the Pregnant and Parenting at OHSU webpage on the OHSU Title IX site. Employees and students can also access the information on O2. https://www.ohsu.edu/title-ix/pregnant-and-parenting Guests include: - Laura Stadum, Director, Affirmation Action and Equal Opportunity Department and Title IX Coordinator - Elena Griffin, M.D., Class of 2019 - Jennifer Thompson, M.D., Class of 2019

Wy'east is the name for Mt. Hood given by the Multnomah tribe of Native Americans who first came to the area. The mountain is a symbol of strength and hope. It’s also the name of a new pathway for American Indian and Alaska Native students to enter medical school. The first year of the Wy’east Postbaccalaurete Pathway was a major success. It’s hosted by the Northwest Native American Center of Excellence. Tracey Lam sat down with its executive director, as well as a couple of the students, to learn more about the significance of the initiative for OHSU and the community. Guests include: Erik Brodt, M.D. - assistant professor of family medicine, School of Medicine; executive director, Northwest Native American Center of Excellence Kyna Lewis, M.D. - Class of 2023 Aaron Thomas, M.D. - Class of 2023

Hospitals are busy, dynamic environments where nurses constantly monitor patient needs, prioritize work and step in to help one another. A current study at OHSU is exploring ways to help with these activities by looking at the data that’s constantly generated on an inpatient unit. In the future, early warnings of clinician overload could help charge nurses make real-time adjustments and reschedule tasks to improve workflow. Guests include: Dana Womack - Assistant Professor, School of Medicine and School of Nursing