By Josh Friesen
For Ignite Magazine
Photos by Jason Hill
Photos of Danielle Pinn by Bryon DeVore
The future of health is changing.
While so much progress has been made, OHSU is still pushing forward. OHSU and OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital are building a future that brings health and well-being to everyone in Oregon and beyond.
From advancing specialized treatments for cancer patients to changing the conversation about gun violence, people across OHSU are transforming their fields and inspiring change through innovation, empathy and hope.
Here are just a few of the incredible people at OHSU whose work is shaping the health landscape of tomorrow.
These are the Changemakers.
Transforming health through fetal medicine
Andrew Chon, M.D., Raphael Sun, M.D.
Thinking outside the box is a necessity for OHSU fetal surgeons Andrew Chon, M.D., and Raphael Sun, M.D. Chon and Sun are part of the OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital’s Fetal Care Program, a comprehensive, expert team of neonatologists, pediatric cardiologists, maternal-fetal medicine specialists, radiologists, pediatric subspecialists and anesthesiologists. It is one of only a handful of centers in the country to provide the highest level of maternal, fetal and neonatal care in one location.
Changing the conversation about gun violence
Kathleen Carlson, Ph.D.
Gun violence in the U.S. is a public health crisis, and injury epidemiologist Kathleen Carlson, Ph.D., is trying to figure out why. Carlson, the director of the OHSU Gun Violence Prevention Research Center and professor of public health in the OHSU-PSU School of Public Health, has positioned OHSU as a national leader in understanding the public health toll of firearm injury.
Paving a clear path to a cure for HIV
Jonah Sacha, Ph.D.
More people worldwide are living with HIV now than in any other time in recorded history. Jonah Sacha, Ph.D., a professor at OHSU’s Oregon National Primate Research Center, is confident he can help change that. He is working to reverse-engineer the process that has cured five individuals of HIV, the groundbreaking insights of which will illuminate the roadmap to HIV-specific immunotherapies.
Building a future that brings health and well-being to all
Shandee Dixon, Ph.D.
How can we guarantee everyone equal access to the benefits of innovation? Every day, Shandee Dixon, Ph.D., gets closer to answering that question. The research thread director of the Wy’east Post-Baccalaureate Pathway in the Northwest Native American Center of Excellence, Dixon helps students navigate and validate their place in their academic careers. Her work is building a future where health care providers and researchers look like and understand the people they serve, a future where structural gaps at the root of health inequities are filled.
Improving the precision of brain surgery
Ahmed Raslan, M.D., FAANS
The dichotomy between the brain’s incredible complexity and beautiful simplicity captivates Ahmed Raslan, M.D., professor and interim chair of neurological surgery in the OHSU School of Medicine and director of functional neurosurgery. Balancing his efforts as a surgeon and researcher, Raslan has spent his career at OHSU on the leading edge of science and discovery, impacting patients in the operating room and through scientific innovation.
Advancing specialized treatments for cancer patients
Divya Sood, M.D.
Divya Sood, M.D., sees patients who often have nowhere else to turn. Sood, an assistant professor of surgery (surgical oncology) in the OHSU School of Medicine, specializes in treating patients with abdominal cancers, focusing on metastatic cancers that have spread from one part of the abdomen to another. Her work is encouraging oncologists to rethink their approach to metastatic cancer treatment. One treatment in particular, hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC), is offering something metastatic cancer patients have longed for: hope.
Expanding complete pediatric care beyond the walls of a clinic
Benjamin Hoffman, M.D., CPST-I, FAAP
Benjamin Hoffman, M.D., CPST-I, FAAP, a professor of pediatrics at the OHSU School of Medicine and medical director of OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital’s Child Injury and Prevention Program and Tom Sargent Safety Resource Center, realized long ago that complete pediatric care expands beyond the walls of a clinic. His dedication to influencing policy, connecting with families and communities, and advocating for children’s health and injury prevention has led to his recent election as president of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Forging a brighter future for reproductive health
Alison Edelman, M.D., M.P.H.
In the wake of increased efforts to restrict reproductive health access across the U.S., OHSU has made its stance clear: Abortion is health care. “It’s critical to have a community around us that recognizes and supports the care that we’re doing,” said Alison Edelman, M.D., professor of obstetrics and gynecology and division director of Complex Family Planning in the OHSU School of Medicine. “It’s this support that enables us to provide this essential health care and expand services to meet the existing need for Oregonians while also caring for those forced to travel to our state.”
Prioritizing marginalized communities in the health care system
Armando Jimenez, M.P.H., CPH
Communication is everything for Armando Jimenez, M.P.H. ’20, CPH, the director of language services at OHSU. Transparent, honest and accurate communication isn’t just key to increasing health care access — it’s vital for establishing trust. Jimenez and his team work to ensure access to anything a patient might need in a non-English language.
Advocating for the well-being of individuals experiencing homelessness
Danielle Pinn, OHSU School of Nursing student
Danielle Pinn understands how a little hope can go a long way. Pinn, a third-year nursing student at the OHSU School of Nursing in Ashland, experienced homelessness for over two years, and witnessed and experienced the shortcomings of the health care system. Today as a nursing student and student member of the OHSU Street Nursing Team in Ashland, Pinn strives for a health care future that treats every patient with the dignity they deserve.
In the spring of 2024, more of OHSU’s brilliant professionals spoke about their innovations and groundbreaking work that propel health care forward. Hear their stories in their own words.
Innovating novel cardiac research and care
Joaquin Cigarroa, M.D.
Cardiovascular innovation has transformed what’s possible in modern medicine, improving both individual lives and global health. At the forefront of this progress is Joaquin Cigarroa, M.D., division head and endowed Melvin Judkins professor of cardiology at the OHSU Knight Cardiovascular Institute, leading with a vision rooted in history and driven by cutting-edge research.
Protecting accessible reproductive health care for all
Maria Rodriguez, M.D., M.P.H.
Reproductive health and rights are not only important for individual health and well-being; they’re also essential for community development. The OHSU Center for Women’s Health and Center for Reproductive Health Equity, directed by Maria Rodriguez, M.D., M.P.H., has a powerful mission, bridging research and health care to become a national leader for reproductive health.
Bolstering community dentistry and comprehensive education
Ronald Sakaguchi, D.D.S., Ph.D., M.B.A.
Community care lies at the heart of modern dentistry — it’s where technology and compassion meet to shape the future of the field. According to Ronald Sakaguchi, D.D.S., Ph.D., M.B.A., dean of the OHSU School of Dentistry, we are in the golden age of dentistry thanks to innovations in immediate on-site care, transforming the field for both providers and patients.
Championing youth mental health through research
Bonnie Nagel, Ph.D.
Mental health challenges for today’s youth are growing at a startling rate, leaving many experts searching for answers and solutions. Bonnie Nagel, Ph.D., director of the OHSU Center for Mental Health Innovation, is deeply committed to understanding the causes of these struggles and improving the well-being of young people.
Supporting the Native health leaders of tomorrow
Erik Brodt, M.D.
Creating pathways for American Indian and Alaska Native students in medicine is a powerful effort at the OHSU Northwest Native American Center of Excellence (NNACoE). Erik Brodt, M.D., associate dean for Native American Health and director of NNACoE, is passionate about fostering equity and reshaping the narrative around Native representation in the health workforce.
