OHSU Doernbecher Children's Hospital

10/12/2025

Something sneaky this way comes 👟✨ countdown ⏱️ 6️⃣ days to go!

⭐️ Fun Fact: Oli's favorite movie is Ratatouille 🐀🧑🏻‍🍳

Learn more: https://bit.ly/4f4chxj

10/11/2025

This week, we had the privilege of dropping off all the toys our amazing runners donated during the Halfway to St. Patrick’s Day event. Your generosity is a true reflection of the strength and heart of this community.
While delivering the toys, we had the opportunity to visit the playroom at OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital’s Child Life Program, and we were deeply moved by the incredible work they do.

Here’s just a glimpse of what the Child Life Program offers:
Certified child life specialists in every area of the hospital.
Art, music, playrooms, toys, costumes and games.
Therapeutic, medical and developmental play.
Animal-assisted therapy with Casey and Davis, the facility dogs.

Thanks to your support, every toy and every dollar donated during registration goes directly to this life-changing program, bringing comfort, joy, and healing to children and families in care.

Stay tuned for more Shamrock Run Fest events and opportunities to donate toys to this incredible cause. Let’s keep the kindness flowing.

10/10/2025

Say hello to our newest dogs of Doernbecher, Darby! 🎉Darby is officially joining the pack as an Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) Doernbecher Children’s Hospital Facility Dog, bringing comfort, calm and a whole lot of tail wags to our patients and staff. 💛

A recent graduate of Assistance Dogs Northwest, Darby has spent months perfecting her 🐾 paw-fessional skills — from lending a paw during tough moments to offering snuggles when they’re needed most. We’re so grateful for our partnership with this incredible organization that trains and provides highly skilled therapy dogs for hospitals and community programs across the region.

Don’t worry — our seasoned pro Casey has been busy showing Darby the ropes (and maybe a few favorite treat spots 🦴). Help us give a warm welcome to our new CEO (Chief Empathy Officer) Darby! 🦮 💙

10/09/2025

🎉 Happy 50 years of Midwifery at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) — and Happy National Midwifery Week! ❤️🧡💜💚

When Carol Howe, former Director of Nurse-Midwifery and Associate Dean of the OHSU School of Nursing, became OHSU’s first midwife, she helped shape a legacy that’s now five decades strong. This year, she reflects on what those 50 years mean — and the advice she’d share with the next generation of midwives ready to grow and lead.

Midwives are so much more than birth attendants. They’re clinicians, educators, researchers, and policy changemakers. They bring lived experience, cultural humility, and evidence-based care to every patient and community they serve. And behind every life-saving decision is research led by midwives. From reducing maternal mortality to expanding access in rural areas, midwives are driving change that transforms care for all.

Here’s to 50 years of impact — and to every midwife leading the way forward. 💪✨
American College of Nurse-Midwives

10/09/2025

Last week, Nike celebrated the Portland Marathon and our local community with one of their signature employee events – Thirst Thursday.

They welcomed the OHSU Foundation, OHSU Doernbecher Children's Hospital's Freestyle, and other nonprofit partners to help kick off marathon weekend and showcase how employees can volunteer and give.

The afternoon included a 5K run, walk, and roll, and brought together Nike employees, OHSU Foundation colleagues, and Dr. Brian Druker.

10/07/2025

📚💖 Hospital Facility Dog Casey is helping out with the Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) Doernbecher Book Drive! 🐾 You too can brighten a child’s hospital stay by donating ✨brand new✨ children’s and young adult books to support our Child Life program! 🌈💫

If you missed today, we have one more drop off time on Thursday, Oct. 9 at Center for Health & Healing lobby, noon to 4 p.m. For patient safety, only new items can be accepted.

📖 Every child deserves to see their story represented. We welcome books that highlight underrepresented communities and those that have been banned or challenged. Thank you for helping kids’ stories shine off the page! 💕

10/07/2025

10/06/2025

When Silas was born with bilateral sclerocornea, a rare condition that leaves the corneas cloudy and opaque, his parents were told he would likely be blind. But after being referred to Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) Casey Eye Institute, his care team discovered something incredible: despite the cloudy corneas, Silas’s optic nerve and retinas were healthy. That meant one thing — hope. 💫

Doctors performed full-thickness corneal transplants on both eyes, and now Silas can see his parents’ faces and reach for his favorite toys. Thanks to his amazing care team, his loving family, and the generous cornea donations made possible by VisionGift, Silas’ world keeps getting brighter every day.

“It’s literally a miracle what these doctors at Casey Eye were able to make happen,” says his mom, Ellie.💙 Read Silas’s full story: https://bit.ly/3KF8egY

10/01/2025

Science + community = change. ✨ With a new $4.25M federal award from National Institutes of Health (NIH), Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) and partners are joining forces with the autism community to reimagine what health can look like — combining science with lived experience to create meaningful change for people with autism. 💙

“Autistic people are valued members of our community here in Oregon and around the country, and OHSU researchers have been at the forefront of investigating important scientific questions that matter to these families,” said OHSU President Dr. Shereef Elnahal.

Autism now affects about 1 in 31 children in the U.S. (via CDC). Led by Dr. Katharine Zuckerman, professor of pediatrics in the School of Medicine, OHSU is launching an initiative to improve quality of life through better preventative care, sleep, nutrition, and community support programs. Learn more: https://bit.ly/46LurBp

09/29/2025

09/26/2025

Our pediatric hematology and oncology teams are going gold this September! 💛 ✨ September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, and we’re proud to stand with our patients, families and community. On , you’ll spot us rocking our “Fight Like a Kid 🎗️” shirts — because kids facing cancer show us every day what true strength looks like. 💪 PS: thank you to Infinity Impressions LLC for creating our gear!

OHSU Knight Cancer Institute