Posts Tagged ‘Alumni’

By Mark Kemball It’s awards season in two of our schools’ alumni associations, and the Alumni Office is knee-deep in nomination forms, research papers and curriculae vitae. The physical evidence of so many peer-recognized achievements and contributions makes us reflect with pride on the impacts of our graduates locally, nationally and internationally. However, the recent passing of Sherlock Holmes’ birthday (Jan. 6, in case you missed it) makes we wonder what an award for achievement … Read More

Written by Mark Kemball  The Mayan Apocalypse may have passed, but the year still has a few days to run. With this in mind, therefore, here aresome informal , unordered Top Nine-and-a-Half Alumni Moments of 2012. (For the Fractional Arithmophobes, we are fully confident that at least half a moment of alumni magic will happen before Dec. 31 to bring the number to ten.) These are all moments that signaled small victories in long-running projects, celebrated defining moments in our alumni community or just flat out made us happy in 2012. You Re-united Our reunion numbers were WAY up … Read More

Written by Mark Kemball The letter is yellowed and a little torn around the edges but the words still stand out as freshly as the day they were written. At the top is an address in Bradford, Yorkshire, England, and the date – August 15, 1915. It is addressed to “My Dear Nurse.” The final pages have been lost so we don’t know much about the writer, beyond the fact that he was a soldier, … Read More

Written by Mark Kemball I am not a techie, but my family will tell you that I am addicted to my smartphone. I hear tales of parents who restrict their childrens’ screen time. In our house, it is my teenage daughter who confiscates my phone at mealtimes. Of all the things that my phone does, I am most amazed by its camera. Its tiny dimensions and pin head lens belie its extraordinary clarity, wide zoom … Read More

Written by Mark Kemball OHSU has been home to some excellent musical ensembles over the years. Three of the following four groups have been active at OHSU at some point between the mid 1950s and today. The fourth is–at least for the moment–wholly fictitious. Can you spot the imposter? The Forcep Four. A barbershop quartet, whose repertoire included a performance of “Jungle Town” with a live chimp and a skunk as “props” and a great … Read More

Written by Mark Kemball Oregon may well be known for its wines, but no vineyards are to be found on the south-facing slopes of Marquam Hill. The tram lacks tie-downs for the transportation of aged oak barrels. The finer points of pigeage–the French wine-making term for the annual stomping of the grapes–are absent from the academic curriculum. But we do share one characteristic with the grape harvesters and the wine makers: we mark the graduation … Read More

By Mark Kemball Spring is in the air and the Pacific Northwest air is filled with the hum of spinning hats. Yes, it’s graduation. Thanks to the M.D. Class, this year tam o’shanters will join the exuberant flight of mortarboards and other assorted headwear that traditionally marks the annual migration of students from all of OHSU’s academic programs. But data from our alumni records suggest that while our graduating students are indeed leaving their campus-based … Read More