News

I have worked with pregnant women for 20 years as a dietitian and diabetes educator. I love that pregnancy is a time of heightened awareness around the importance of good nutrition, which is why it is so fun to work with this patient population. We now know that good nutrition is important — not only for the immediate health of the developing baby, but also for the baby’s future health as she grows into adulthood. … Read More

April is National Autism Awareness Month and the perfect time to share some good news for children with autism spectrum disorder, or ASD. Parents of children with ASD have commonly been told that if their child isn’t speaking by age 5, he or she likely never will. However, a new study in the journal Pediatrics counters this belief. The study of more than 500 children suggests that even when children are not yet using phrase … Read More

Flu season is in full swing across the country, including the Pacific Northwest. In our state, influenza activity remains moderate — thus far, Oregon hasn’t been severely affected. There have already been 29 pediatric flu-related deaths in the United States this season alone, but none in Oregon. You can help control influenza activity in our community by getting vaccinated. It’s not too late to protect yourself and your loved ones!  This season, OHSU Doernbecher has … Read More

The horror of this past week is not easily understood. First holiday shoppers in our own community and then school children and teachers in Connecticut were victims of mass murder. The Newtown tragedy was particularly jarring to those of us who have dedicated our lives to caring for children and families. Through our daily work caring for seriously ill children at Doernbecher, we are accustomed to helping families through the pain and suffering that accompanies … Read More

Doernbecher is not the country’s largest children’s hospital, but I think it is one of the best. The reason? Great people. That’s why I am so proud to be joined by one of the top young pediatric neurosurgeons in the country who began her practice at OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital this week. Lissa Baird, M.D., graduated from Brigham Young and earned her medical degree from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. She underwent residency … Read More

Keep toy magnets, tablet computers, electronic devices with magnetic fields away from a programmable shunt In 1955 a child with severe spina bifida and hydrocephalus, or water on the brain, was born to John W. Holter, a toolmaker in Stamford, Conn., and his wife. Charles Casey Holter, like other children at the time, did not survive this severe congenital disorder. His condition, however, prompted his father to invent the first hydrocephalus shunt valve, allowing the … Read More

In this column, I am happy to announce that we are developing a relationship with Massachusetts General Hospital’s Think:Kids program. This program, also known as the Collaborative Problem Solving model, has grown out of the work of Ross Greene, Ph.D., and Stuart Ablon, Ph.D., and is designed to help children, families and care providers deal more effectively with challenging behaviors. Children who frequently shut down, become defiant or explosive may respond to traditional behavioral strategies … Read More

Mario and Edie Campagna are a precious commodity in our state. Committed Oregonians, they have worked hard their entire lives to build a wonderful state and then continued watching out for Oregon through wise and active philanthropy. Mario Campagna was educated at what was then the University of Oregon Medical School here on Marquam Hill. Successful in school, he was called to the Mayo Clinic to train in neurological surgery, a new and cutting-edge specialty … Read More

Welcome! I am delighted to author the inaugural post on the OHSU Doernbecher blog, “Healthy Families.” Over the past 15 years, we’ve worked hard to bring talented faculty and staff from across the country and around the world to elevate the care OHSU Doernbecher provides kids in Oregon, Southwest Washington and beyond. And, our efforts have been recognized: six of our specialty services rank among the best in the nation, according to U.S. News & … Read More