OHSU traces its origin to the formation in 1887 of the University of Oregon Medical school, one of the two oldest medical schools west of the Mississippi River. OHSU was established as a free-standing academic health sciences university in 1974 when the Oregon legislature mandated the combination of the preexisting University of Oregon Medical School, University of Oregon School of Dentistry, and the University of Oregon School of Nursing.

On July 1, 1995, OHSU was removed from the administrative jurisdiction of the Oregon System of Higher Education (OSSHE) and became an independent public corporation governed by a Board of Directors. As a public corporation, OHSU is relieved from regulations that apply soley to state agencies, but continues to be bound by those that apply to public bodies.

The configuration as a public corporation provides increased flexibility in meeting the challenges associated with the University's mission of education, research, health care and outreach. It allows the University to respond more rapidly to changing marketplaces, streamline operations, reduce administrative costs, capitalize on funding and revenue opportunities, improve programs and services by modernizing physical plants and equipment, maximize state and federal investments and enhance OHSU's potential as a major biomedical research university.

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