Portland - Gateway to the Pacific NW

Portland, home of Oregon Health & Science University, is a city of bridges, hills, flowers and forests. The Columbia River separates Portland from Washington, its neighbor to the north. The Willamette River runs through the city and provides many opportunities for recreational diversions.

Portland is Oregon's largest city, with a metropolitan area population of nearly two million. The area offers entertainment in the arts and theater, museums of art and science, restaurants, night life and sports. Opportunities for outdoor recreation abound in Portland and the Pacific Northwest. Nearby rivers and lakes invite swimming, boating, and other water sports. Mountains and ocean beaches, all within a 90-minute drive, attract campers, hikers, cyclists, skiers and climbers.

Despite its reputation for dampness, Portland's average precipitation, 37 inches, is less than Atlanta, Baltimore, Houston or Seattle. The 37,000 acres of park land in the metro area, including the 5,000-acre Forest Park, benefit from the rain and provide a lush environment that promotes relaxation. 

South Waterfront

Portland’s newest neighborhood, South Waterfront, is located along the Willamette River immediately below OHSU’s Marquam Hill Campus. Planned as a vibrant urban community, South Waterfront is also home to OHSU Center for Health & Healing, the most earth-friendly buildings of its kind in Oregon and one of the greenest buildings anywhere in the world. The Center is the newest location for OHSU’s world class care, and research and education activities. The Center is connected to the extensive patient care services on Marquam Hill by the Portland Aerial Tram , the newest form of public transportation in the city and a unique partnership between the City of Portalnd and OHSU.