OHSU PSU School of Public Health

A PUBLIC HEALTH EVENT OF HEALING, RESISTANCE, & RESURGENCE

“against the relentless laughter of evil
there is less and less living room
and where are my loved ones?

It is time to make our way home.”
– June Jordan, moving towards home (1982)

In our ever-present moment of continued state-sanctioned violence – from anti-trans violence and erasure, to racialized pol-ICE violence, to ongoing settler-colonial violence in Palestine, to [insert], to [insert], to [insert] – what does it mean to have/find living room? As home, as homeplace, as belonging. Living room as a place – the sanctuary of sofa, being held, heard, nurtured, loved on. Living room as space – to breathe, to be full, to be whole, to move freely, to unfold, to be allowed/aloud. Living room as invitation – to grow, to be seated, to rise-up, to move in solidarity. What does it take for public health and our communities to protect/preserve room to live / living room / our living rooms?

In a time when LOVE *and* RESISTANCE must be simultaneous acts, this event will illuminate the necessity of both STATS *and* STANZAS to create public health futures of radical possibility.

We invite you to join us for an evening of healing, resistance, and solidarity, featuring poetry readings from a lineup of poets whose work embodies the spirit of poetic health justice. Featured guests include:

Special guest poet Brianna Renae & Henneh Kwaku Kyereh
DJ SoundsByDontā | Music artist Nafisaria Mathews
OHSU-PSU School of Public Health professor & poet Dr. Ryan J. Petteway
Poets/scholars from the Journal of Health Promotion Practice

FREE Public Event! Click here to save your spot: https://hubs.ly/Q04bygsz0

Friday April 24th
6:00 – 9:00p (open mic 6:00-7:00p)

The Skyline Room
Hilton Portland Downtown
921 SW 6th Ave, Portland, OR 97204

Bring the fam. Bring the homies. Bring the kids. Bring the notepads. Bring the love

Stats & Stanzas 2026 Join us for an evening of poetry for public health!

Mark your calendars! 🗓️ PSU Day of Giving officially kicks off this Wednesday, April 15. This year, we’re rallying for OHSU-PSU SPH Student Success. Our students are the future of public health, and we’re making sure nothing stands in the way of their graduation.

Want to get ahead of the crowd? Early giving is OPEN!

Link - https://hubs.ly/Q04byh-y0

Help us support our future health leaders today. 🎓✨

Public Health Around the Globe: Australia 🇦🇺

What can we learn from Australia’s public health system?
Students in HSMP 574/674—Soyeon Ku, Maryanne Pelpola, and Max Goss—explored how Australia delivers public health through universal coverage, strong prevention programs, and coordinated care across all levels of government.

Their brochure highlights:
✔️ Medicare as a universal foundation
✔️ Immunization & affordable medications
✔️ A focus on equity, efficiency, and prevention
✔️ Real challenges—and real lessons for the U.S.

They also offer a balanced view, taking a closer look at the “fine print,” including gaps in coverage and ongoing equity issues.

Here is the link to read more: https://hubs.ly/Q04b5QY20

Join us on Friday, April 10 for "Pathways Project Journey Mapping," a showcase celebrating the power of storytelling. We’ll be exploring creative mapping as a tool to understand the journey from shelter to housing. Let's close out NPHW with a focus on social justice and equity.

Click here to register: https://hubs.ly/Q049NTY10

Date - Friday, April 10
Time - 12-2pm
Location - VPT 515

Big changes are coming to the cannabis landscape.

We are co-hosting an event with to host Representative Earl Blumenauer for a critical conversation on the recent federal reclassification of cannabis to a Schedule III substance. From research barriers to taxation, what does this "Action" at the federal level mean for public health and policy?

Come get the facts from a leader at the forefront of this movement.

Location: Urban Center, 2nd Floor (Parsons Gallery)
Time: 12:40 PM – 1:30 PM
Date: Thursday, April 9

FREE. Open to the public.

Success in public health shouldn’t be a mystery. On Wed, April 8 at 10:00 AM, we are hosting a diverse panel of students to share their journeys and insights into healthcare education. Join the conversation either in person in VPT 515 or online.

Click here to register: https://bit.ly/4sXZBiY

On Tuesday, April 7th, we are joined by Oregon’s chief public health official, Dr. Sejal Hathi!

As Director of , Dr. Hathi is leading the charge for a healthier, more equitable Oregon. We are thrilled to have her kickoff our Grand Rounds series during National Public Health Week.

Don't miss this chance to hear about the future of public health in Oregon!
- Doors open at 11:45 AM | Program at 12:00 PM
- Location: Robertson Life Sciences Building (RLSB)

Click here for more details: https://bit.ly/4sljEXA

See you there!

Kick off NPHW with a deep dive into the latest in diagnostics. We’re hosting a special lecture today at 12:00 PM exploring how new technology is shaping infectious disease response. Join us in person at Vanport 515 or via the remote link. Register here: https://bit.ly/3OjlCcS

Your voice. Your impact. Your chance to win big! 🚀

We’re launching our 2026 Annual Student Survey, and we want the real talk. How are your programs? What’s working? What could be better? This is your direct line to help us level up your student experience.

This survey is for current students only.

🎁 THE PERK: Complete the survey by April 3 and you’ll be automatically entered to win one of TWO brand-new iPads! 🔒 THE PROMISE: Your responses are 100% confidential. Be honest, be bold, and help us build a better future for every student.

Link: https://bit.ly/3OCmLMD

Evaluations & Outcomes - OHSU-PSU School of Public Health The OHSU-PSU School of Public Health collects feedback from students about their experiences and satisfaction of academic and support services

Welcome back to "A Decade of Dedication," our series celebrating the leaders who have shaped the OHSU-PSU School of Public Health! Today, we are honoring Dr. Lynne Messer, Professor and Community Health PhD Program Director.

Hired as one of the PSU-based epidemiologists needed for the joint institution, Dr. Messer has been a foundational force, shaping the School's academic governance, administrative structures, and research focus on health equity.

She intentionally held out for Portland, even after considering Oregon State University (OSU), because she wanted to be part of the vision for the joint SPH. Her journey is defined by a dedication to building a unique and equitable academic home for public health in Oregon.

Dr. Messer began her tenure while the institution was still part of the Oregon MPH, a collaboration between OHSU, PSU, and OSU. Her primary administrative and service efforts have been dedicated to establishing and refining the policies that govern the SPH and connecting the new School to the broader university.

The central focus of her research has always been health inequities—disparities driven by social structure and systems of power. Much of her work has focused on pregnancy-related outcomes and the influence of area, residential, and environmental exposures. Thanks to the doctoral students she has mentored, her research interests continue to expand, which she finds exciting for the future.

Her vision for the future of SPH is to truly embrace being Oregon’s School of Public Health - to build off its strengths and serve the diverse needs of the state's residents.

Please join us in celebrating Dr. Messer’s 13+ years of dedication and her commitment to the future of public health in Oregon!

To mark the 10th anniversary of the OHSU-PSU School of Public Health, we are proud to share two new commemorative illustrations by local Portland artist and muralist Alicia Schultz (). Known for her greeting card designs through Minted, Trader Joe's and Target and her recent mural in Portland’s Central Eastside, Alicia has helped us capture the heart of our work in public health.

The first design of Oregon state captures various ways you see public health in our homes, our communities, and our backyard. The second design with the Chinook salmon and Mt. Hood represents our commitment to addressing the root causes of health inequities. Just as the Chinook salmon fights the current to reach their spawning grounds, public health professionals challenge oppressive systems to implement upstream interventions to create better health for all. We focus on improving the fundamental conditions—such as housing, environmental safety, resource access, and labor conditions—that shape health outcomes to ensure that all populations can thrive.

✨ A Note on the Design: Offered freely as an educational tool, the salmon design serves as a prompt for dialogue regarding the 'upstream' foundations of public health. By honoring specific land ties, we hope to focus our community’s attention to the ancestral and ongoing stewardship of the Columbia River Basin and encourage direct support of the Indigenous nations whose leadership is vital to our region. We offer this reminder because the health of the land and the health of the people are inseparable; one cannot exist without the other.

We encourage our community to learn more about the spiritual, cultural and ecological significance of the Chinook salmon and Mt. Hood and to support the local Native chapters and organizations:

- The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs
- The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde
- The Klamath Tribes
- The Coquille Tribe
- The Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission (CRITFC)

Read the full article - https://bit.ly/4k4usqe