Marquam Hill Lectures

Since 1981, the Marquam Hill Lecture Series has brought together leading members of the OHSU faculty with the public for free lectures which feature innovative and cutting edge biomedical research and clinical advances that will form the basis of tomorrow's cures and treatments.

The lectures are free and open to the public, though registration is requested by clicking the link included with each lecture below.

Free parking is also available, in the Schnitzer Lot for lectures at the Robertson Life Sciences Building on South Waterfront and in the Auditorium Lot for lectures at the OHSU Auditorium on Marquam Hill. Signage will direct guests.

The Marquam Hill Lecture Series is one of the most popular and long-standing lecture series about science by scientists in Oregon. The series honors the memory of Mrs. Elizabeth Gray, co-founder of the Marquam Hill Steering Committee, a group of community leaders who advocate for the public missions of OHSU throughout the state. In addition to oversight of the Marquam Hill Lectures, the Committee selects and maintains the extensive collection of art in OHSU buildings, and curated Art on the Hill, a book of works from the OHSU collection.

Are you on the Marquam Hill Lectures email list? If not, please . Join the conversation on social media by using #OHSUMHL.

2018–19 Series: Revealing unseen forces to improve health

Dr. Nabil Alkayed

Small blood vessels may hold key to treating cardiovascular disease

Nabil Alkayed, M.D., Ph.D.

Oct. 18, 2018 | View recording

Imagine the blood flow in your body: Big arteries and veins are the fuel lines for your major organs. Blockages and narrowing in these vessels cause serious health conditions such as hypertension, dementia, diabetes, heart attack and stroke. We know a lot about the large vessels and how to clean them out and prop them open. But most of our blood vessels are the small dripper lines in our vast circulatory system, and Dr. Alkayed and his team believe that they are in fact the key to treating these conditions. Come learn about their efforts to target small blood vessels to make a big impact on cardiovascular health.

Cancer costs: Marketing and myth busting Dr. Vinay Prasad

Vinay Prasad, M.D., M.P.H.

Nov. 15, 2018 | View recording

Patients with cancer and their physicians urgently seek treatment for the disease, but how much of their hopes are based on insufficient evidence or aggressive marketing goals? The costs of many cancer drugs can be astronomic, even without solid evidence that they are effective. Dr. Prasad puts a microscope on which drugs work, which don't and why costs for cancer drugs continue to increase. His research shows that cost doesn't correlate to cure, and that many high-priced medications are simply recycled and repackaged versions of older, ineffective therapies. Be prepared for a clear-eyed, dispassionate review of the forces influencing cost and outcomes of cancer treatment.

Dr. Alisha Moreland Capuia

Understanding trauma: When the fear switch is always on

Alisha Moreland Capuia, M.D.

Feb. 21, 2019 | View recording

Can experiencing a traumatic event affect the biology in your brain? How does persistent fear affect brain and physical health? Dr. Moreland Capuia will discuss significant advances in our understanding of the role that fear plays in trauma and how this is leading to new evidence-based practices for effectively recognizing, treating and managing the impacts. Substance misuse, for example, contributes to, and is often symptomatic of, trauma. A trauma-informed approach can help the brain heal effectively and support the capacity for recovery and resilience. Learn more about the science and practice of healing from trauma.

Drs. Christina Milano and Jens BerliBeing who you are: The case for gender-affirming health care

Christina E. Milano, M.D., and Jens U. Berli, M.D.

March 21, 2019

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Born one way, but knowing there is more to who you are. Transgender people are faced with infinite choices and challenges as they transition to their affirmed gender identity. Access to gender-affirming health care, medications and surgeries can be critical to their wellbeing. Learn how research is informing our understanding of gender identity from two physician leaders with the OHSU Transgender Health Program, one with expertise in gender-affirming hormonal therapy and the other a national leader in gender-affirming surgeries. Drs. Milano and Berli will share the hurdles individuals face and the services available and why living authentically is foundational to good health.

Dr. Jeanne-Marie GuiseSecrets of the brain: The science of implicit bias and its impact on health

Jeanne-Marie Guise, M.D., M.P.H.

April 18, 2019

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Our brain receives millions of pieces of information about our surroundings at any one time. To cope, we take mental shortcuts based on social norms, life experiences and stereotypes. While such shortcuts serve to keep us safe, they can also lead to unintended harm. Dr. Guise combines her research with national literature to show how recognizing and managing our implicit biases is key to positive relationships, professional effectiveness and good health.

Dr. Luiz BertassoniMachine-made human organs? On the frontier of 3D bioprinting

Luiz E. Bertassoni, D.D.S., Ph.D.

May 16, 2019

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What if a patient in need of a new organ could receive one right away, without the uncertainty and slow deterioration of waiting on a long list? At any given time in the United States, approximately 12,000 people are hoping their number comes up for an organ transplant. Even though we have the techniques to save lives, the shortage of organs remains a great challenge in modern medicine. Instead, what if a surgeon could order a living organ when needed by having it 3D printed? It's not science fiction, but investigative science as Dr. Bertassoni and his team use stem cells to explore the engineering of tissues and organs. They've already had success creating functioning blood vessels and tissues. Learn about the frontier of 3D printing organs for transplantation.