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 contact us to sign up. Join the conversation on social media by using #OHSUMHL.
2018–19 Series: Revealing unseen forces to improve health
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
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.
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.
Being who you are: The case for gender-affirming health care
Christina E. Milano, M.D., and Jens U. Berli, M.D.
March 21, 2019
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.
Secrets of the brain: The science of implicit bias and its
impact on health
Jeanne-Marie Guise, M.D., M.P.H.
April 18, 2019
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.
Machine-made human organs? On the frontier of 3D bioprinting
Luiz E. Bertassoni, D.D.S., Ph.D.
May 16, 2019
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.