September 21, 2016

Dr. Joe Robertson, OHSU president and acting dean of the School of Medicine, has announced Dana Braner, M.D., F.A.A.P., F.C.C.M., as chair of the Department of Pediatrics.

Dr. Braner has been caring for critically ill infants and children at Doernbecher Children's Hospital for 25 years. For the last 14 years, he has served as the chief of OHSU's Division of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine and medical director of Doernbecher's Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). He is also widely known as an editor of computerized medical education programs and as a medical volunteer aiding victims of natural disasters here and abroad. In 2006, he was appointed the Alice K. Fax professor of pediatric critical care. He became interim chair of pediatrics in 2015.

"Dana Braner has earned this chairmanship through his demonstrated leadership and stewardship of the Department of Pediatrics," Dr. Robertson said. "As a physician, he excels in crises –from caring for critically ill children to tending to the wounds of disaster victims. He is equally skilled as an advocate for children and an ambassador for our profession. I am pleased to reward his leadership, expertise and service with this appointment." 

Dr. Braner now also holds the Credit Unions for Kids Chair. Credit Unions for Kids is a consortium of 100 regional credit unions that has raised more than $13 million for Doernbecher since 1986. Its partnership with Doernbecher has been critical to advancing research and enhancing patient care in Oregon and southwest Washington.

Dr. Braner shared his pride in the Pediatrics department's dedication to extraordinary clinical care, education, research and advocacy and the commitment to continuous improvement through which, he said, "we ensure the future." 

"I look at the Department of Pediatrics as an instrument to do good for children both regionally and globally," Dr. Braner said. "To lead a group of people dedicated to making life better for children every day, I can't really think of a better job in the universe."