June 19, 2017

Ellen Stevenson, M.D., M.P.H., F.A.A.P., associate professor of pediatrics, OHSU School of Medicine, recently received the Gretchen Hunsberger Medical Champion Achievement Award from Reach Out and Read. Reach Out and Read is a national nonprofit organization whose model of "prescribing" books and reading aloud is delivered by the doctors and nurse practitioners who care for young children at routine pediatric checkups.

The Hunsberger award honors a doctor or other medical provider who has been extraordinary as a trainer, clinician, and/or clinical director;one whose exemplary personal and professional medical leadership has helped to make delivery of the Reach Out and Read program model all it can be in pediatric primary care.

The following is from the submission nominating Dr. Stevenson for this award:

"Ellen brings tremendous enthusiasm to promoting early literacy and ROR in primary care at Oregon Health &Science University (OHSU), integrating ROR messages into many aspects of care in our clinic. She is also a dynamic trainer and medical champion, training other practices here at OHSU and throughout Oregon. Ellen motivates students, residents, faculty and staff to incorporate ROR into practice… However, Ellen is more than just an ROR trainer. She founded the ROR Oregon coalition, and her leadership led to the program's tremendous growth. She engages pediatric residents in conducting early literacy research, advocates for early literacy at our statehouse, and works with community agencies (e.g., the county library, WIC) to promote early literacy. Ellen seeks out every opportunity to further early literacy in our area. It's hard to imagine someone more deserving of this award."

Reach Out and Read serves 4.7 million young children and their families each year, including one in four children living in poverty in the United States. The Oregon program now has more than 120 active sites, including at Doernbecher Children's Hospital and in several OHSU clinics and education programs.

Pictured: (left to right) Brian Gallagher, Reach Out and Read CEO, Dr. Perri Klass, Reach Out and Read National Medical Director, Dr. Stevenson, Dr. Tom DeWitt, Chair of the Reach Out and Read National Board of Directors.