Since 1989 the OHSU Center for Ethics in Health Care has partnered with practitioners of all health professions regionally and nationally to be a leading voice for compassionate health care. The Center is committed to providing an ethical perspective of compassion, respect and justice to ensure that such care is delivered wisely and well.
Recent Announcements
Honoring a Lifetime of Humility, Compassion and Generosity
Cornelia “Cornie” Hayes Stevens, one of the Center’s earliest and dearest friends, died on July 15, 2024. To read more, click here.
Congratulations to Dr. Cliff Coleman for his promotion to full Professor of Medicine! Dr. Coleman, Doris and Mark Storms Chair in Compassionate Communication, has been promoted to full Professor in the Department of Family Medicine, honoring his accomplishments as an international leader in health literacy and clear communication. This is the hallmark of professional accomplishment at OHSU. See the full announcement here.
Upcoming Events
Please also note that all times referenced below are in pacific time (PT).
Friday, January 10, 2025 at 8 AM - Oregon Bioethics and Humanities Colloquium (OBHC) presents: Doug Diekema, MD, MPH, Professor, Division of Bioethics and Palliative Care, Seattle Children’s Hospital. This will be a virtual event.
Friday, February 7, 2025 at 8 AM - Oregon Bioethics and Humanities Colloquium (OBHC) presents: Melissa Graboyes, PhD, Associate Professor, University of Oregon, Department of History & Global Health Program. This will be a virtual event.
April 17 - 18, 2025 - 2025 Kinsman Bioethics Conference will be held in Bend, OR! More details to come.
Friday, May 2, 2025 at 8 AM - Oregon Bioethics and Humanities Colloquium (OBHC) presents: Teneille Ruth Brown, JD, James I. Farr Professor of Law, The University of Utah. This will be a virtual event.
Friday, June 6, 2025 at 8 AM - Oregon Bioethics and Humanities Colloquium (OBHC) presents: Barbara Sestak, FAIA, Professor, School of Architecture, Portland State University. This will be a virtual event.
Friday, December 6, 2024 at 8 AM - Oregon Bioethics and Humanities Colloquium (OBHC) presents: "Homelessness and Inclusion Health" by Josephine Ensign, DrPH, MPH, FNP, Professor, University of Washington School of Nursing, Department of Psychosocial and Community Health. View Recording.
Friday, November 8, 2024 at 8 AM - Oregon Bioethics and Humanities Colloquium (OBHC) presents: Chris Feudtner, MD, PhD, MPH, Director of Research, Palliative Care, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. View Recording.
Thursday, October 17, 2024 at 12 pm - OHSU Health Literacy Symposium in the OHSU Auditorium.
Tuesday, October 8, 2024 at 12 PM - Oregon Bioethics and Humanities Colloquium (OBHC) presents: “Split Brains, Functional Disorders, and Postictal Violence: Navigating Ethical Dilemmas in Complex Brain Interventions” by Paul Ford, PhD, Program Director, Cleveland Clinic NeuroEthics. View Recording.
Friday, May 10, 2024 at 8:00 am - Oregon Bioethics and Humanities Colloquium (OBHC) presents: "Justice Rising: A Moral Imagination for a More Trustworthy Bioethics" by Kevin Dirksen, MDiv, MSc, Providence Center for Health Care Ethics. This event will be virtual.
Friday, June 14, 2024 at 8:00 am - Oregon Bioethics and Humanities Colloquium (OBHC) presents: "Outliers and Outlaws: Supporting LGBTQ Elders" by Judith Raiskin, PhD, University of Oregon. This event will be virtual.
April 25, 2024 - 2024 Kinsman Bioethics Conference, Everyday Ethics: Reconnecting, Reimagining our Roots, and Recovering our Purpose. This event will be a virtual via WebEx.
March 12, 2024 at 8:00 AM - Madeline Brill Nelson Speaker Series: "Advancing Healthcare Equity Through Communication: What we can learn from Palliative Care Principles, Evidence, and Tools" presented by Justin Sanders, MD, MSc, FAAHPM. View the recording HERE.
March 13, 2024 at 11:30 AM - Madeline Brill Nelson Speaker Series: "Serious Illness Communication Equity" presented by Justin Sanders, MD, MSc, FAAHPM. View the recording HERE.
Friday, February 9, 2024 at 8:00 am - Oregon Bioethics and Humanities Colloquium (OBHC) presents: "Dementia Through a Lens of Relational Agency" by Eran Klein, MD, PhD, Oregon Health & Science University. View the recording HERE.
Friday, January 12, 2024 at 8:00 am - Oregon Bioethics and Humanities Colloquium (OBHC) presents: "Taking Carework Seriously in Bioethics: The Case of US Nurses During the Pandemic" by LaTonya Trotter, MPH, PhD, University of Washington. View the recording HERE.
To view past recordings, click HERE.
Newsletter
To read the November issue of the newsletter, click HERE.
Impact Report
We remain full of gratitude to all those who have made this work possible. Thank you! To learn about the accomplishments and achievements of the Center for Ethics in Health Care, click HERE.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Report
The Center for Ethics in Health Care, including the Oregon POLST program, faculty and staff, and Center‐associated senior scholars and communication coaches, have dedicated much time focusing on activities that contribute to OHSU’s goals of:
- Building a diverse, equitable environment where all can thrive and excel.
- Being the destination for transformational learning.
- Enhancing health and health care in every community.
To read about the Center for Ethics Diversity, Equity & Inclusion activities, click HERE.
Land Acknowledgement
We acknowledge the original inhabitants and traditional village sites of the land Oregon Health & Science University is occupying and built upon: the Multnomah, Kathlamet, Clackamas, Tumwater, Watlala bands of the Chinook, the Tualatin Kalapuya, Molalla, Wasco and many Indigenous nations of the Willamette Valley and Columbia River Plateau. We take this opportunity to thank the original caretakers of this land - past, present, and future.
Connect with us
Contact Us
Phone & Email
(503) 494-4466
ethics@ohsu.edu
Office Hours
Monday – Thursday: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Friday: Closed
Mailing Address
OHSU Center for Ethics in Health Care
3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Rd. UHN86
Portland, OR 97239